42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Aromas of vanilla, raspberry, currants and herbs. Flavors of raspberry and briary red fruit and pepper. Develops a deli meat aroma, something akin to bologna, that I find distracting. Vanilla, red fruit and pepper finish. (R&D)
My #9, Domino's #2 Group #6, 52 pts
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Initial bouquet of a bad party wine, with unexceptional taste. Was about to agree with the more critical of fellow tastingnoters, but after an hour this opened to remind me of the blackberry, spice, and depth that explain why I bought a case of this moderately-priced Zin. Believe this will last beyond 2025.
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Red and blue fruit are highlighted by Mediterranean spice and wild herbs. This is my least favorite chicken I have ever had back to 2009. This vintage was the slowest to come around and the acidity still seems a little edgy today. Still this wine was enjoyable.
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Lovely nose and acceptable zinnish flavors on the palate but while understanding that Biale zins are claret-style zins, this seemed a tad light in palate weight. So while just fine with Carolina style barbecue chicken, not a memorable bottle.
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I like this wine but for some reason this bottle was not as enjoyable as I remembered. Let breathe about 45 minutes. A bit angular and unbalanced. Pepper and zest with tobacco, but not a lot of fruit.
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PNP this bottle and its drinking just excellent. Better than the 16 IMO. No sediment, good balance. Med complexity and smooth med finish. Fun, predictable, another Biale Star!
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PNP with dinner at Houston’s in Pompano Beach. Translucent garnet. Nose of necco wafers, cherry and cypress mulch. Maybe a little daisy and carnation too. Flavors are similar with some raspberry and dry tart lemon smoked finish. Maybe a little crushed black pepper. Medium low acidity and firm tannins mostly on the finish. Has layers. Nice wine.
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60m of air in the bottle. Racy, rich, bright fruit. Love the briary fruit and zing, but prefer either going bigger and jammier or more elegant and perfumey. Great wine but not quite my jam. Others in my party loved it. Drinking now.
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Opaque ruby and packed with dark bramble fruits, Morello cherries, licorice and black pepper, this is a full bodied, fresh, moderately tannic Zinfandel. The wine's alcohol (listed as 14.8%) is nicely integrated and the oak serves in a complementary, non-dominant role. Rich and dense on the mid-palate, it moves on to a lengthy finish. This structured Zin is beautifully balanced and should be at its best over the next 3-4 years. Drink now-2021.
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Not as buttery as when I first tasted at resto - maybe needed more decanting but even on second day it didn't achieve that movie theater butter popcorn taste I remembered - this had more notes of raspberry and licorice - enjoyable but not worth the price tag
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A full bodied Zin, black cherry, black raspberry, currant and licorice, but I think it was way to young to drink, wait a year or so or do a long decant. www.winelx.com
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Tasting at the winery, lots of tannin needs to lay down very young. Heavy on the black chery and raspberry. Is nice would like to have a little more structure.
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P: Med body; Almost swtish frt met by puckerish astringency which morphs into a fairly LONG, albeit insipid finish though nicely balanced. Did I miss something here? 14.8% ABV. 93 pts WE, 92 RJonWine, and 90 ea WS & WA. [Though likely out, this vendor's $39.99 would have been competitive in wine-searcher's still HUGE April 2018 listing.]
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Surprisingly unexciting for a Biale; I'm used to being blown away by the nose and the finish, and here I am neither. There is still a nice black cherry flavor to the whole thing, and a pleasant finish certainly, but I've had better Biale. Maybe 2015 isn't their year?
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Deep dark purple garnet in color; almost opaque. Full, forward, & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of briary & earthy notes, spices, dried herbs, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, & smooth textured, lush, rich, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and blueberries with spices, herbs, minerals & dark cocoa. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and airing but has the fruit and structure to continue development with much needed aging. An excellent Zin!
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375ml. Big black color with impressive nose, blackberries, cinnamon, smoke. A fan favorite over dinner and despite my old world palate, this was superb. Big black fruits, pepper, unique wood/funk component. Although much different style than my favorite Storybook zins, this is quite complex. Excellent finish as well.
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This opaque ruby Zinfandel is firing on all cylinders. Blackberry, blueberry and candied apple aromas are followed by dark bramble fruit, earthy black cherry and licorice flavors. Full bodied, amazingly fresh, moderately tannic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.8%), this is a structured Zin that merits kudos for its gorgeous fruit, crisp acidity and lengthy finish. Drink now-2021.
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ZAP TRADE TASTING, nose of black cherry and blackberry, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, but not my style, well made but atypical Zinfandel to me, long finish.
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5/28/2023 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Aromas of vanilla, raspberry, currants and herbs. Flavors of raspberry and briary red fruit and pepper. Develops a deli meat aroma, something akin to bologna, that I find distracting. Vanilla, red fruit and pepper finish. (R&D)
My #9, Domino's #2
Group #6, 52 pts
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1/23/2023 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich blueberry and bramble with long rich finish
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10/23/2022 - Robwild Likes this wine: 91 Points
In full bloom. Lots of dark fruit, blackcurrant, with cassis and some oak. Good balance and structure. Full bodied and light tannins.
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8/16/2022 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blackberry, raspberry and spicy bramble
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7/15/2022 - J B McDonald Likes this wine: 89 Points
Initial bouquet of a bad party wine, with unexceptional taste. Was about to agree with the more critical of fellow tastingnoters, but after an hour this opened to remind me of the blackberry, spice, and depth that explain why I bought a case of this moderately-priced Zin. Believe this will last beyond 2025.
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11/1/2021 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 88 Points
Red and blue fruit are highlighted by Mediterranean spice and wild herbs. This is my least favorite chicken I have ever had back to 2009. This vintage was the slowest to come around and the acidity still seems a little edgy today. Still this wine was enjoyable.
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7/20/2021 - VinoRosso wrote: 90 Points
Thin and not that impressive. I always enjoy Bible Zins. But this bottle did not deliver.
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6/23/2021 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Lovely nose and acceptable zinnish flavors on the palate but while understanding that Biale zins are claret-style zins, this seemed a tad light in palate weight. So while just fine with Carolina style barbecue chicken, not a memorable bottle.
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4/20/2021 - rbfoote Likes this wine: 90 Points
Initially flavours packed a lot of punch. It needs some time to breathe. Cranberry, licorice, slight chocolate.
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3/6/2021 - Polindz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking nicely. Vibrant on the palate, fruitful and smooth finish.
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1/10/2021 - bigbass250 Likes this wine:
Sunday dinner with goat cheese stuffed flank steak yum
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11/23/2020 - Robwild Likes this wine: 90 Points
I like this wine but for some reason this bottle was not as enjoyable as I remembered. Let breathe about 45 minutes. A bit angular and unbalanced. Pepper and zest with tobacco, but not a lot of fruit.
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5/23/2020 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice dark fruit with blueberry, blackberry and nice spice
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5/10/2020 - Robwild Likes this wine: 91 Points
Garnet Color. Dark fruits, cherries and plums. Not much spice. Nicely balanced. Always enjoyable and consistent.
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3/20/2020 - moz9 wrote: 87 Points
Was not overly impressed with this one. Waited for it to open and get better and it just never did. Better zins out there at same price point.
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1/4/2020 - jsjones Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruit forward but mellowed. For me, cherries were predominant.
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10/28/2019 - Insane Diego Likes this wine: 90 Points
PNP this bottle and its drinking just excellent. Better than the 16 IMO. No sediment, good balance.
Med complexity and smooth med finish.
Fun, predictable, another Biale Star!
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8/30/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark rich fruit and brambly spice with great balance and nice finish
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8/27/2019 - bigbass250 wrote:
in honor of Harper Marie's year of birth
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4/16/2019 - Dan & Krista Stockman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Powerful but restrained, with a kick of spice in the finish. Perhaps another year in the cellar would let the fruit come out?
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1/19/2019 - Phwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good fruit. Excellent finish. Great drinking
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1/19/2019 - Phwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful fruit. Totally enjoyable drink. Very good
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1/6/2019 - CieloVista wrote: 93 Points
...rich dark currants; plums; some cinnamon; tart blackberries on the front end; some good chewy jamminess; smooth; long clean finish
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1/3/2019 - rap wrote:
- Garnet color - 92
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12/12/2018 - RockyII Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNP with dinner at Houston’s in Pompano Beach. Translucent garnet. Nose of necco wafers, cherry and cypress mulch. Maybe a little daisy and carnation too. Flavors are similar with some raspberry and dry tart lemon smoked finish. Maybe a little crushed black pepper. Medium low acidity and firm tannins mostly on the finish. Has layers. Nice wine.
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11/15/2018 - HLCleary wrote:
So good!
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4/6/2018 - Robwild wrote: 91 Points
Fruit forward. Balanced with medium tanins. Blackberries and cherries. Another good bottle of Black Chicken.
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2/19/2018 - nickgorski Likes this wine:
60m of air in the bottle. Racy, rich, bright fruit. Love the briary fruit and zing, but prefer either going bigger and jammier or more elegant and perfumey. Great wine but not quite my jam. Others in my party loved it. Drinking now.
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1/21/2018 - ebert Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant, complex Zinfandel with great clean finish
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11/23/2017 - rysler Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smoky, thick, high alcohol.
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11/18/2017 - Jzwinski wrote:
Napa purchase
Valsecchi Vineyard
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10/29/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opaque ruby and packed with dark bramble fruits, Morello cherries, licorice and black pepper, this is a full bodied, fresh, moderately tannic Zinfandel. The wine's alcohol (listed as 14.8%) is nicely integrated and the oak serves in a complementary, non-dominant role. Rich and dense on the mid-palate, it moves on to a lengthy finish. This structured Zin is beautifully balanced and should be at its best over the next 3-4 years. Drink now-2021.
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9/17/2017 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 81 Points
Not as buttery as when I first tasted at resto - maybe needed more decanting but even on second day it didn't achieve that movie theater butter popcorn taste I remembered - this had more notes of raspberry and licorice - enjoyable but not worth the price tag
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9/14/2017 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 87 Points
A full bodied Zin, black cherry, black raspberry, currant and licorice, but I think it was way to young to drink, wait a year or so or do a long decant. www.winelx.com
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9/10/2017 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 82 Points
Movie theater butter popcorn strong!
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8/23/2017 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasting at the winery, lots of tannin needs to lay down very young. Heavy on the black chery and raspberry. Is nice would like to have a little more structure.
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8/1/2017 - ajobalia wrote:
Flagship
Lighter
Burger or park
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7/29/2017 - srh wrote:
Zinfandel Tasting (San Diego Wine Co.): N: CLOSED; some smoke?
P: Med body; Almost swtish frt met by puckerish astringency which morphs into a fairly LONG, albeit insipid finish though nicely balanced. Did I miss something here? 14.8% ABV. 93 pts WE, 92 RJonWine, and 90 ea WS & WA. [Though likely out, this vendor's $39.99 would have been competitive in wine-searcher's still HUGE April 2018 listing.]
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7/18/2017 - RobbieD68 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surprisingly unexciting for a Biale; I'm used to being blown away by the nose and the finish, and here I am neither. There is still a nice black cherry flavor to the whole thing, and a pleasant finish certainly, but I've had better Biale. Maybe 2015 isn't their year?
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7/2/2017 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep dark purple garnet in color; almost opaque. Full, forward, & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of briary & earthy notes, spices, dried herbs, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, & smooth textured, lush, rich, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and blueberries with spices, herbs, minerals & dark cocoa. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and airing but has the fruit and structure to continue development with much needed aging. An excellent Zin!
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6/22/2017 - macker100 wrote: 92 Points
375ml. Big black color with impressive nose, blackberries, cinnamon, smoke. A fan favorite over dinner and despite my old world palate, this was superb. Big black fruits, pepper, unique wood/funk component. Although much different style than my favorite Storybook zins, this is quite complex. Excellent finish as well.
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5/5/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This opaque ruby Zinfandel is firing on all cylinders. Blackberry, blueberry and candied apple aromas are followed by dark bramble fruit, earthy black cherry and licorice flavors. Full bodied, amazingly fresh, moderately tannic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.8%), this is a structured Zin that merits kudos for its gorgeous fruit, crisp acidity and lengthy finish. Drink now-2021.
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2/23/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 88 Points
ZAP TRADE TASTING, nose of black cherry and blackberry, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, but not my style, well made but atypical Zinfandel to me, long finish.
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