Biale’s Black Chicken: This Bird Can Party!
Zinfandel can be many things; yet, for me, it was once a little known varietal. I did not appreciate its multitude of expressions. Well, that was before Biale’s Black Chicken. I remember the bottle and that vintage where I first met this party animal, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
It was the 2004 Biale Black Chicken. Previously, I had dismissed Zinfandel as a big fruity wine with a single note. It all changed when I met this bird. It was amazingly fresh; there was depth of flavor and a degree of complexity and richness I had not discovered before in this varietal. I kept buying it vintage after vintage and sharing the gem with my friends. Trust me, I sold a lot of this wine – no commission – just the pleasure of knowing my friends were enjoying a great wine with a modest price.
Yet that was over 10 years ago – and the Biale winery is still a keeper. It is located in the southern part of the valley in Napa itself. The tastings are by appointment only, and you can expect your line-up to include five wines. Vineyards surround the winery and tasting room. You can sit outside on the porch and enjoy a clear view of the vines. Biale makes Zinfandel and Petit Sirah from single vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. Each bottle represents a specific vineyard with clearly a different expression. Part of the fun here is to sip through different wines and discern the differences of the vineyard from whence it came.
Fun should be a part of your visit. This is a winery that has a sense of humor. The mailers that they send out represent that sense of lightheartedness, and you will see it in the tasting. Just recently, on our visit, we were hosted by “Coach” who has been with the winery for many years and enjoys sharing the quality and caliber of Biale Wines with visitors. I highly recommend a visit when you are in the area or try a bottle if you can’t get to the area. Biale’s production is such that they have distribution across the country.
Enjoy!
