BLACK CHICKEN SOCIETY NEWS
& FALL RELEASE ORDERING
Fall 2010
Wines This Season
2008 Aldo’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Oak Knoll District Estate
We all would not be enjoying the incredible wine from this iconic vineyard today were it not for the determination of Clementina Biale’s husband and Bob Biale’s father, Aldo Biale (1929 -2009). Historians tell us the first Zinfandel in Napa Valley was planted in the 1850’s only a mile or so northwest of Aldo’s.
Blackberry, plum, apricot, cherry, dried fig, raspberry, clove, minerals, cumin and allspice thread there way through a soft fabric of ripe gentle tannins and fresh acidity. Pure pleasure. (342 case yield)
Non-Member price: $52
BCS price: $48
SOLD OUT (You’re getting 1 bottle in this year’s Oct. box.)
2008 Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
First planted in the 1880’s by the Goldstein family, then purchased by Louis M. Martini in 1932, Monte Rosso fruit has become the most coveted and recognized grapes in Sonoma.
Deep, saturated color, aromas of wild berries, berry jam, raspberry, wet stones, peppercorn, molasses and allspice and a palate showing firm tannins, mouth-watering acidity, mid-palate richness and lasting flavors of ripe berries and spice.
Because of its muscular build Monte Rosso is our best-aging Zinfandel – if you are into self-denial and 5-7 years in bottle under good cellar conditions will allow the pent-up fruit to relax and become a memorable wine experience.
Non-Member price: $50
BCS price: $46
2008 Stagecoach Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Boy do we look like renegades today with our brazen little patch of Zinfandel shoulder to shoulder with Napa’s "trophy wines."
Firm and ripe yet ethereal and textural, the 2008 Stagecoach is a big, dark, mountain-sourced wine with valley floor sophistication and poise.
Blackberry, plum, apricot, crushed rock, sage, and raspberry aromas roll around the palate on ball bearings with palate-coating velvet tannins and persistent spicy flavors. For many Biale fans who seek our style marriage of purity and finesse,
this may be the Zin-of-the-vintage. (375 case yield)
Non-Member price: $42
BCS price: $38
2008 Grande Vineyard Zinfandel, Napa Valley
The old vines, planted 1920, whose grapes were sold for decades to larger wineries for blending, today produce a singular Biale Zinfandel of sinewy strength and deep classic Zinfandel character: blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, plum, peppercorn, dried orange peel, nutmeg, clove come together with a flourish on a firm and fresh snappy palate and ripe fleshy tannins. To drink this wine is to experience what decades of loving labor can do for a great site.
Grande indeed. (219 case yield)
Non-Member price: $44
BCS price: $40
SOLD OUT (You got 1 bottle in the May 2010 BCS box.)
2008 Nonna’s Vineyard Sangiovese, Oak Knoll District Estate
This wine of quiet strength and noble character is appropriately named in honor of Nonna Christina Biale (1897-1999. This scant one-acre vineyard is located across the creek from the Black Chicken Vineyard on the Biale family ranch.
With its vibrant red berry and black cherry fruit, deep flavors, fresh acidity and elegance, there isn’t a wine we enjoy more with food. It seems to go with everything – especially the Italian classics and makes you want to keep coming back for more.
We are also impressed how well our earlier ones are aging – they are surprisingly long-lived.
Fans of ours who may have missed out on in the past on this hard-to-get wine should make a special effort to secure a few bottles: one to enjoy right now, and a couple to hide away for a few years. Your patience and mealtime adventures will be rewarded. (98 case yield)
Non-Member price: $38
BCS price: $34
2008 Royal Punishers Petite Sirah, Napa Valley
This superb Petite Sirah demonstrates why the variety is so well suited to Napa Valley and is from four Napa Valley appellations: Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford, and Oak Knoll.
Blackish blue, glass-staining color, dusty currants and blueberry pie aromas, mouthfilling ripe fruit, graphite notes, firm/velvety tannins, and a pleasantly tender finish, this is the wine to break out for red meats, sausages, dry cheeses, and dark bittersweet chocolate. An especially good year for Petite Sirah, this P.S. is drinkable now but is an excellent candidate for long cellaring…7-10 years – easy. (625 case yield)
Non-Member price: $38
BCS price: $34
NEW! 2008 The Biale Winery Vineyard Petite Sirah,
Oak Knoll District Estate
If you stand on the winery’s back porch and spot what is an owl house and perch (a.k.a. the Hooter Hotel) you will have located a rare patch of red grapes – Oak Knoll District Petite Sirah.
These rows of vines are part of our plan to establish more sources of this brawny black grape that once flourished in Napa, nearly disappeared, and is now making something of a comeback.
This Petite Sirah delivers a punch of deep black fruits (Blueberry, black cherry, currant, licorice) with surprisingly friendly and round structure. This 2008 O.K.D.E. P.S. is showing great early and has been a favorite for barrel tastings at the winery. Delicious, and will be for years to come. (300 case yield)
Non-Member price: $42
BCS price: $38
TWO NEW RHONE BLENDS:
2007 Like Father Like Son,
A Napa Rhone Blend
–AND—
2007 The Hill Climber,
A Sonoma Rhone Blend
Over years we have done blending trial after blending trial with Syrah and Rhone varieties and after all the vineyard sourcing, measuring and tasting we have arrived at two versions of Rhone-esque blends from the ideal Vintage 2007: one from Napa Valley and one from Sonoma Valley.
In Napa Valley we found an exciting combination – it was something of a startling "St. Paul" moment of revelation really when we hit on a sorta-Rhone combo of equal amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah plus a dab of Zin: an ideal marriage of power, muscle, fruit character, finesse, purity, texture and length. With the son Petite Sirah working so well with its father Syrah, it just had to be: Like Father Like Son.
In Sonoma we source some of the best hillside Syrah we have ever tasted at the steep-sloped Kiger Family Vineyard above the Sonoma Valley. John and Deb Kiger who are devout Rhone- lovers have devoted themselves to raising Syrah, Grenache and four-legged woolly lawnmowers for grooming the hillside. This Syrah, co-fermented with Viognier (Syrah’s classic white sidekick) blended with Grenache Rouge for fruity high tones and Mourvedre for a groovy baritone note, hits just the right chord. This harmonious and classic four grape Rhone blend shows how a powerful Sonoma mountain Syrah can be transformed by the addition of other mountain-farmed varieties. The Hill Climber. Steppin’ up. Beautiful.
Non-Member price: $46
BCS price: $42
NEW! 2007 Basic Black
We created this delicious red blend from four lots of prime Petite Sirah, Syrah, Barbera, and Zinfandel in order to provide a great value for Biale fans looking for just the right wine to take to the barbecue or feature at a fancy four-course dinner.
Dark color, vibrant aromas of berries and spices, layered with blackberry, blueberry/ cherry fruit, roundly balanced, eminently match-able with food, and satisfying in finish, Biale Basic Black, is the bottle to have available for all events or celebrations. Tuesday night at home or Saturday on the town – with burgers, pizza, lamb, steaks, pasta, cheesy lasagna or even grilled chicken, fish, or veggies. I’m hungry.
(221 case yield)
Non-Member price: $30
BCS price: $26
THIS IS YOUR BCS FIRST DIBS NOTICE!
o Your Fall Box contains:
Aldo’s Vineyard Zinfandel,
Monte Rosso Zinfandel,
Stragecoach Zinfandel,
Royal Punishers Petite.
o Billed September 7th.
o Ships October 4th.
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ORDER MORE of any fall release wines.
ORDER BEFORE Non-Members receive notice.
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MAKE RESERVATIONS
FOR BIALE EVENTS
Space Available!
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Sep.4 – FALL WINES
PREVIEW DINNER
Sep.19 – FALL PREMIERE
(Fall Pick Up)
Sep. 23 – VINEYARD TOUR (Varozza & Kraft)
Oct. 9 – BCS BBQ Columbus Day
SEND AN EMAIL NOW TO INQUIRE OR RESERVE YOUR SPOT!
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JOIN US IN ITALY.
The Biale Family is headed for the Mediterranean once again. Cruising, touring, tasting, sampling Biale wines, and eating courses designed by Chef Jacques Pepin.
Click here:HMS Travel
THANK YOU! STAY IN TOUCH!
Jayme Silva
707.257.7555
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Robert Biale Vineyards | 4038 Big Ranch Road | Napa | CA | 94558
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