THE BIALE BULLETIN
April 2011
More Wines for the BCS
Second Wave of Spring Releases
To coincide with your Black Chicken Society Box #2, which will be delivered to you the first week of May, we are offering the next wave of spring wines.
These are very limited production Biale Zinfandels from the ideal 2009 vintage and are now being made available to the Black Chicken Society, not to everybody.
So as not to miss out, please let us know right away what you would like to order. Several of our previous offerings are already sold out.
==>These additional wines ship out May 16.
Order Form ==> Click Here
NEW! 2009 ROCKY RIDGE Zinfandel
Retail 50
Member 48
Rockpile Appellation, Sonoma
Ok, this is getting serious – an appellation that takes Zinfandel in a new direction – to a place that creates refinement, added dimension, and a bit of mystery. Rustic but sophisticated. Structured yet refined. Fruit-driven but mineral-enriched. Ripened by the sun but balanced by a cooling and lofty elevation. Rockpile is indeed a special place. The Mauritson Family has been ranching in this remote area of Sonoma County for five generations. Chris Mauritson is committed to nurturing along these vines that have perhaps the most spectacular view by any Zinfandel. The perfectly formed and evenly ripe black fruit from here is beautiful to taste and behold when it hits the winery.
Intense essence of black fruit – blackberry liqueur, cassis, briny, warm gravel and stones, perfect acidity, power, and ethereal gracefulness. How can that be?
Hard to peg blind. Is it a Cote d’Or ? A Cote Rotie? Rosso di Montalcino? Rioja?
Salute those stars and stripes – it’s Rockpile – a new American classic.
394 cases made.
2009 GRANDE VINEYARD Zinfandel
Retail 44
Member 41
Silverado Trail, Napa Valley
Planted in 1920 on Napa’s Silverado Trail, this vineyard honors the planter, an Italian immigrant from Venice named Theodosio Grande, whose daughter, Dorothy Rossi and grandson, Tony Rossi, take loving care of Theo’s original vines. The farming that goes on is thoughtful and methodical – keeping in mind that our goal is to grow a beautiful red wine. The organic practices here have remained unchanged for decades.
Tony and Dorothy wouldn’t have it any other way.
Year after year, this vineyard produces a compelling Zinfandel loaded with brambly blackberry, boysenberry jam, licorice, bing cherry, turmeric, clove, graphite, and a twist of pepper. This is the blockbuster of the vintage. Grande es muy Grande ! Listen carefully…that sound you here is the last bottles being packed off to our Grande fanatics.
391 cases made.
2009 OLD KRAFT VINEYARD Zinfandel
Retail 44
Member 41
St. Helena, Napa Valley
The old vines on this historic property dating to the 1860’s produce what is quickly becoming a Napa Valley classic and one of the most sought after Zinfandels, period. If they could talk, what a story the wise old characters would tell. And when you taste this soulful red wine – they sort of do!
One of the very oldest sites in Napa Valley, these vines planted in the 1890’s have been rescued and restored by Bill and Margie Hart. The project involved some serious teamwork and commitment by Bill Pease of Madrigal Vineyard Management, Bob Biale, and the Harts to create a long term plan to recondition the soil through strict organic protocol, improve drainage, retrain vines, replace missing vines, and to overall encourage healthier, happier vines. Slow in coming, they now show great results.
Zinfandel and Petite Sirah are married harmoniously here in a velvety and round flavor-packed blockbuster: blackberry cobbler, blueberry, graham cracker, brewed tea, caraway, and a hint of peppercorn.
Just 400 cases.
2009 VAROZZA VINEYARD Zinfandel
Retail 44
Member 41
St. Helena, Napa Valley
The Varozzas are one of St. Helena’s oldest families, with roots back to the late 1800’s. John Varozza started making commercial wine in the original winery in 1913 and grandson Jack Varozza today farms the vineyards. This Zinfandel comes mostly from old head-trained vines on the Varozza ranch located along York Creek in the heart of St. Helena. The best growers are those who understand that resulting wine quality is paramount, and this is certainly the case with Jack and his wife Dianna.
No shortcuts. No compromise. Put it in the glass!
Flavor-driven, blackberry, black cherry, desiccated rose petal, minerals, kalamata, five spice, fine-grained, round and full. Vivid, vibrant, voluptuous – Varozza!
392 cases is all there is.
2009 VALSECCHI VINEYARD Zinfandel
Retail 44
Member 41
Carneros Appellation, Sonoma
Ron & Candice Mick, Valsecchi Growers
Our other "V" vineyard. This tiny century-old vineyard parcel is the oldest remaining Zinfandel vineyard in the Carneros Appellation.
Ron Mick, John Valsecchi’s grandson, takes care in preserving his family’s old vines in Vineburg, near the town of Sonoma.
Plump, round, silky, alluring, wild berries, blackberry jammy, graham cracker, subtle mint, cocoa, and a hint of allspice.
Take our word for it. Act. Now. If you get cut off, we call that "getting a Val-sectomy."
Just 75 Cases for the whole planet.
2008 BASIC BLACK Petite Sirah
Retail 38
Member 34
Rutherford, Napa Valley
Steve Hall’s all out red blend from 2008 just can’t be beat – all Rutherford Appellation Petite Sirah. "The Rutherford dust" they say describes the character of great Rutherford reds, and Petite Sirah from this site says it all. Basic Black. Classy, sexy and always in style.
Deep, layered, long, and decadent. Currant preserves, blueberry turnover, fine-grained, layered, elegant, finishes with nuances of clove, espresso, licorice, and dusty warm stones.
Just 220 cases.
2009 BRAVO, ALDO! Old-Method Zinfandel
A Very Special Tribute to Aldo Biale (1929-2009)
One Time Only
Retail 225
Mmbr 175
The Biale Ranch, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley
This special edition 2009 Zinfandel was hand made by Aldo Biale shortly before his passing in December 2009. Aldo made this small lot from Aldo’s Vineyard the old way using the equipment and methods he used for decades. This is old school "Black Chicken," made with the old fashioned addition of crushed clusters on stems and punched down by Aldo himself in open top fermenters – using the same big forked stick Aldo’s father, Pietro, used before him.
This is a stunning and captivating big red wine laced with exotic spices like paprika and turmeric, a little cumin, deep blackberry compote and plum jam and a signature cracked green peppercorn. The feel is firm and structured with a big middle and the finish resonates for a long count. This is a complex, structured and sophisticated old world Zin like no other.
BRAVO, ALDO!
Built to last. Bottled in 1.5 liter magnums only. 900 magnums produced.
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phone: 707.257.7555 info@robertbialevineyards.com
Robert Biale Vineyards | 4038 Big Ranch Road | Napa | CA | 94558