The warmer months are upon us - and many of us will be doing most of our cooking on the grill. Steaks, burgers, and "low and slow" ribs deserve nothing less than the most decadent pleasure bomb available. Today's luscious Napa Zinfandel fits the bill perfectly! 

The name Black Chicken traces back to the 1940s, when 14-year-old Aldo Biale used it as a code word over the party line phone system to sell homemade Zinfandel alongside eggs and produce, keeping the authorities none the wiser. Legally produced since 1999, it has grown into one of Napa's most iconic Zinfandels, earning 92-point scores or higher every vintage.

Sourced from the Biale family's own Oak Knoll District vineyard - farmed since the 1930s - with additional fruit from long-standing grower partners across cool Napa sites, the 2023 Black Chicken Zinfandel benefits from the region's marine influence, morning fog, and afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay that significantly temper summer heat. This results in Zinfandel that builds full ripeness without sacrificing freshness or acidity - the defining quality of the Biale house style. Vines average 40 years of age across the blend, including those from the original family vineyard first planted in 1937.

Check out the press!
94 points, Wine Enthusiast:
"A Napa classic, the Black Chicken Zinfandel relies on vineyards in cooler parts of the region, here harvested from a cooler vintage as well. The combination delivers complexity, detail and plenty of flavor: juicy mixed berries and plum, citrus peel, incense and savory length complete with refreshing verve and well balanced structure."

94 points, Wine Spectator:
"Jammy and generous, with bold aromatics, this red is a pleasure to drink, offering polished cherry and blackberry tart flavors accented by briar patch and licorice as this zips along the lively finish. Drink now through 2034."

94 points, James Suckling:
"A big but cool and well-balanced wine that is full-bodied but fresh. Made from vines averaging 40 years old and from mostly cool parts of Napa Valley, including the Biale family's vineyard planted in 1937. Moderate tannins lift the vivid raspberry, blackberry, black pepper and umami flavors. Drink or hold."

Order the 2023 Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel between now and Wednesday, April 1st, at 4 PM. Orders will be ready for pickup on Friday, April 3rd, after 4 PM.

CHEERS!
*from winery notes

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 14.7%
Farming Practices: Family estate and long-standing grower partnerships; 40-year-old average vine age; Oak Knoll District focus; dry farming where possible
Producer Name:Robert Biale Vineyards
Old World / New World: New World
Country of Origin: United States
Region: Napa Valley AVA, California (primarily Oak Knoll District)
Grape Varietals: Zinfandel 
Vintage: 2023
Wine Style: Dry Red — Full-bodied, with the rich, fruit-forward generosity of classic California Zinfandel tempered by the cool-climate freshness of the Oak Knoll District. More structured and food-friendly than a warm-climate Zin, with genuine aging potential. 
Winemaking Techniques: Sourced from multiple Napa Valley vineyards; traditional red winemaking; aged in French and American oak.
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork