November 19th – National Zinfandel Day
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, zinfandel is always on my mind. This varietal offers big bold fruit characteristics with the spicy/peppery finish that jumps to mind when asking to pair ham, turkey and flavorful stuffing at Thanksgiving dinner. There are only 71,000+ acres of Zinfandel planted in the world and majority of them are here in our backyard: Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles and Lodi to name a few. Take advantage of our local producers and try some of the below zinfandel on National Zinfandel Day that can be carried over to Thanksgiving celebrations!
2008 Robert Biale Zinfandel Monte Rosso
“The good news is that there are 616 cases of the 2008 Zinfandel Monte Rosso. Perfumed, floral notes intermixed with blueberry, boysenberry and spice, as well as a distinctive earthiness jump from the glass of this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. Powerful and rich, but at the same time elegant and pure, this is a beauty that can be drunk now or cellared for another 4-5 years.” 92pts RP
“Supple and ripe, this is loaded with jammy fruit, plus aromas of briary wild berry and spicy cinnamon and layered flavors of raspberry and anise. Tannins sneak in on the finish. 715 cases made.” 90pts WS
2007 Robert Biale Zinfandel Monte Rosso
“Although it is not from Napa Valley, I am including Biale’s 2007 Zinfandel Monte Rosso from a parcel of red, rocky soils planted in Sonoma. It offers a distinctive earthy, red and black currant, and spicy-scented nose as well as a full-bodied, structured, tannic personality. It begs for at least a year of cellaring, and should evolve for a decade or more.” 88+pts RP
“Dense and jammy, but with a firm loamy backbone. Aromas of wild berry and licorice open to huckleberry, and smoky cracked pepper. 600 cases made.” 90pts WS
2008 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken
“Speaking of the 2008 Zinfandel Black Chicken, it has a beautiful nose of sweet, jammy black cherries and raspberries, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, and an expansive, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel as well as lots of heady glycerin. This full-throttle, lusty, delicious, silky-textured wine cascades over the palate with no hard edges.” 91pts RP
“Dense yet sleek, with blackberry and cracked pepper aromas and complex, layered flavors of plum, licorice, and roasted sage, finishing with firm, loamy tannins. Needs time. Best from 2012 through 2016. 2,700 cases made.” 91pts WS
