2021 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,335 g. I thought the name might be a reference to the uneven fruit set (hen and chicken) or ripening of Zin but apparently not. It was what customers asked for when seeking Aldo Biale's secret Zinfandel during Prohibition. Mid shaded garnet. Sweet, rich and jewelly on the nose, with an overlay of meatiness plus cocoa. Just a little bit too sweet-oaky for my taste. Good effort and you can see the Zin beneath the winemaking. I wouldn't turn it down in a wine bar. Clean but fairly short finish. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Full bottle 1,329 g. Medium ruby with a hint of purple in colour. Blackberry preserves, red-pepper flakes and bramble. Mouth-watering, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Lightweight, despite being 14.8%. An entry-level wine that delivers nearly every vintage. GV ! (SCJ)
Tobacco, cigar, red and black plums, and strawberry notes all emerge from the 2021 Zinfandel Black Chicken, a medium-bodied, elegant, seamless Zinfandel that has light tannins and a great finish. It's beautifully done and as seamless as they come.
Sourced primarily from Oak Knoll, the 2021 Zinfandel Black Chicken delivers briar-laced bramble-berry fruit, plus a decent dose of vanilla (maturation was in 25% new French oak). Full-bodied, it's creamy, ripe and lush, with a slightly herbal tang on the lingering finish. It's a balanced, seductive Zin, not over the top while still expressing intense varietal character.