For our final stop of the day with Jo and her family, we visited Robert Biale Vineyards. We must have happened by at the right time as we were lucky enough to meet family patriarch Aldo Biale. Pictured above, Aldo, Jo, me, and Dave Pramuk. We enjoyed a leisurely tasting on the back patio with Dave, who told us all about the vineyards. The Biales are long time grape farmers in Napa, planting Zinfandel back in the 1930s when they emigrated from Italy. In the last 20 years, the family teamed up with Dave and a few others to form a partnership to expand the winery. They now make about 10,000 cases a year on much of the same land the Biales farmed when they first settled in Napa.
Jo takes copious notes as Dave tells us about Biale
2008 Sauvignon Blanc Pollo Bianco: $27. Gooseberry, grapefruit, pepper, white flowers, acidic, grass, hay, lemon, crisp, melon, lime. We took home two.
2007 Black Chicken Zinfandel: $42. Cherry, strawberry, pepper, spice, baking spice, cranberry, great fruit, black cherry, so smooth, nice pepper on the finish, pretty red fruit.
2006 Stage Coach Zinfandel: $44. Flowers, blackberry, black cherry, pepper, spice, herbs, chocolate, almost raisins, tart fruit, raspberry, pepper. We took one home.
2006 Zappa Proprietary Red: $55. Flowers, perfume, cedar chest, boysenberry, violets, roses, herbs (maybe tarragon), smooth, dark, blackberries, black cherry.
2006 Thomman Station Petite Sirah: $50. Chocolat, coffee beans, espresso, cedar, dark fruit, black fruit, blueberry, nice smooth fruit, brown sugar, and caramel. We bought one.
2006 Royal Punishers Petite Sirah: $44. Bluebrry, raspberry, spice, fruity, oak, tart red berries, long finish.
2005 EBA Petite Sirah: $75. Floral, raspberry, bright fruit, spice, dark, tannic, cranberry, some funk, pencil lead, raisins, red fruit.
2005 EBA Hill Climber Syrah: $75. Berry, earth, oak, meat, milk chocolate, dark, blackberry pie, cream, red undertones, cherry.
2008 Petite Sirah Port: (Barrel sample) Blueberry, raspberry, sweet, dark, chocolate, blueberry syrup, chocolate, nice structure.
All in all, a great line up and an excellent visit. Nothing beats tasting wine while sitting amongst the vineyards where it’s grown. We had an excellent end to a lovely day touring the vineyards with Jo.
Filed under: California, Napa, Vineyards, Wine, Wineries |
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