- Practicing Sustainable
- 100% Zinfandel
- Sourced from their estate vineyards in Oak Knoll District AVA (Napa Valley)
- Ancient Marine sediments and rocky alluvial fan soils
- Head-trained and dry-farmed vines
- Hand-harvested
- Fermented in open-top fermenters
- 2-4-day cold soak
- 2-3-punch downs a day
- Aged 16 months in 100% Burgundy oak barrels (25% new)
- 14.8% abv
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2022
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Napa
Variety:
Zinfandel
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Sustainable
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-BLE-01-22 | 0/ml |
Press & Reviews
Wine Enthusiast
Score
94
Date
2024-06-01
"A classic Napa Valley Zinfandel, this bottling offers savory and earthy aro[1]matics that carry into flavors of dark plum, tobacco and dark chocolate. It™s rich in flavor, well balanced by mouthwatering acidity that refreshes the palate with every sip. Impressively persistent. "E.C.B."
James Suckling
Score
93
Date
2024-04-04
"Delicious, harmonious and flavorful Zinfandel. This has notes of plums, spiced cherries, wild berries, herbs and rusks. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. It has a bright core of berries at the center with a subtle structure. Mellow and poised. Drink or hold."
Wine Spectator
Score
93
Date
2024-05-08
"Robust yet retaining a sense of refinement, this red offers blackberry, briar patch and white pepper flavors that build tension toward medium-grained tannins. 7,400 cases made. - TF"
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
92
Date
2023-12-26
"Tobacco, cigar, red and black plums, and strawberry notes all emerge from the 2022 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."
Wine Advocate
Score
91
Date
2024-10-17
"Blended from a number of vineyards, including some barrels from single vineyards that get"
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2023
James Suckling
Score
94
Date
2025-04-03
"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."
2023
Wine Spectator
Score
94
Date
2025-04-09
"Jammy and generous, with bold aromatics, this red is a pleasure to 6,000 cases made. - TF"
2023
Vinous
Score
92
Date
2025-07-08
"The 2023 Zinfandel Black Chicken is an absolute delight. Plump, juicy and open-knit, Black Chicken is one the most accessible wines in this range. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, pomegranate and a refreshing kick of blood orange all meld together effortlessly."
2023
Wine Advocate
Score
92
Date
2025-06-12
"Assembled from several vineyards around Napa with an average vine age of about 40 years, the 2023 Zinfandel Black Chicken features raspberries and cherries up front plus hints of stone fruit and cracked pepper. It's medium- to full-bodied, supple across the mid-palate, then firms up a bit on the bright, refreshing finish."