Robert Biale, Black Chicken, Zinfandel, 2023, 14.7% abv.
Nose: barely sniffable. Good yeasty fruit aromatics, a good amount of bramble fruit, bit of iron and nickel on deeper inhalations. Grape juice gets stronger but never into the jammy regime. Not bad.
Palate: light to medium body, entry is nice and sweet, mid palate shows ripe bramble fruit juice dominated by boysenberries, black cherries, and blackberries, supported by lighter contributions from blueberries and currants, initial sips show feint iron which appear to dissolve on subsequent sips, slightly saltier with each sip. Interestingly back palate hints at bready and metallic elements. Alcohol is there but not distracting. Very good stuff.
Finish: short, dry, bramble fruit seltzer, black cherry syrup, light alcohol.
Vernacular: nose is primary bramble with secondary accoutrements. Medium body, balanced and somewhat well-structured, light acidity with good primary elements, light minerality buy medium salinity, light secondary, chalky tannins, light alcohol. Short finish, dry, reflects palate.
Deservedly popular Zinfandel. Even though the alcohol was there, it seemed more integrated relative to some > 15.0% Ridge and Turleys. Got this for USD$49 in Los Angeles, USA. Great value and I'll be generous in my evaluation, wonder if I have time to get more…?
Grade: B
by starvinggigolo
3 Comments
This was recommended to me by my local wine shop. I agree with your notes, especially the comparison to Ridge and Turly.
I put it in the 91-92 range.
Thanks for the review.
Love the Black Chicken
Do you mean a light alcohol burn?
You say light alcohol and it’s definitely not