Happy 4th from Grapelive
By Kerry Winslow
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2009 Robert Biale Zinfandel “Black Chicken” Estate, Napa Valley.
Black Chicken Zin, named after Aldo Biale’s codeword for secret wine sales during the proibition, is one of the best Zinfandel’s produced and the 2009 is a stunner! This all American, California great has intense and vibrant black and red fruits, briery spices, sweet smooth tannins and texture and a long fruit driven finish. This wine screams excitement and has lots of dry port extract and thickness, but still feels fresh. Bold and brash Zinfandel flavors hold firm start to finish with mountain blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and plum fruits and hints of cedar, mocha and pie-filling. Best to enjoy this big wine young and with hard cheeses and or BBQed meats, a near perfect 4th of July red to savor with flags and fireworks!
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
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