Robert Biale, Old Kraft Zinfandel, St. Helena

Fruity still great color but once opened you have to drink the bottle. It is on the edge of turning. Ready to drink.

2009 vintage

still big bold and delightful

2009 vintage

Decanter for one and one half hours. This was very well liked in the flight. Big and jammy. BlackBerry preserves on the nose. This is about as good as this wine gets. Typical peppery finish. Went great with spicy salami.

2009 vintage

Very good.

2009 vintage

Pnp. This wine is in a great place right now. Goes great with spicy food. Deep, dark and unctuous. Another great Biale zin.

2009 vintage

Had with chocolate fig lava cake. An awesome pairing. Some bricking on the edge with deep purple base. A light nose of jam and flower after an hour decant. Soft and lush on the palate with well integrated tannins. Figs!

2009 vintage

First sip straight off the PnP and it's just singing. In mint condition after almost a decade. Tannins and alcohol ("only" 15.2%) are both well-integrated. Salted caramel, blackberry, maraschino cherry, leather, raisinet. Polished and classy. Absolutely at peak; drink now. Loving it paired with a Drew Estate Tabak Especial Dulce, but any moderately-robust cigar should do the trick..

2009 vintage

Best after 2 hour decant. Solid zin but not sure how much better and it's going to get. Also, not quite as good as some of the other great zin producers, ie bedrock, ridge, Carlisle, Limerick lane.

2009 vintage

Very good.

2009 vintage

Opened and poured as we were in the mood for a jam bomb. Big, smoky black berry stained nose, with some toasty or pruney elements on a traditional zinberry frame. Jammy but not too sweet. Not exceptionally complex, but overall a good drink, with moderate tannins that don't clamp down. ABV not noticeably detracting either. Solid.

2009 vintage

Excellent nose, although still a little bit 'hot'. Gorgeous rich palate. Seems like it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar.

2009 vintage

Excellent after all these years. Could only be happier if I could by more.

2009 vintage

Fresh and lively on the nose, soft on the palate with long length on the finish. My only bottle, but I will try to keep it on my mind when I receive my shipments.

2009 vintage

Dark red fruits with some nice light spice notes, deep, complex body and nice integrated acidity for a clean finish

2009 vintage

Solid zin from Biale. Nose, fruit, mouthfeel and finish all seem to be just right. Just a hint of zin sweetness but very subdued. Medium complexity with plenty of upfront red fruit - heavy on the raspberries.

2009 vintage

Dense nose of brush, black fruit, and dusty and smoky notes. Graphite, iron, and dry blackberry form an austere palate with a vein of acidity that cuts through it and leads to a finish of oak, smoky brush, and a bitter tannic finish. There simply isn't enough fruit here to balance things. Tasted even worse after a couple more days.

2009 vintage

Strained for sediment (lots) and decanted approx. 30 min. ... This is chock full of bright, red fruits. Sweet strawberries soaked in mocha cream and backed by black pepper and baking spice. Warm and rich and lush and smooth. Beautiful Zin, drinking wonderfully right now.

2009 vintage

36th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2009s (Rich & Dana's) : Aromas of raspberry preserves and pepper with an earthy, forest floor-like undertone. Raspberry and jammy red fruit on the palate ending with spice and pepper nuances. Fruit forward and lush without being overly ripe or raisiny. 92+ pts. My #1, Domino's #1 Group #1, 25 pts

2009 vintage

Nice fruit, mellow side

2009 vintage

Best of the Biale's the night.

2009 vintage

Tried this one immediately after the Biale Zapatore. This was excellent, but not as complex as the Zapatore. Fruit was more forward and tasted of strawberry and cherry cola. Mild (if any) tannins and none of the peppery finish found in the Zapatore.

2009 vintage

No notes - I enjoyed this. Not an over ripe Zin and went well with food.

2009 vintage

2012 Historic Vineyard Society Dinner (Bedrock Vineyard, Sonoma, California) : Dark ruby color; tart red plum, black currant nose; tight, tasty, tart black currant, ripe plum, mineral palate; needs 3 years; medium-plus finish

2009 vintage

Biale can do no wrong with Zins.

2009 vintage

Very good, as always, nice mocha flavor, but a bit short of other Biale Zins as far as fruit and generally.

2009 vintage

? Welch's grape juice on opening. very strong grapey component which blows off and leaves a (very) delicious briary zin. No, this is not a contemplative wine, but... it is full of blackberry, mulberry, milk chocolatey fruit and completely avoids the heavy dullness of other big zins. Is this a great wine? I don't know, because I was too busy enjoying it to even think about it. For what it is, better than ****

2009 vintage

disapointing - it is nice and the zinfandel is obvious - but was actually a little bit bored drinking it

2009 vintage

My wife won't drink any other red than Biale. Expensive taste! But great juice.

2009 vintage

Has more of the underlying aspects of good Zinfandel, such as gravel, some wood and a touch of bay laurel, but lacks the concentrated frut and joyful broadcast of bright flavor that other Biale Zinfandels possess. Seems not fully formed, but I doubt aging will improve it much.

2009 vintage

Great Smells, Zin

2009 vintage

Dark berry and cherry notes jump from the glass of this dense, dark ruby/plum-colored wine. Beautifully plush, rich flavors and a long finish. Rich, full-bodied and lusty when allowed to open up for 45 minutes or so. This big wine should drink nicely for 4-5 years. I plan to keep mine put away in my conditioned cellar and try again this time in 2012.

2009 vintage

Delicous Zin. Notes of mocha, not much pepper, really an impressive wine. Will be even better in a year.

2009 vintage

Tasting at Robert Biale : Blended from two vineyards, the Grande, planted in 1905, and the R.W. Moore, planted in 1920. Bright garnet color. Notes of raspberry liqueur, brambly red fruit and spice. Wonderful balance; flavors of pepper, black cherry and raspberry. $39/btl.

2009 vintage

Family Winemakers. Nose of jam preserves, mocha java, and wet sage, more of the same on the palate, mouth filling, tasty, unique, and a long finish.

2009 vintage

Bouquet of dust, minerals and muted dark fruit. Could've passed for a CDP. No heat on nose or pallet. Nice tartness and acidity levels; not dry or tannic. A definite drink now and opens up nicely after 15 minutes. What I like most about this wine is the dustiness throughout the entire tasting experience and the sensational balance. Jammy Lip smacker---drink at 60-65 degrees---not room temp.

2009 vintage

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Robert Biale, Old Kraft Zinfandel, St. Helena

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