This bold red wine is complex and sophisticated with striking ripe aromatics. When poured into a glass, it explodes with notes of wild blackberries, jasmine, sage, wild iris, and mixed berry compote. Firm and succulent on the mid-palate, the tannin of this wine makes for a long and juicy finish.
Situated in and around Atlas Peak, Pritchard Hill, and Oakville, this location encompasses hundreds of acres of prime mountain vineyards that supply winemakers with prized grapes to create award-winning wines. However, unlike many producers growing grapes in this region, Biale stands out from the rest. We are the only winery bold and dedicated enough to produce a Zinfandel from this region, and after 17 years of crafting this wine, it’s definitely worth the expense, trouble, and long treks beyond Atlas Peak.
At harvest, the fruit is hand-picked and sorted to ensure that only the best fruit makes it into the fermenter. The grapes are crushed, and gravity fed into the open-top tanks. The must is cold soaked for 2 to 4 days at 50°F and then inoculated with commercial yeast strains. For color and tannin extraction, we perform 2 to 3 punch downs per day. Fermentation is typically completed after 14 to 16 days at a maximum temperature of 86°F. At dryness, we lightly press and store the wine into 100% Burgundy oak barrels (20% new), where malolactic fermentation is completed. The wine is aged for up to 14 months.