Robert Biale "Party Line" Zinfandel, California, 2023
Robert Biale is one of the iconic California Zinfandel producers that should not be missed, alongside Turley and Ridge. "Party Line" celebrates the tradition of Zinfandel when California’s wine-growing families and the days when shared phones called ‘party lines’ were common in rural areas.
"Vibrant aromas of cranberry, raspberry, clove, and white pepper in the glass. Notes of strawberry, Bing cherry, and dried herbs on the palate are punctuated by high tones of pomegranate. Fresh acidity, supple tannins and a long, lingering finish complete the 2023 Party Line Zinfandel. " — Winemaker Tasting Notes
For over 30 years, Robert Biale Vineyards has stood as California's revered benchmark for heritage Zinfandel, transforming an Italian immigrant family's Prohibition-era bootleg operation into legendary status. The story begins with Pietro Biale, who immigrated from near Genoa in the 1920s, and his son Aldo, who at age 14 began selling illicit homemade Zinfandel under the code name "Black Chicken" over party line phones in the 1940s. This clandestine operation, born from necessity during tough times, would eventually inspire one of Napa Valley's most celebrated wines.
Founded officially in 1991 when Robert Biale partnered with marketer Dave Pramuk to produce world-class wine from the oldest Zinfandel vines on their Oak Knoll District ranch, the winery has grown from 400 cases to become "recognized internationally by writers and sommeliers as being among California's very finest producers of Zinfandel" with acclaim from Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, and Decanter. Their flagship Black Chicken Zinfandel ranks #1 in Top 25 Californian Zinfandel wines and has earned numerous 90+ point scores.
Working with some of the oldest vineyard plantings in Napa Valley and neighboring Sonoma County, some dating to the 1880s, Biale sources from legendary sites including Monte Rosso, Stagecoach, and Grande Vineyard. Unusual for Zinfandel, Biale has established a house style utilizing intensive old-world Burgundian methodology that combines elegance and balance with Zinfandel's natural vibrance and intensity. Under winemaker David Natali's direction, these heritage vines produce what the family considers "living time capsules"—concentrated, age-worthy wines that preserve California's viticultural history while setting the modern standard for premium Zinfandel excellence.
