Description
First Grade is a special winemaker’s cuvée from Robert Biale Vineyards, created to showcase the very best Zinfandel of each vintage. For 2019, winemaker Tres Goetting selected exceptional clusters from three Oak Knoll District estate blocks, with additional fruit from Aldo’s Vineyard and Stagecoach Vineyard. Only 117 cases were produced.
The vintage’s long, warm summer and mild finish allowed the fruit to develop excellent colour and structure while retaining the freshness and acidity that give the wine its balance. The result is a concentrated yet remarkably refined expression of Napa Zinfandel, with aromas of blackberry, raspberry preserve, violet and dried flowers alongside fig, cinnamon and vanilla wafer.
The palate is rich and textured, but never loses its sense of proportion. Ripe dark fruit is balanced by vibrant acidity and soft, polished tannins, while the supporting Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane and Early Burgundy add layers of spice, colour and savoury complexity.
Aged for 16 months in French Burgundy barrels, half of them new, the oak adds gentle sweetness and spice while allowing the vineyard character to remain at the forefront. Powerful, poised and built for the long haul, this is Zinfandel with real depth and refinement.