2021 Outpost Wines Zinfandel Napa Valley Howell Mountain

"These are some of the very finest wines I have tasted from Outpost since I first visited the winery nearly twenty years ago. There's still plenty of the textural richness readers have come to expect, but the 2021s also show an added touch of detail and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. Hopefully, the 2021s are a sign of things to come."

Outpost is a cult-status winery established in 1998 by Terry and Juli Pringle. This rare and exclusive estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Grenache from one of Napa’s most prestigious AVAs, Howell Mountain.

Since 2018, the estate has been owned by the insurance group, AXA Millésimes, a company that owns wineries in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Portugal, and Hungary.

These unique wines are crafted by legendary winemaker, Thomas Brown, the masterman behind  40 projects in Napa and Sonoma, including cult classics like Schrader Cellars, Maybach Family Vineyards, and Revana Family Vineyard. Thomaswas named “Winemaker of the Year” by Food & Wine magazine in 2010.

Aging: 13 months in French oak barrels

100% Zinfandel. This Zinfandel opens with enticing aromas of blackberry and raspberry compote, vanilla bean, boysenberry kirsch, and a hint of tobacco leaf. It displays a deep, brilliant color with garnet edges in the glass. The wine is well-balanced and concentrated, with polished, sweet tannins that lead to a long, lingering finish—making it utterly irresistible.

From vines planted in 1999 and 2010, Outpost's 2021 Zinfandel delivers classic briary, blackberry notes but also those blueberry nuances that seem somehow connected with Howell Mountain. Hints of dried spices, including a dash of cracked pepper, bring added complexity. This is full-bodied, ripe, rich and nicely textured, with a long, velvety finish.~94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Zinfandel is another beautiful wine from this team. Red plums, sandalwood, spice, and hints of iron give way to a medium-bodied, balanced, concentrated Zinfandel that has ripe tannins and a layered, balanced, already hard-to-resist style. ~93-95 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Zinfandel (Howell Mountain) is a very pretty, nuanced wine that shows how compelling Zinfandel can be on Howell Mountain. Silky tannins and lifted floral aromatics make an immediate impression. All the elements are so well balanced. Crushed red flowers, mint, spice, white pepper and cedar linger on the bright, saline finish. ~93 Vinous Media

Aromas of plums and sweet cherries with flowers and tile. Candied fruits. Burnt orange. Full-bodied, juicy flavors with dried fruit. Very typical for Zin. Drink now. ~92 James Suckling

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