Winemaker Notes
Outpost Zinfandel comes entirely from their estate property located at 2,200 feet in elevation. Grapes are harvested late in the season - by hand, at dawn - to preserve the full intensity and distinctive spicy character of the mountain fruit. Wines are neither fined or filtered allowing for the full expression of the vintages' potential.
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Outpost's 2023 Zinfandel marries ripe cherries with a wiry-briary character on the nose, but for now, this full-bodied wine is more complex on the palate, where the supple tannins are buttressed by notions of dried spices and cracked pepper on the lingering finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 100% Zinfandel and aged 20 months in French oak, the 2023 Zinfandel offers darker plums, flowery incense, sandalwood, and peppery nuances in a medium to full-bodied profile. It has a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel with integrated acidity and sweet tannins. This incredibly complex, satisfying, and nuanced Zinfandel is hard to resist.
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James Suckling
A classic zinfandel with deeply scented aromas of black currants, spices, dark chocolate, dried herbs and crushed stones. The palate is textural and rounded, with firmly framed yet refined tannins and a plush mouthfeel. There’s good balance of texture and structure, with a fair amount of alcohol.
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Vinous
The 2023 Zinfandel, bottled just a few months ago, offers an attractive combination of energy and Howell Mountain darkness. Black cherry, lavender, spice, mint and floral overtones lend notable energy throughout. As is often the case, the Outpost Zinfandel is incredibly distinctive.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Today Cabernet Sauvignon is the star of this part of Napa’s rugged, eastern hills, but Zinfandel was responsible for giving the Howell Mountain growing area its original fame in the late 1800s.
Winemaking in Howell Mountain was abandoned during Prohibition, and wasn’t reawakened until the arrival of Randy Dunn, a talented winemaker famous for the success of Caymus in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early eighties, he set his sights on the Napa hills and subsequently astonished the wine world with a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Shortly thereafter Howell Mountain became officially recognized as the first sub-region of Napa Valley (1983).
With vineyards at 1,400 to 2,000 feet in elevation, they predominantly sit above the fog line but the days in Howell Mountain remain cooler than those in the heart of the valley, giving the grapes a bit more time on the vine.
The Howell Mountain AVA includes 1,000 acres of vineyards interspersed by forestlands in the Vaca Mountains. The soils, shallow and infertile with good drainage, are volcanic ash and red clay and produce highly concentrated berries with thick skins. The resulting wines are full of structure and potential to age.
Today Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah thrive in this sub-appellation, as well as its founding variety, Zinfandel.