2021 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain, USA

Winemaker Notes
This Zinfandel is all hand-harvested from Outpost's organically-farmed estate vineyard, which sits on top of Howell Mountain at 2,200 feet above Napa Valley. The unique terroir is defined by hard, rocky red soil, high altitude, gentle cooling breezes and sunny western exposure. Outpost grapes are harvested late in the season – by hand, at dawn – to preserve the full intensity and distinctive spicy character of the mountain fruit. The grapes are processed with as little manipulation as possible. Grapes from each block within the vineyard are fermented separately so that the winemaking team can be very selective about the lots that comprise the final blend. The wine is aged in 80% in new French Oak barrels for 19 months. Wines are neither fined nor filtered allowing for the full expression of the vintages’ potential. 

Press
Rated 94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.

Rated 93 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of cedarwood, cigar tobacco, and exotic red and blue fruits emerge from the 2021 Zinfandel, a medium-bodied, supple, beautifully textured Zinfandel. It's certainly not holding anything back and is terrific today, yet it will no doubt evolve for a solid decade.