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2011 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (8/16/2014)
Popped, decanted, poured and followed for two plus hours. Large glasses, 23 oz. Atelier Cab/Merlot glasses. This is a very interesting wine, but not in a bad way. Interesting because I think I can taste where it is going, where it will be in another 5-10 years, but not because of premature aging. Behind the strong fruit (dark plum and cherry and blackberry) and background aromatics from some oak - like a very faint vanilla - there is meaty depth and earthiness that normally only shows up with age in a zinfandel. There are no signs of age from color (dark, almost impenetrable red), the cork was very tight, and the storage was fine, so I think it’s just an extra level of complexity that makes this an outstanding wine. More cerebral than most Zins.
The one surprise is that I generally get a lot of up front pepper in Outpost and other Howell Mountain Zins. I got less pepper in this wine than in the '09 and '10. (91 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
