2014 Outpost Zinfandel
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Zinfandel Howell Mountain is a deep, dark wine endowed with serious intensity. The dark fruit, chocolate and spice flavors show elevated ripeness and a bit more prominent alcohol than is typical for this wine. This is a distinctly ripe style of Howell Mountain Zinfandel.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Their 2014 Zinfandel from Howell Mountain is 100% Zinfandel aged 16 months in 34% new French oak, They make just under 1,000 cases of this wine, which offers up a dense ruby/purple color and a big, sweet kiss of licorice, barbecue smoke, charcoal, steak tartare, pepper and Provençal herbs. It is lush, ripe, generously endowed, full-bodied and a sexy beast. Drink it over the next 6-7 years.
The 2014 Zinfandel Howell Mountain comes across as raw and not fully formed. Plum, hard candy, mint, lavender and iron are some of the notes that emerge, but the 2014 is reticent today, with a real push and pull between the tannins and the purity of the fruit. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the coming year.