Decanted at about 5:15, Dinner at 6:30. Followed until 11 pm. Owned since they released it. This is an astoundingly great wine. It gets ONLY a 95 because my wife and I are rating it against all wines made from all possible grapes. As a zinfandel against other zins, it's a 98.
Dark red fruit and berries, but it is not a jammy sweet fruit. It is more a mature brooding fruit half way between sweet and tart. The real driving force here is Howell Mountain smooth pepper and dessert herbs. There is also a tiny bit of smooth chocolate in the background, but again it is bittersweet chocolate, not sugary milk chocolate, The maturity is beginning to allow tertiary flavors giving it a return to the sweet fruit of madeira, but it's odd because it seems to exist not from oxidation or being over the hill, but from a build up of extra flavor. The color is still impenetrably dark with no evidence of bricking.
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PnP. For me this was in the drink up category. Fruit there but unbalanced with the high alcohol being very present. It did have an interesting coffee mocha finish. If it had been served blind to me after it had 30 minutes of air, I would have guessed port.
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Popped and poured and needed some time to open up. Slightly muted for an Outpost to start, but opened up nicely. Had with barbecued ribs made extremely tender in the instant pot with dry spices and then caramelized the BBQ sauce on the grill - a nice combo.
Smooth flavors of blueberry, dark cherry and howell mountain spice. Even better on night 2.
My last of the 2010's - One of my favorite zins.
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PNP - Rich and dark. Nose of licorice and rose perfume. Palate of blackberries, blueberries and some humic richness ("forest floor"). Long powerful finish. Finished remainder 2 nights later... even a little better integrated.
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From a Magnum. The wine is singing. Alcohol, even at 16% is completely unnoticeable. Tannins also very relaxed. It's just smooth, especially for a Zin, while retaining the signature Zin pepper finish. Yet another TRB gem!
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Maroon in color. 16.1% ABV. Soaring nose of blue and black fruits, flowers and baking spices. Full bodied with medium to strong acidity. Lush, elegant and remarkably well balanced. Blueberry liqueur, black cherry, licorice and black pepper on the palate. The finish is long with dusty Howell Mountain tannins. Delicious Zinfandel that will drink well for the next 2-4 years.
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As the 50th anniversary of the album release has just passed, my over-arching comment on this wine is "Getting better all the time." Popped and poured and then followed for 2-1/2 hours. Spice like all the Howell Mountain zins, but there is more fruit coming out to balance out the pepper. There is just a tiny bit of sweetness, or not, depending on which taste you analyze, so it's fleeting. The finish is very long without the syrup of a goopy extremely fruit forward zin. The nose has a floral component to it. The ABV is 16.1%, but it is only noticeable on the nose. The balance of flavors take over for the alcohol on the palate.
This is still very primary. The age had perhaps calmed it down a bit and brought out more fruit, but This is no where near the "Zins converge with claret" stage of development. Our two favorite Zinfandels are Outpost and Black Sears, same AVA and same winemaker. Love them both.
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Nose starts with intense red berry fruit with a trace of darkness lurking in the shadows. Palate starts dark and dusty. It fills out quickly to a depth of black and blue fruit. 16.1% alcohol is noticeable.
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Very dark colored in the glass. So dark that it light isn't going through it. Nose is different than the palate. The nose gave off a slightly sweet component that was not to be found on tasting. Dark fruit flavors that are quite enjoyable.
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Dense but rich and fleshy, offering bold black currant, crushed pepper and toasty vanilla aromas, with complex black cherry, mineral and black olive flavors that are wrapped in big but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2022. 950 cases made. WS 93
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TRB delivers again. Dark purple in the glass, with an incredible nose of blue and black fruit and baking spices that you can smell from across the table. Just an awesome nose. On the palate, more of the same, with distinct blackberry notes, pepper, spice, and some slight florals. Decent acidity and a solid finish. Great wine that's drinking well now.
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Tasty, but shows a little too much sweetness to merit a higher score. The '11 is more balanced in that regard and, to me, is a better wine because of it.
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"ATS" Wine Group, Spring Gathering: Huge ABV but contained it perfectly with great balance. On open it seemed a bit one-dimensional and not as complex as the cabs, but picked up sophistication over the night and was singing some 3-4 hours in. Brambly blackberries on the fore, with spicy accents.
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Unbelievably well balanced and unbelievably different than the last bottle (or at least TN) from 18 months ago. Blueberry, pepper, flashes of bright red fruit. Really good two days after opening. Trying to get off of lists and this looks like a wine that one can get apart from the winery.
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Deep dark purple. Nose was green pepper, leather, earth, and spice. One fine Zin elegant taste with all of the above and some cherry. Long balanced finish. This is a really special wine
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almost to good to describe!. So balanced and full of flavor. It opened quickly with decanting letting the smoothness of the fruit complement the pepperiness.
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Deep dark purple in glass. Green pepper, blueberry and leather on the nose. The green pepper and blueberry carries through for tasting also some cherry and chocolate. This is one great Zin.
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I know probably not for everyone, and I took some extra time with this. Upon pnp'd, this baby hits you in the face with huge alc & fruit. Really smoothed out in the hour over dinner and went great with pizza. Really wish I had more, a lot more.
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Taste in pre shift at FHE. Wow we all loved this. Gorgeous ripe and juicy fruit but very high quality. Elegant and layered pepper and baking spice, some meaty notes but not over the top. A gentle touch on the palate but still the weight and flash of a high end California Zin. Plush blue raspberry, fig, anise and light caramel notes. Awesome wine. Highly recommended. Doesn't get much better for Cali Zin.
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Did not take formal notes, but in a word, outstanding. Big, rich red and black fruits on the nose and palate, and myriad delightful secondary characteristics of chocolate, baking spices as well. Good acidity, too, to stand up to the pasta it was paired with.
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This was fantastic. Great flavors and long finish. Just wish I had more. Outpost is a wonderful producer and one that I will continue to support. Great effort.
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Big, huge powerful zin... loads and loads of fruit and a wonderful raisiny finish like you'd expect in an Amarone. You could feel the 16.1% alcohol, but with so much fruit to go around, I'd call the wine well-balanced. I don't often gush over zins, but this was no ordinary zin!
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Great bouquet with pronounced black fruit, mocha, vanilla and spices. The nose is not the least bit overshadowed by the alcohol content. Color is light for a Zin - similar to a Willamette Valley Pinot. The flavor profile follows the bouquet and paired very nicely with the marbled NY Strip steak we served. Unlike some of the reviews I did not find this TRB Zin to be peppery like many other CA Zins.
If you're familiar with TRB wines, this Zin follows his signature style in every way. One of the best Zins I've tried in 2013.
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Popped, decanted, wait 15 minutes, then follow for a few hours. Outstanding. Pepper spice, chocolare, coffee, dark fruit and a long finish. Smooth, silky mouth feel. Dark fruit. A little bit of the edge that was there last year is gone and the overall profile is a bit smoother.
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Wine Institute of New Orleans; 11/5/2013-11/6/2013 (New Orleans, LA): Smoke, fig paste, plums and dried flowers on the nose. Juicy and fleshy on the palate, with firm tannins, some acid for balance. Pure, silky, full of blueberry, blackberry, smoke and green pepper. I need to drink more Howell Mountain Zinfandel.
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Taste of Howell Mountain. Nose of briar, minerals, black cherry and fig fruit, more of the same on the palate, big, chewy, needs three years to peak, long finish.
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This was better than the 2009 we tasted at the winery in May of 2012. This is from a zin vineyard close to the top of Howell Mountain. The winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown, my favorite among the new wave of Cali stars. Popped and poured at the Meadowlands Jets Tailgate at 11:30 in the morning. Drunk out of a large bowl Burg shaped glass. The flavor really blossomed after about 15 minutes of air. Lots of pepper spice with dark red fruit and acidity. This has 16.1% alcohol. I noticed it between the ears but not on the palate, a comment that was echoed by one of the other people who had a glass. No jammy fruit and no sweetness at all. Smooth and balanced, but a wine with stuffing. We drank this with ribs and smoked pulled pork. Not a wine to drink with veal marsala.
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Nice fruit. Alcohol was showing a bit too much even with the ribs. Not hot, but not balanced. Nice mountain fruit. Like the Outpost Zins. Can't afford the cabs although I like those also. Alcohol showed more on day 2.
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This is a great, unique zin. Dark and ruby red in color. berry on the nose and palate. Though the bottle says 16.% ABV, it was not in the least bit "hot". The wine is still quite young and could use more time in the bottle. Drank over two hours and it changed significantly. Upon opening and pouring, it was tight with distinct tannins. As it sat, opened up and mellowed out. I would definitely recommend a good 1 - 2 hour decant for this wine. That said, I enjoyed it pop 'n pour as well.
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I love Outpost and everything they do however that being said I am on the fence about this. While it maintained the rich explosive nose that is expected and fantastic however to me on the palate it was disjointed and unfocused with each aspect showing independently but not harmonious. I think it will integrate with time, 2010 is still a baby
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Dark ruby color, medium to heavy body, tastes of species and dark chocolate . Well balanced and smooth tannin. My wife, who loves Zinfandel, rated it as 94.
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Popped and poured - should have decanted a bit. Opened up nicely as time went on. Very young, but an excellent mix of red and black fruits. I detect pepper but it could use a tad more. Cocoa/mocha on the nose and palate, which was very pleasant. I have 2 more - will let them rest a while.
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Popped and poured. Initial notes of raspberry, brown sugar and Kirsch, with a wonderful mocha note picking up with time in glass. This may be the best Zin I've ever had.
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Blue and purple fruited nose with good spice and sage. Black pepper aromas as well. Dark, plummy and rich on the palate with zesty herbs. Dark and really nice.
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One of my favorite zinfandels I have had to date. Nicely balanced zin sweetness with some spice. Dark cherry, brown sugar with mild cinnamon spice. Not jammy or overextracted like many zins.
Good now and over the next few years. Will need to buy some more of this one.
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Great zin, my new favorite, really shows quality fruit. Drinkable now, give it an hour of air and it will be singing. Will go another several years. Must buy more.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Dark berries, woody spice, brown sugar and a floral undercurrent on the nose. More of the same on the palate, albeit in a fairly high-toned package. Very nicely balanced with acidity and tannins. In no way jammy or overly sweet, nor is there any sense of heat. Surprisingly long finish that seems to go on forever. I suspect this will benefits from a couple more years in the bottle. 90 pts or so for now, but another couple to reflect potential.
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For a young Zin I was wowed with its overall appeal. Fruit, with berry and Cherry, mild spice and minimal pepper. Decanted for an hour. Of my next 5 bottles are this good, I will be smiling.
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10/19/2022 - Ed B Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP from a magnum at a dinner party. No detailed notes. Smooth. Rich. Tasty. Drink up.
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6/12/2021 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted at about 5:15, Dinner at 6:30. Followed until 11 pm. Owned since they released it. This is an astoundingly great wine. It gets ONLY a 95 because my wife and I are rating it against all wines made from all possible grapes. As a zinfandel against other zins, it's a 98.
Dark red fruit and berries, but it is not a jammy sweet fruit. It is more a mature brooding fruit half way between sweet and tart. The real driving force here is Howell Mountain smooth pepper and dessert herbs. There is also a tiny bit of smooth chocolate in the background, but again it is bittersweet chocolate, not sugary milk chocolate, The maturity is beginning to allow tertiary flavors giving it a return to the sweet fruit of madeira, but it's odd because it seems to exist not from oxidation or being over the hill, but from a build up of extra flavor. The color is still impenetrably dark with no evidence of bricking.
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4/11/2021 - PSUSteve wrote: 88 Points
PnP. For me this was in the drink up category. Fruit there but unbalanced with the high alcohol being very present. It did have an interesting coffee mocha finish. If it had been served blind to me after it had 30 minutes of air, I would have guessed port.
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11/29/2019 - Bobbusch Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine still has some good backbone left. The fruit is still vibrant and evolved nicely over 2 days.
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1/8/2019 - DCSteve Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is singing right now. Spectacular.
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11/23/2018 - Ed B wrote: 91 Points
PnP at a dinner party. No detailed notes. Excellent. Well received. No need to drink now.
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8/8/2018 - Redrunners Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is still in a good place.
Popped and poured and needed some time to open up.
Slightly muted for an Outpost to start, but opened up nicely.
Had with barbecued ribs made extremely tender in the instant pot with dry spices and then caramelized the BBQ sauce on the grill - a nice combo.
Smooth flavors of blueberry, dark cherry and howell mountain spice.
Even better on night 2.
My last of the 2010's - One of my favorite zins.
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4/12/2018 - pkatz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent structured balanced zin.
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12/10/2017 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Lots of vanilla and rich oak, with big dark fruit and alcohol as well. Missing complexity and acidity to balance.
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11/17/2017 - Ecoenophile wrote: 92 Points
PNP - Rich and dark. Nose of licorice and rose perfume. Palate of blackberries, blueberries and some humic richness ("forest floor"). Long powerful finish. Finished remainder 2 nights later... even a little better integrated.
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9/2/2017 - DCSteve Likes this wine: 96 Points
From a Magnum. The wine is singing. Alcohol, even at 16% is completely unnoticeable. Tannins also very relaxed. It's just smooth, especially for a Zin, while retaining the signature Zin pepper finish. Yet another TRB gem!
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7/11/2017 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Maroon in color. 16.1% ABV. Soaring nose of blue and black fruits, flowers and baking spices. Full bodied with medium to strong acidity. Lush, elegant and remarkably well balanced. Blueberry liqueur, black cherry, licorice and black pepper on the palate. The finish is long with dusty Howell Mountain tannins. Delicious Zinfandel that will drink well for the next 2-4 years.
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6/4/2017 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 95 Points
As the 50th anniversary of the album release has just passed, my over-arching comment on this wine is "Getting better all the time." Popped and poured and then followed for 2-1/2 hours. Spice like all the Howell Mountain zins, but there is more fruit coming out to balance out the pepper. There is just a tiny bit of sweetness, or not, depending on which taste you analyze, so it's fleeting. The finish is very long without the syrup of a goopy extremely fruit forward zin. The nose has a floral component to it. The ABV is 16.1%, but it is only noticeable on the nose. The balance of flavors take over for the alcohol on the palate.
This is still very primary. The age had perhaps calmed it down a bit and brought out more fruit, but This is no where near the "Zins converge with claret" stage of development. Our two favorite Zinfandels are Outpost and Black Sears, same AVA and same winemaker. Love them both.
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6/2/2017 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose starts with intense red berry fruit with a trace of darkness lurking in the shadows. Palate starts dark and dusty. It fills out quickly to a depth of black and blue fruit. 16.1% alcohol is noticeable.
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2/13/2017 - Backdoctor wrote: 94 Points
A wine that wowed everyone. Fruit came out after 15 mins in glass. Wish I hd more!
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12/10/2016 - DawgByte Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an outstanding Zinfandel in every measurable way. TRB knocked this one out of the park.
The bouquet is exquisite, the structure and body are balanced, it has definable complexity, beautiful fruit and pairs extremely well with red meat.
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5/28/2016 - mkmast wrote: 92 Points
Very dark colored in the glass. So dark that it light isn't going through it. Nose is different than the palate. The nose gave off a slightly sweet component that was not to be found on tasting. Dark fruit flavors that are quite enjoyable.
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4/20/2016 - Radiology Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful Zin
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2/18/2016 - DENNISREITZ wrote:
Dense but rich and fleshy, offering bold black currant, crushed pepper and toasty vanilla aromas, with complex black cherry, mineral and black olive flavors that are wrapped in big but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2022. 950 cases made. WS 93
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2/6/2016 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Smooth, delicious and awesome
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12/5/2015 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
TRB delivers again. Dark purple in the glass, with an incredible nose of blue and black fruit and baking spices that you can smell from across the table. Just an awesome nose. On the palate, more of the same, with distinct blackberry notes, pepper, spice, and some slight florals. Decent acidity and a solid finish. Great wine that's drinking well now.
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9/6/2015 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
LICORICE AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE NOSE. BLACK CHERRIES, BLACK RASPBERRIES, AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. DEEP AND RICH WITH A LONG FINISH.
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8/1/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 89 Points
Tasty, but shows a little too much sweetness to merit a higher score. The '11 is more balanced in that regard and, to me, is a better wine because of it.
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6/20/2015 - Redrunners Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still my favorite Zinfandel.
Smooth and very well balanced for a zin.
Flavors of blueberry, some cherry and spice.
Had with a braised veal shank with risotto. This zin worked great with the savory food.
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5/30/2015 - pgb67 wrote: 92 Points
"ATS" Wine Group, Spring Gathering: Huge ABV but contained it perfectly with great balance. On open it seemed a bit one-dimensional and not as complex as the cabs, but picked up sophistication over the night and was singing some 3-4 hours in. Brambly blackberries on the fore, with spicy accents.
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4/24/2015 - patwjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
A great Zin. Nice ripe fruit but not overdone; dense. Got better as it opened up over 3 hours. Last glass 24 hours later was still really good.
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3/1/2015 - marka wrote: 93 Points
Unbelievably well balanced and unbelievably different than the last bottle (or at least TN) from 18 months ago. Blueberry, pepper, flashes of bright red fruit. Really good two days after opening. Trying to get off of lists and this looks like a wine that one can get apart from the winery.
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1/2/2015 - D.Callahan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious Zin with depth of flavor, balance and power.
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12/4/2014 - DCSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine is in a really good place right now.
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11/5/2014 - Jwd12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep dark purple. Nose was green pepper, leather, earth, and spice. One fine Zin elegant taste with all of the above and some cherry. Long balanced finish. This is a really special wine
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11/1/2014 - patwjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pop & pour. Dense fruit nose, but still a bit tight, though a nice treat. You can smell & taste the high quality, just give it more time.
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10/8/2014 - 2loyal Likes this wine: 93 Points
Somewhere between a Turley Pesenti and Ueberoth (not a bad neighborhood)!
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10/5/2014 - mkmast wrote: 94 Points
Maybe the most elegant zinfandel I have had. A real stunner.
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10/2/2014 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Went back to the well. Balanced and striking in both aroma and taste. Delightful.
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9/23/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Taste at FHE during pre shift.
Ripe classy styling. Sexy and feminine. Supple yet extremely complex. Peppery and light on its feet.
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7/12/2014 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 95 Points
almost to good to describe!. So balanced and full of flavor. It opened quickly with decanting letting the smoothness of the fruit complement the pepperiness.
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7/10/2014 - Jwd12 wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark purple in glass. Green pepper, blueberry and leather on the nose. The green pepper and blueberry carries through for tasting also some cherry and chocolate. This is one great Zin.
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6/30/2014 - AlexHop wrote: 90 Points
A little green the first day- green pepper, etc. That was gone the second day and everything was nice.
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5/29/2014 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I know probably not for everyone, and I took some extra time with this. Upon pnp'd, this baby hits you in the face with huge alc & fruit. Really smoothed out in the hour over dinner and went great with pizza. Really wish I had more, a lot more.
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5/15/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Taste in pre shift at FHE.
Wow we all loved this. Gorgeous ripe and juicy fruit but very high quality.
Elegant and layered pepper and baking spice, some meaty notes but not over the top.
A gentle touch on the palate but still the weight and flash of a high end California Zin.
Plush blue raspberry, fig, anise and light caramel notes. Awesome wine. Highly recommended.
Doesn't get much better for Cali Zin.
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3/28/2014 - rrschrumjr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Did not take formal notes, but in a word, outstanding. Big, rich red and black fruits on the nose and palate, and myriad delightful secondary characteristics of chocolate, baking spices as well. Good acidity, too, to stand up to the pasta it was paired with.
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3/10/2014 - Scott Butler Likes this wine:
Took to a tasting so I don't have solid notes, but it was a lot better than the bottle I drank last year.
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3/9/2014 - Encinitas_Joe wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic zin. Solid structure with plenty of fruit.
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3/1/2014 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
This was fantastic. Great flavors and long finish. Just wish I had more. Outpost is a wonderful producer and one that I will continue to support. Great effort.
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1/31/2014 - Encinitas_Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour. Beautiful effort.
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1/4/2014 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
Really tasty Zin. Bright fruits, a bit rustic and solid finish.
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12/21/2013 - Bakeman wrote: 90 Points
Very spicy Zin. Could use some bottle age. Wait a year.
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12/17/2013 - jpleedy wrote: 93 Points
Big, huge powerful zin... loads and loads of fruit and a wonderful raisiny finish like you'd expect in an Amarone. You could feel the 16.1% alcohol, but with so much fruit to go around, I'd call the wine well-balanced. I don't often gush over zins, but this was no ordinary zin!
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12/14/2013 - DawgByte Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great bouquet with pronounced black fruit, mocha, vanilla and spices. The nose is not the least bit overshadowed by the alcohol content. Color is light for a Zin - similar to a Willamette Valley Pinot. The flavor profile follows the bouquet and paired very nicely with the marbled NY Strip steak we served. Unlike some of the reviews I did not find this TRB Zin to be peppery like many other CA Zins.
If you're familiar with TRB wines, this Zin follows his signature style in every way. One of the best Zins I've tried in 2013.
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11/23/2013 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 94 Points
Popped, decanted, wait 15 minutes, then follow for a few hours. Outstanding. Pepper spice, chocolare, coffee, dark fruit and a long finish. Smooth, silky mouth feel. Dark fruit. A little bit of the edge that was there last year is gone and the overall profile is a bit smoother.
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11/5/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
Wine Institute of New Orleans; 11/5/2013-11/6/2013 (New Orleans, LA): Smoke, fig paste, plums and dried flowers on the nose. Juicy and fleshy on the palate, with firm tannins, some acid for balance. Pure, silky, full of blueberry, blackberry, smoke and green pepper. I need to drink more Howell Mountain Zinfandel.
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11/2/2013 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Taste of Howell Mountain. Nose of briar, minerals, black cherry and fig fruit, more of the same on the palate, big, chewy, needs three years to peak, long finish.
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10/27/2013 - 1H2oMan wrote: 90 Points
Great zin
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9/11/2013 - Corkdork79 wrote: 94 Points
donated to SCDFFC
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9/8/2013 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 96 Points
This was better than the 2009 we tasted at the winery in May of 2012. This is from a zin vineyard close to the top of Howell Mountain. The winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown, my favorite among the new wave of Cali stars. Popped and poured at the Meadowlands Jets Tailgate at 11:30 in the morning. Drunk out of a large bowl Burg shaped glass. The flavor really blossomed after about 15 minutes of air. Lots of pepper spice with dark red fruit and acidity. This has 16.1% alcohol. I noticed it between the ears but not on the palate, a comment that was echoed by one of the other people who had a glass. No jammy fruit and no sweetness at all. Smooth and balanced, but a wine with stuffing. We drank this with ribs and smoked pulled pork. Not a wine to drink with veal marsala.
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7/27/2013 - Jwd12 wrote: 92 Points
Deep red big legs. Nose has green pepper, spices, and mild earth. Taste had the green pepper, some leather and coffee. Truly an exceptional zin
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7/6/2013 - konadog wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. A little raisiny with blue fruits some oak on the finish. Will let the others sleep for a couple of years
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7/1/2013 - marka wrote: 88 Points
Nice fruit. Alcohol was showing a bit too much even with the ribs. Not hot, but not balanced. Nice mountain fruit. Like the Outpost Zins. Can't afford the cabs although I like those also. Alcohol showed more on day 2.
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6/7/2013 - DCSteve wrote: 92 Points
This is a great, unique zin. Dark and ruby red in color. berry on the nose and palate. Though the bottle says 16.% ABV, it was not in the least bit "hot". The wine is still quite young and could use more time in the bottle. Drank over two hours and it changed significantly. Upon opening and pouring, it was tight with distinct tannins. As it sat, opened up and mellowed out. I would definitely recommend a good 1 - 2 hour decant for this wine. That said, I enjoyed it pop 'n pour as well.
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6/1/2013 - Krrabalais wrote: 80 Points
Kristy gives it higher marks then her NOLA boyfriend
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5/17/2013 - skibum819 wrote: 90 Points
I love Outpost and everything they do however that being said I am on the fence about this. While it maintained the rich explosive nose that is expected and fantastic however to me on the palate it was disjointed and unfocused with each aspect showing independently but not harmonious. I think it will integrate with time, 2010 is still a baby
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4/28/2013 - Jimenez.susie@gmail.com wrote: 99 Points
W pasta at home
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4/24/2013 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color, medium to heavy body, tastes of species and dark chocolate . Well balanced and smooth tannin. My wife, who loves Zinfandel, rated it as 94.
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4/22/2013 - AlexHop wrote: 91 Points
Big and bold. Spices, a touch of iron and a bit grassy.
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3/30/2013 - Yostie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full bodied with pepper, spice and everything nice. Overall a great bottle of wine.
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2/23/2013 - absolutvodka wrote: 93 Points
Just an outstanding and unique Zin.
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1/27/2013 - absolutvodka wrote: 94 Points
Very unique wine that was a hit.
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1/23/2013 - konadog wrote:
Big wine with strong red and black fruits that avoid pruned/raisin notes. Good now but can only improve 91pts
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1/5/2013 - 1H2oMan wrote: 91 Points
Great wine
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1/4/2013 - jhieb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great stuff. Huge fruit, white pepper, and soft tannins. This could be my new favorite Zin.
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12/22/2012 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and drank over three hours. Very balanced with red fruit and a hint of spice. Seemed young and restrained. Will hold for a few years.
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12/17/2012 - Scott Butler Likes this wine:
Popped and poured - should have decanted a bit. Opened up nicely as time went on. Very young, but an excellent mix of red and black fruits. I detect pepper but it could use a tad more. Cocoa/mocha on the nose and palate, which was very pleasant. I have 2 more - will let them rest a while.
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12/12/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Initial notes of raspberry, brown sugar and Kirsch, with a wonderful mocha note picking up with time in glass. This may be the best Zin I've ever had.
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11/24/2012 - vegasoenophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blue and purple fruited nose with good spice and sage. Black pepper aromas as well. Dark, plummy and rich on the palate with zesty herbs. Dark and really nice.
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11/21/2012 - Redrunners wrote: 92 Points
One of my favorite zinfandels I have had to date.
Nicely balanced zin sweetness with some spice.
Dark cherry, brown sugar with mild cinnamon spice. Not jammy or overextracted like many zins.
Good now and over the next few years. Will need to buy some more of this one.
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11/17/2012 - BinVA wrote: 93 Points
Great zin, my new favorite, really shows quality fruit. Drinkable now, give it an hour of air and it will be singing. Will go another several years. Must buy more.
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11/16/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark berries, woody spice, brown sugar and a floral undercurrent on the nose. More of the same on the palate, albeit in a fairly high-toned package. Very nicely balanced with acidity and tannins. In no way jammy or overly sweet, nor is there any sense of heat. Surprisingly long finish that seems to go on forever. I suspect this will benefits from a couple more years in the bottle. 90 pts or so for now, but another couple to reflect potential.
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11/9/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Poured at a Howell Mt tasting. Rich, round fruit flavors that fill the palate without being too sweet or jammy. Soft tannins. My non-Cab WOTN.
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10/13/2012 - markandsusanw wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour ... Probably could use a bit of time. Very ripe with black pepper back end. Good but not a great QPR given the price point.
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12/22/2002 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 93 Points
For a young Zin I was wowed with its overall appeal. Fruit, with berry and Cherry, mild spice and minimal pepper. Decanted for an hour. Of my next 5 bottles are this good, I will be smiling.
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