As great as ever. Served with grilled ribeyes, au gratin and garlic whipped potatoes, corn and veggies. Still going strong. Seven more bottles left, which makes me very happy
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I like this wine alot. Great balance of cali fruit and structured acidity. tannins very smooth and resolved. I'd like a little more complexity but not complaining. One of the nicer aged Cali Cabs I've had. I'd recommend drinking. Im excited for my Trues. I suspect they will age beautifully.
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a really nice, competent california cab. I would start to drink this vintage now as the fruit on the finish is starting to lose some of its luster. Great peppery mid-palate. Decanted and drank over an hour and a half. Hoping some of the other vintages offer a little more complexity but there isn't anything wrong with this wine!!
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Blue fruits, red currant and a hint of black currant, dusty cocoa, crushed rocks, tobacco, mint/green herbs and violets. Palate at this point is still very wound up, with high tone fruits, acids, and abundant tannins. Despite the complexity of the bouquet, still comes off as youthfully brash and very primary. Won't open by other bottle for 7 to 10 years.
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Decanted an hour and improved in the glass over time. The structure overwhelmed the fruit a bit and I think this could use more time in the cellar. The palate showed plum, cranberry and some heat. Acidity kept it fresh with food but a little stronger than hoped for.
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Popped n poured. Needs to decant. Tannins are there yet smooth, masks some of the fruit. Was also cold out of my wine fridge. Need to give the next bottle some time and tlc to get the most out of the good stuff that's there.
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With Sunday dinner of grilled ribeyes and mushrooms. Delicious wine! Full-flavored mountain cabernet. Tannins are mostly resolved, though I think this has a few years ahead on the drinking plateau. It's been a few years since I tasted this wine. Had to move 7 cases to get to my case of 03 cab at the back of the cellar (why I put there I don't know). But it was worth it. I LOVE everything about Outpost -- cabs, petite sirah, grenache, even zin. What a great winery that's under the radar to many wine lovers
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First night very nice but had to work to get the wine to open. The next day it was everything I like in a cab fruit there but restrained and the tannins in balance still with a backbone. This is drinking great!
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I have not been a fan of 03 napa cabs in general so I pulled this bottle to validate my conviction. Big brooding wine with gritty razor sharp tannins, tobacco, cedar & a hint of anise. This wine has potential and really needs food to show its best. HOLD 50+5+13+16+6=90
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Excellent. After 45 minutes of air found cedar, black cherry and dust on the nose. In mouth, jammy blackberries and currant. Agree with "exotic wood spice". On a structure of silky tanins, which were not overly dry for me.
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Opened bottle from cellar at 55 degrees F. Screened, aerated and poured into large glass decanter and left to stand at room temperature. There was a moderate amount of sediment in the screen and left in the bottle. The color was inky and very deep dark cherry. The nose was not immediately available, only after about 30 minutes did the nose begin to emerge with hints of dark fruit and floral notes. The taste was also restrained after 30 minutes and the tannins while moderate were drying on the palate. The finish was short. Not at all the big CA fruit bomb that I had expected. After 90 minutes I poured a full glass, the nose was developing well with exploding bing cherry and floral scents. The taste was still subdue with dark fruit, Asian spices and toasted oak. After 2 hours the nose was big and broad still dominated by bing cherry and waves of spring flowers. On the palate the tannins still dominate resulting in a dry and mouth puckering finish. The structure and balance leads me to believe this wine has great potential for integration and softening of the tannins with a few more years in the cellar. 92 points
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It's been a year after my last bottle of this, which I scored 98pts, and garnered the best cab of 2003. Another bottle tonight with some cheeseburgers......dark saturated black cherry color, exotic white pepper, perfume florals, cherry, blackberry, ripe plum, smoked wood nose. Not as intense and exotic a nose as the last one. Lush and full bodied in the mouth....rich oozzing wild berry fruit, kirsch liqueur, smoked paprika/white pepper spice, dark chocolate cherries. Again, not as intense as the last...the wine has balanced well, maybe a little more "Port-like", more plum coming out instead of the exotic wood spice. Still has an amazing floralness of white blossoms, which is a signature in Outpost wines...as well as that distinct mountain spice and exotic wood flavors. This wine is beginning to show some age.....still super super tasty, but not as profound as last year. Another example that the 2003 Vintage (Worldwide) should be consumed young! They are not meant to age too long. Still, my favorite 2003 Calif. Cabernet.
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Popped and poured and was disappointed in the complete lack of nose immediately out of the bottle. However, after just a few minutes the aromatics marshalled and made themselves known. Kirsch, some cedar/wood, delicate red fruits. There's also an interesting "meatiness" to this, thought I don't think I'd mistake it for the meat/bacon fat of a Rhone or big California Syrah. On the palate this showed red and blue fruits, tannins that are starting to soften but still noticeable, dusty cocoa/chocolate, and strawberry shake on the finish. This is definitely a New World wine with a lot of fruit, but it's put together in the restraine, focused TRB sort of way.
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Very saturated dark blackcherry/blackberry in color. GOD THE NOSE!!! Huge exotic white floral spice, blackberry liqueur, oozzzing wild berry pie, sweet dusty cherry pixy spice, exotic smoked wood. I could smell this all day long! In the mouth....pucker tight, dry dusty tannin...yet the wild black fruit gushes with sweetness and perfume. That signature Outpost spice surrounds your mouth...very complex. Wonderful exotic woods, dark chocolate, floral white blossoms, coffee encrusted steaks(I'm tellin ya!). Lots in this one....very unique for Cabernet...will get even better...could drink this all day! Easy decision on the current mailer!
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sometime you feel like a juicy luscious new world fruit bomb. This fit the bill. I am wondering whether any complexity will form in a few years. We'll wait on the rest of the bottles to see.
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As great as the last bottle. Edged out a 2001 Vine Cliff cab with Sunday dinner of grilled NY strips, garlic mash and corn on the cob. Love this wine and this winery. Had a great visit with Frank Dotzler atop Howell Mtn. two weeks ago. Can't wait to try The Other petite sirah and the Grenache
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Delicious. My first bottle from this producer. Like it so much that I went back and bought the rest of the case. Surprisingly approachable for a 2003. Dark color. Nose of black fruits. Lush, balanced. Tannins very much in evidence. Long finish. This can only get better, I think.
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Pretty approachable given the (lack of) age. Lots of dark, concentrated fruit on the nose - blackberry and boysenberry - with hints of flowers. Ripe and lush on the palate, although a few years will do the tannins good as they're a bit drying right now. Plum, blackberry and a bit of rhubarb. Good structure and balance. Finish length is medium.
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6/5/2015 - PBCguy Does not like this wine:
past its prime. Maybe its just this bottle but i would drink it while you can!
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1/18/2014 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 93 Points
As great as ever. Served with grilled ribeyes, au gratin and garlic whipped potatoes, corn and veggies. Still going strong. Seven more bottles left, which makes me very happy
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6/13/2013 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
Drinking really well right now..even a pnp...sorry this is my last one.
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5/11/2013 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking great, especially with a grilled ribeye, spicy sweet potato chips and veggies
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7/18/2012 - texaswinelover wrote: 94 Points
I like this wine alot. Great balance of cali fruit and structured acidity. tannins very smooth and resolved. I'd like a little more complexity but not complaining. One of the nicer aged Cali Cabs I've had. I'd recommend drinking. Im excited for my Trues. I suspect they will age beautifully.
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8/14/2011 - patwjr wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Big fruit with medium tannins. Needs a decant or more cellar time, though we enjoyed it for the big CA Howell Mtn Cab it is.
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7/19/2011 - PBCguy wrote: 88 Points
a really nice, competent california cab. I would start to drink this vintage now as the fruit on the finish is starting to lose some of its luster. Great peppery mid-palate. Decanted and drank over an hour and a half. Hoping some of the other vintages offer a little more complexity but there isn't anything wrong with this wine!!
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5/17/2011 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
James birthday
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5/15/2011 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Blue fruits, red currant and a hint of black currant, dusty cocoa, crushed rocks, tobacco, mint/green herbs and violets. Palate at this point is still very wound up, with high tone fruits, acids, and abundant tannins. Despite the complexity of the bouquet, still comes off as youthfully brash and very primary. Won't open by other bottle for 7 to 10 years.
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3/14/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 91 Points
Decanted an hour and improved in the glass over time. The structure overwhelmed the fruit a bit and I think this could use more time in the cellar. The palate showed plum, cranberry and some heat. Acidity kept it fresh with food but a little stronger than hoped for.
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2/4/2011 - patwjr wrote: 92 Points
Popped n poured. Needs to decant. Tannins are there yet smooth, masks some of the fruit. Was also cold out of my wine fridge. Need to give the next bottle some time and tlc to get the most out of the good stuff that's there.
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9/12/2010 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
Wow, a lot of my 2003 cali cabs are showing well, especially Outpost. Who would have thunk it?
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8/8/2010 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
More closed than before. Needs more time, or big decant.
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7/25/2010 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
With Sunday dinner of grilled ribeyes and mushrooms. Delicious wine! Full-flavored mountain cabernet. Tannins are mostly resolved, though I think this has a few years ahead on the drinking plateau. It's been a few years since I tasted this wine. Had to move 7 cases to get to my case of 03 cab at the back of the cellar (why I put there I don't know). But it was worth it. I LOVE everything about Outpost -- cabs, petite sirah, grenache, even zin. What a great winery that's under the radar to many wine lovers
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6/5/2010 - Slvrfish wrote: 95 Points
First night very nice but had to work to get the wine to open. The next day it was everything I like in a cab fruit there but restrained and the tannins in balance still with a backbone. This is drinking great!
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10/13/2009 - Mrbuzz wrote: 95 Points
great bottle!
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2/10/2009 - Alex G. wrote: flawed
Corked
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7/13/2008 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
I have not been a fan of 03 napa cabs in general so I pulled this bottle to validate my conviction. Big brooding wine with gritty razor sharp tannins, tobacco, cedar & a hint of anise. This wine has potential and really needs food to show its best. HOLD
50+5+13+16+6=90
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3/29/2008 - tairanosaurus wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. After 45 minutes of air found cedar, black cherry and dust on the nose. In mouth, jammy blackberries and currant. Agree with "exotic wood spice". On a structure of silky tanins, which were not overly dry for me.
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2/18/2008 - mrjvjohnson wrote: 92 Points
Opened bottle from cellar at 55 degrees F. Screened, aerated and poured into large glass decanter and left to stand at room temperature. There was a moderate amount of sediment in the screen and left in the bottle. The color was inky and very deep dark cherry. The nose was not immediately available, only after about 30 minutes did the nose begin to emerge with hints of dark fruit and floral notes. The taste was also restrained after 30 minutes and the tannins while moderate were drying on the palate. The finish was short. Not at all the big CA fruit bomb that I had expected. After 90 minutes I poured a full glass, the nose was developing well with exploding bing cherry and floral scents. The taste was still subdue with dark fruit, Asian spices and toasted oak. After 2 hours the nose was big and broad still dominated by bing cherry and waves of spring flowers. On the palate the tannins still dominate resulting in a dry and mouth puckering finish. The structure and balance leads me to believe this wine has great potential for integration and softening of the tannins with a few more years in the cellar. 92 points
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2/1/2008 - Mrbuzz wrote: 95 Points
It's been a year after my last bottle of this, which I scored 98pts, and garnered the best cab of 2003. Another bottle tonight with some cheeseburgers......dark saturated black cherry color, exotic white pepper, perfume florals, cherry, blackberry, ripe plum, smoked wood nose. Not as intense and exotic a nose as the last one. Lush and full bodied in the mouth....rich oozzing wild berry fruit, kirsch liqueur, smoked paprika/white pepper spice, dark chocolate cherries. Again, not as intense as the last...the wine has balanced well, maybe a little more "Port-like", more plum coming out instead of the exotic wood spice. Still has an amazing floralness of white blossoms, which is a signature in Outpost wines...as well as that distinct mountain spice and exotic wood flavors. This wine is beginning to show some age.....still super super tasty, but not as profound as last year. Another example that the 2003 Vintage (Worldwide) should be consumed young! They are not meant to age too long. Still, my favorite 2003 Calif. Cabernet.
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6/5/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Required aeration. Rich and opulent, excellent QPR. Compared favorably to the stellar 96's I had at DUO, Monday night.
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3/17/2007 - MarkC wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured and was disappointed in the complete lack of nose immediately out of the bottle. However, after just a few minutes the aromatics marshalled and made themselves known. Kirsch, some cedar/wood, delicate red fruits. There's also an interesting "meatiness" to this, thought I don't think I'd mistake it for the meat/bacon fat of a Rhone or big California Syrah. On the palate this showed red and blue fruits, tannins that are starting to soften but still noticeable, dusty cocoa/chocolate, and strawberry shake on the finish. This is definitely a New World wine with a lot of fruit, but it's put together in the restraine, focused TRB sort of way.
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3/7/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 91 Points
Backstreet - California Cabernets (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix, AZ): Oak. Relatively restrained.
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3/7/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 87 Points
Phoenix eRP Offline - California Cabernet Sauvignon (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): Blueberries and chocolate. A little heat on the finish.
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2/22/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 98 Points
Very saturated dark blackcherry/blackberry in color. GOD THE NOSE!!! Huge exotic white floral spice, blackberry liqueur, oozzzing wild berry pie, sweet dusty cherry pixy spice, exotic smoked wood. I could smell this all day long! In the mouth....pucker tight, dry dusty tannin...yet the wild black fruit gushes with sweetness and perfume. That signature Outpost spice surrounds your mouth...very complex. Wonderful exotic woods, dark chocolate, floral white blossoms, coffee encrusted steaks(I'm tellin ya!). Lots in this one....very unique for Cabernet...will get even better...could drink this all day! Easy decision on the current mailer!
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2/15/2007 - scamhi wrote:
sometime you feel like a juicy luscious new world fruit bomb. This fit the bill. I am wondering whether any complexity will form in a few years. We'll wait on the rest of the bottles to see.
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10/1/2006 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
As great as the last bottle. Edged out a 2001 Vine Cliff cab with Sunday dinner of grilled NY strips, garlic mash and corn on the cob. Love this wine and this winery. Had a great visit with Frank Dotzler atop Howell Mtn. two weeks ago. Can't wait to try The Other petite sirah and the Grenache
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6/24/2006 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. My first bottle from this producer. Like it so much that I went back and bought the rest of the case. Surprisingly approachable for a 2003. Dark color. Nose of black fruits. Lush, balanced. Tannins very much in evidence. Long finish. This can only get better, I think.
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6/20/2006 - MarkC wrote: 91 Points
Pretty approachable given the (lack of) age. Lots of dark, concentrated fruit on the nose - blackberry and boysenberry - with hints of flowers. Ripe and lush on the palate, although a few years will do the tannins good as they're a bit drying right now. Plum, blackberry and a bit of rhubarb. Good structure and balance. Finish length is medium.
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