A fruit bomb in this lineup, but this was well poised, sappy, and delicious. Structure is there but there's considerable ripeness and "fattness" to fruit, Quite fun and easy to drink
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Last of an auction find.....this bottle one point better than the last, a 94. That's with 2+ hours of air. Pnp'd for Pizza Saturday and enjoyed over the next 2-3 hours. Thin, light colored to start, gets darker and heavier as time wears on.....beautiful dark zin fruit nose....brambly, earthy, leafy notes. Still some bracing acidity and slightly noticeable alcohol. But it's a very pleasing wine and drinks as strong as many 2019 zins.
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I like this.....my first of 2 bottles picked up recently at auction. This is one point better than the '13 as it is fresher, more lively with darker zin fruit, better acidity and of course more alc present. Still feels more like a zin than the '13 which feels like a cab. One bottle left to try later....
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Cherry, strawberry, raspberry liqueur and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Time has served this wine well and this bottle was unquestionably better than a bottle 18 months ago. Fantastic Zinfandel. Best over the next several years.
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Crimson in color. 16.1% ABV. Soaring nose of bright red fruits, anise and white pepper. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and exceptional balance. Packed with lush, rich fruits. Cherry, strawberry, raspberry liqueur and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Time has served this wine well and this bottle was unquestionably better than a bottle 18 months ago. Fantastic Zinfandel. Best over the next several years.
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Thick, complex, and rich. Wowed the missus. Had the night after a Carlisle Hayne and I probably preferred the Carlisle. Carlisle might not be as dense. First world problem haggling over the two.
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Purple in color. 16.1% ABV. Heady nose of ripe red and black fruits, licorice and Howell Mountain white pepper. Medium to full bodied with ample acidity. Mostly well balanced with just a touch of perceptible heat. Black cherry liqueur, raspberry compote and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. There is a great core of sweet fruit, that in the end make this Zinfandel a pleasure to drink. Best over the next 1-3 years.
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Dark mountain fruit speaks loudly here. Wild herbs, spice notes complement nicely. Wonderful depth and texture. Good aromatics. Although the fruit leads the way, this is by no means a fruit bomb. Everything is in balance. Good juice.
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Bold blue and red mountain fruit with wild herbs and spice notes that take you off the beaten path to total enjoyment. Good acidity, depth and balance.
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Something slightly off on this one. Tasted much better at their tasting room. Just not quite integrated. Given that this is 5 years old, I hesitate to recommend more cellaring .
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Dark fruit, wild herbs are complemented by light spice and a touch of licorice. Wonderful texture and depth. The tannins are soft but keep everything together. Good juice!
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Just slightly out of balance. Minimal acidity and no real structure. I did pop and pour and the bottles arrived by mail only a week ago. It has a bit of port-like character. Might be good with desert.
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Blue and black fruit combine with a touch of graphite and Mediterranean spice. The TRB silkiness is present coupled with the good depth. A wonderfully balanced 100 % Zinfandel. Good juice!
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Great wine, interesting take on zin. Layered, and quite complex. More of an old world style with less in your face fruit than a typical Cali zin. Notes of licorice, pepper, and tea. Medium body, almost light. Medium finish.
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Consistent with prior notes. Drinking exceptionally well now with short decant and slight chill. Layered wine with length. Not a typical zin but very enjoyable.
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Dark ruby in color with medium viscosity. Nose contains fragrant and rich dark fruit with a hint of crushed rock as well as forest floor. Oak, blackberries, and faint cedar on the midpalate with a low acidity and well integrated tannins on the finish. The finish lingers for quite some time with the dark fruit components of hr finish disappearing rather quickly
I tried the wine again 2 days after I had originally coravined it. Wow. It is much more robust and juicy now. It reminds me of classic Higher end Napa cab with how fruit forward it is. Increased my rating from a 90 up to a 94
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Really enjoyed this one. Darker and a little more body than a normal Zin. Great fruit, more dark than red, with the telltale "tea" notes I find in Howell Mt wines. Really nice wine
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This is my favorite wine of all. The flavor just hits me immediately, goes straight to my head and makes me happy and content. Some wines are magic, and this is the most magical of all. I first tasted it at the Outpost tasting room on Howell Mountain, and it tastes just as delicious at home.
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Just what I'm looking for in a zin. Candied cherry profile; that lacquered viscosity I'm finding in most TRB wines works extremely well with this varietal. Again, I get howell mountain tea notes, deep red fruit, with a little cinnamon stick/baking spice on the back end. Just outstanding.
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Consistent experience. The tea fades with air, but overall very enjoyable. Big, opulent, and high alcohol. But delicious fruit profile without tasting fabricated.
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Coravin and let sit in glass for 30 mins. Served around 60*
Blueberry reduction, earl grey tea, and cherry blossom. Bombastic fruit forward juice with lacquer on the (very) hot midpalate. The tannin wave crashes down over the long finish. Distinguishable as zin. The tea characteristic is awesome. This should be a steak-house favorite. Outstanding, and 1-2 points better for me if the ABV were a little lower (16.1%)
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Unique Howell Mountain Zin. Very, very fruit forward (almost a fruit bomb), but with character. Blackberry jam, dark cherry, signature HM tea. I am hoping some age will take the edge off the fruit.
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16.1%abv. Dark purple, almost black color. Ripe dark fruit, fruitcake, crushed rock, blackberry; quite pronounced nose for young wine. Powerful entry, tannins are front and center for now . The rest is pure textbook zin. Very solid wine.
Day 2 this wine showed so much more on nose and palate. Tremendous, wish I bought more.
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Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting, SF, nose of black cherry fruit, briar, licorice, and dusty gravel, same on the palate, big body, needs 5 years to peak, rich fruit, inky and concentrated and mouth filling, lovely nose and lovely tasting, long finish, a definite buy at $50.
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Have enjoyed numerous vintages of this mountain Zin in the past. Typically a powerful, muscular type of wine with big fruit and alcohol, though never syrupy. This effort is similar, however, at this young stage in its life, it feels too ripe and alcoholic, baking out many of the varietal characteristics. Hold
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Outpost Wines (Angwin/Napa): Tasted at Outpost alongside the 2013 Zinfandel, 2014 Howell Cabernet, and 2014 True Cabernet.
The 2014 Zinfandel was much more accessible and fruit-forward than the 2013 at this stage. Brambly notes of black raspberry and cherry, some blueberry, licorice, clove, and wet stone. Still a bit linear and restrained, but not kicking out the wall of intense tannins in comparison to the 2013.
I preferred this over the 2013, while my girl thought the 2013 was a more complete and interesting wine. She might be right in a few years if the 2013's fruit can hold up, but the 2014 was delivering much better presently. Like the 2013, this 2014 had been double decanted for three hours before consumption.
I would still hold this for another 6-12 months in hopes it will fatten up and deepen more mid-palate.
91-92+ points for now.
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Howell Mountain Harvest Celebration, Nose of black cherry licorice, briar, and sage, same on the palate, big body, subdued fruit, tasty, needs 2 years to peak, long finish.
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1/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A fruit bomb in this lineup, but this was well poised, sappy, and delicious. Structure is there but there's considerable ripeness and "fattness" to fruit, Quite fun and easy to drink
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1/7/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last of an auction find.....this bottle one point better than the last, a 94. That's with 2+ hours of air. Pnp'd for Pizza Saturday and enjoyed over the next 2-3 hours. Thin, light colored to start, gets darker and heavier as time wears on.....beautiful dark zin fruit nose....brambly, earthy, leafy notes. Still some bracing acidity and slightly noticeable alcohol. But it's a very pleasing wine and drinks as strong as many 2019 zins.
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12/10/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
I like this.....my first of 2 bottles picked up recently at auction. This is one point better than the '13 as it is fresher, more lively with darker zin fruit, better acidity and of course more alc present. Still feels more like a zin than the '13 which feels like a cab. One bottle left to try later....
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12/5/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pure deliciousness
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11/10/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No sign of age, remains quite the full bodied wine. Great fruit, still a little hot, complex, big finish.
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10/20/2022 - HODL Likes this wine: 87 Points
Drank over 2 days
This is a powerful and excellent zin
The fruit is starting to show hints of oxidation
I’d drink it sooner than later
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7/22/2022 - DENNISREITZ wrote: 94 Points
Cherry, strawberry, raspberry liqueur and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Time has served this wine well and this bottle was unquestionably better than a bottle 18 months ago. Fantastic Zinfandel. Best over the next several years.
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11/24/2021 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 16.1% ABV. Soaring nose of bright red fruits, anise and white pepper. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and exceptional balance. Packed with lush, rich fruits. Cherry, strawberry, raspberry liqueur and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Time has served this wine well and this bottle was unquestionably better than a bottle 18 months ago. Fantastic Zinfandel. Best over the next several years.
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6/22/2021 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Remains one of my favorite zins.
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5/25/2021 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding zin that's drinking well.
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1/19/2021 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Probably needs a couple hours to breathe. Rich voluptuous complex full bodied dark purple and blue wine.
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12/25/2020 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thick, complex, and rich. Wowed the missus. Had the night after a Carlisle Hayne and I probably preferred the Carlisle. Carlisle might not be as dense. First world problem haggling over the two.
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8/23/2020 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Purple in color. 16.1% ABV. Heady nose of ripe red and black fruits, licorice and Howell Mountain white pepper. Medium to full bodied with ample acidity. Mostly well balanced with just a touch of perceptible heat. Black cherry liqueur, raspberry compote and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. There is a great core of sweet fruit, that in the end make this Zinfandel a pleasure to drink. Best over the next 1-3 years.
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2/15/2020 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark mountain fruit speaks loudly here. Wild herbs, spice notes complement nicely. Wonderful depth and texture. Good aromatics. Although the fruit leads the way, this is by no means a fruit bomb. Everything is in balance. Good juice.
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12/29/2019 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bold blue and red mountain fruit with wild herbs and spice notes that take you off the beaten path to total enjoyment. Good acidity, depth and balance.
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10/12/2019 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Something slightly off on this one. Tasted much better at their tasting room. Just not quite integrated. Given that this is 5 years old, I hesitate to recommend more cellaring .
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8/17/2019 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruit, wild herbs are complemented by light spice and a touch of licorice. Wonderful texture and depth. The tannins are soft but keep everything together. Good juice!
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5/19/2019 - gtm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great Howell Mtn. Zinfandel
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3/25/2019 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Just slightly out of balance. Minimal acidity and no real structure. I did pop and pour and the bottles arrived by mail only a week ago. It has a bit of port-like character. Might be good with desert.
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2/26/2019 - GiWineDoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drink now!
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10/21/2018 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blue and black fruit combine with a touch of graphite and Mediterranean spice. The TRB silkiness is present coupled with the good depth. A wonderfully balanced 100 % Zinfandel. Good juice!
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9/30/2018 - chrischap01 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine, interesting take on zin. Layered, and quite complex. More of an old world style with less in your face fruit than a typical Cali zin. Notes of licorice, pepper, and tea. Medium body, almost light. Medium finish.
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8/4/2018 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with prior notes. Drinking exceptionally well now with short decant and slight chill. Layered wine with length. Not a typical zin but very enjoyable.
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7/24/2018 - Tmud Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark ruby in color with medium viscosity. Nose contains fragrant and rich dark fruit with a hint of crushed rock as well as forest floor. Oak, blackberries, and faint cedar on the midpalate with a low acidity and well integrated tannins on the finish. The finish lingers for quite some time with the dark fruit components of hr finish disappearing rather quickly
I tried the wine again 2 days after I had originally coravined it. Wow. It is much more robust and juicy now. It reminds me of classic Higher end Napa cab with how fruit forward it is. Increased my rating from a 90 up to a 94
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2/25/2018 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really enjoyed this one. Darker and a little more body than a normal Zin. Great fruit, more dark than red, with the telltale "tea" notes I find in Howell Mt wines. Really nice wine
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1/20/2018 - bigdogflow Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Outpost tasting
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12/20/2017 - sunshinejw wrote: 100 Points
This is my favorite wine of all. The flavor just hits me immediately, goes straight to my head and makes me happy and content. Some wines are magic, and this is the most magical of all. I first tasted it at the Outpost tasting room on Howell Mountain, and it tastes just as delicious at home.
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12/19/2017 - jviz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just what I'm looking for in a zin. Candied cherry profile; that lacquered viscosity I'm finding in most TRB wines works extremely well with this varietal. Again, I get howell mountain tea notes, deep red fruit, with a little cinnamon stick/baking spice on the back end. Just outstanding.
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11/17/2017 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
Consistent experience. The tea fades with air, but overall very enjoyable. Big, opulent, and high alcohol. But delicious fruit profile without tasting fabricated.
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11/7/2017 - jviz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin and let sit in glass for 30 mins. Served around 60*
Blueberry reduction, earl grey tea, and cherry blossom. Bombastic fruit forward juice with lacquer on the (very) hot midpalate. The tannin wave crashes down over the long finish. Distinguishable as zin. The tea characteristic is awesome. This should be a steak-house favorite. Outstanding, and 1-2 points better for me if the ABV were a little lower (16.1%)
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10/9/2017 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 91 Points
Unique Howell Mountain Zin. Very, very fruit forward (almost a fruit bomb), but with character. Blackberry jam, dark cherry, signature HM tea. I am hoping some age will take the edge off the fruit.
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4/24/2017 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
16.1%abv. Dark purple, almost black color. Ripe dark fruit, fruitcake, crushed rock, blackberry; quite pronounced nose for young wine. Powerful entry, tannins are front and center for now . The rest is pure textbook zin. Very solid wine.
Day 2 this wine showed so much more on nose and palate. Tremendous, wish I bought more.
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3/29/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting, SF, nose of black cherry fruit, briar, licorice, and dusty gravel, same on the palate, big body, needs 5 years to peak, rich fruit, inky and concentrated and mouth filling, lovely nose and lovely tasting, long finish, a definite buy at $50.
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2/11/2017 - Mrp2008 wrote: 88 Points
Have enjoyed numerous vintages of this mountain Zin in the past. Typically a powerful, muscular type of wine with big fruit and alcohol, though never syrupy. This effort is similar, however, at this young stage in its life, it feels too ripe and alcoholic, baking out many of the varietal characteristics. Hold
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11/25/2016 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Fruitt, leaning to overripe. Lush. Long finish, and easy to down, but be careful, or you won't notice its 16.1.
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11/19/2016 - csimm wrote: 92 Points
Outpost Wines (Angwin/Napa): Tasted at Outpost alongside the 2013 Zinfandel, 2014 Howell Cabernet, and 2014 True Cabernet.
The 2014 Zinfandel was much more accessible and fruit-forward than the 2013 at this stage. Brambly notes of black raspberry and cherry, some blueberry, licorice, clove, and wet stone. Still a bit linear and restrained, but not kicking out the wall of intense tannins in comparison to the 2013.
I preferred this over the 2013, while my girl thought the 2013 was a more complete and interesting wine. She might be right in a few years if the 2013's fruit can hold up, but the 2014 was delivering much better presently. Like the 2013, this 2014 had been double decanted for three hours before consumption.
I would still hold this for another 6-12 months in hopes it will fatten up and deepen more mid-palate.
91-92+ points for now.
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11/5/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Howell Mountain Harvest Celebration, Nose of black cherry licorice, briar, and sage, same on the palate, big body, subdued fruit, tasty, needs 2 years to peak, long finish.
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