Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2017 (Outpost)

Cellar for up to 15 years. Decant for an hour before serving. Founded in 1998 by Thomas Rivers Brown, Outpost occupies some of the finest wine-growing lands in Napa Valley. The winery makes a bold range of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Sirah and Zinfandel wines, all sourced from its own 28-acre vineyard. There are many stereotypes in the world of wine, but few are as persistent as the image of Californian Zinfandel as a rugged, mountain wine. Outpost plays with that image and operates in the ideal location to do so. Howell Mountain is a picturesque, rugged, Western American landscape, with harsh rocky soils, high-altitude vineyards and western sun exposure - all ingredients for stellar red wine. This wine is made from 100% Zinfandel, aged for 16 months in French oak casks. It exhibits a rich, jammy bouquet of plum, blueberry, hedgerow berries and candied orange peel, underscored aby spice. The palate is one that you can sink your teeth into, rich and chewy with a wonderfully pure expression of jammy fruit. Look for notes of raisin, raspberry, blueberry, scrubland herbs, Asian spices and dried flowers. This is a big, rustic and notably potent wine, packed with the character of the Wild West. Consider pairing it with grilled meats, stews, or a charcuterie board.