Outpost Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2018

The 2017 Zinfandel Howell Mountain offers a complex bouquet of plums, mulberries, blood orange, and incense to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple, elegant style on the palate. It doesn’t quite have the oomph of the 2016, but I suspect it will put on weight over the course of its élevage and should drink nicely for over a decade as well.

Made from 100% Zinfandel, the 2018 Zinfandel is deep garnet-purple colored, sashaying out of the glass with bold, open-knit scents of warm blackberries, cracked pepper, spice box and raspberry pie, plus hints of hoisin and fruitcake. Full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling black fruit preserves flavors and a racy line, textured by chewy tannins, finishing long and spicy. 600 cases were made.