Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Special Club pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberry, apple, strawberry, peach, lemon curd, toasted brioche, almond, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Delicious. Drink now through 2042. Disgorged October of 2022. — 22 days ago

Dave Hoffman

9.0

40% Pinot Noir; 40% Gamay; 10% Chardonnay — 7 months ago

John Malcolm

9.9

A stunning wine! Cedar, black currants, fig, dark chocolate, and truffles. Deep purple with a fabulous finish. — 10 months ago

Anthony Ludwig

10

But again from club shipment — a year ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Green apple and pear, salted lemon, baguette, med acid ✨ — 3 years ago

Manj Gunawardane

9.1

Rich but not over the top and not too revealing on the nose or palate. Tasty nonetheless. Maybe a little maturity to settle in. — 5 years ago

Peter Coulthard

8.9

Waitrose. Liked it. Fruity raisin taste after double aerating. Slightly drying aspect on the palate. Decent — 6 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.5

Magnum. 95+ — 5 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.2

Less tannic and more fruit forward than what I would expect from a young Howell Mtn cab. Big red and black fruit, ripe, nice mouthfeel but the fruit is dominant. Pretty good deal though finding it at an HEB in Houston. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Outpost – Zinfandel – 2023
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A powerhouse Zinfandel from the rugged slopes of Howell Mountain. At 16.1% ABV, this wine blurs the line between classic Zin and fortified intensity, bold, muscular, and unapologetically impactful. Rare to find Zinfandel from Howell Mountain, and it shows the terroir’s distinctive stamp.

Aromas & Flavors
Jammy blackberry, black plum, and spiced cherry compote, layered with peppercorn, tobacco leaf, and cocoa nibs. Notes of fig and raisin round out the darker, concentrated fruit profile.

Mouthfeel
Full-throttle and mouth-coating. Explosive fruit upfront followed by fiery spice and dense tannins. Despite its muscle, the wine pulls through with a surprisingly hearty and lasting finish.

Food Pairings
Best with equally bold cuisine: barbecue brisket, lamb shanks, wild boar stew, or intensely spiced dishes. Could also shine next to aged blue cheese.

Verdict
A monster Zin, unapologetic, high-octane, and unforgettable. Not for the faint of heart, but for those who embrace big wines, it delivers a rare and compelling experience.

Did You Know?
Howell Mountain’s volcanic soils and high elevation are usually Cabernet Sauvignon country. Outpost’s decision to plant Zinfandel here makes this bottling one of Napa’s rare mountain Zins, combining Zin’s natural exuberance with Howell’s signature intensity. — 8 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

Very young. Still somewhat unstructured and tannins that need to mellow. But good potential. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Well they’ve done it again. Who is they? Why Cédric Moussé and the Club Trésors de Champagne of course. Another superstar bottle from them.

A muted pale lemon color with an effusive stream of tiny bubbles. Aromas of honeyed almonds, peaches, and crushed herbs. Fresh cherries and apricots sparkle here. Toasty brioche bread and chalky minerality show after some time with green apples being quite dominant after receiving some air.

The Master of Meunier and here it shows. 100% Pinot Meunier from the village of Cuisles located in the Vallee de la Marne. This Special Club offering is from one plot of land, giving it its name, Les Fortes Terres. Disgorged on 10/21/19 with a dosage of 1 g/l, this is refreshingly stark with beautifully racy acidity.

Full bodied and bold on palate, the complexity and purity of the Meunier shines through. Butterscotch and apples start the party off with more cherries and citrus playing along. A nice long, dry finish. Vibrant and captivating. Moussé and Special Club champagnes never disappoint. — 5 years ago

Andrea Baker

9.1

Delightful! — 7 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.3

One of the best 1er champs for the $. Best to get off the wagon too. — a month ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

This was insanely good. So well balanced. Had with Thai food. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Consistency is their middle name.

This has just started to shift from fresh to aging.

Bruised red apple/pear, lemon, lime zest, tropical melons, drier stone fruits, whipped cream, ginger, brioche, graham cracker, very light caramel/butterscotch notes, grey volcanics, limestone marl, sea fossils, gritty chalk, white & yellow flowers with greens, excellent lively acidity and a well balanced-knitted, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts near two-minutes. — 7 months ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Bruised apples and bread that was just fabulously balanced by the acidity. I would have scored higher if the bubbles were more present. — 2 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.4

Utterly Fantastic — 4 years ago

Jamie Lopez Arevalo

8.9

Blackberry and plum skin flavor, evidence of whole cluster with top notes of floral (lavender) and hints of camphor. — 5 years ago

Joe Wines

9.1

Super yummy — 6 years ago