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. — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Fun night!!
5th annual Inspire Napa for alzheimer research event.
Welcome dinner at Mending Wall Winery

WINES:
Abreu
Lokoya
Ovid
Mending Wall

MEAL PREPARED BY:
Brad Grimes (Abreu)
Antonio Galloni (Vinous)
Mark Pulido (Pulido-Walker)
Frank Dotzler (Outpost wines) — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Will Stanley

9.4

A totally complete wine, Sijnn’s flagship red from the South African outpost of Malgas, is an incredibly drinkable wine in 2016 that shares many a semblance with a good quality Saint Joseph.

Syrah dominant, with Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Mourvèdre and a nominal amount of Cabernet Sauvignon completing the unusual blend, it’s expressive from opening and benefits from a two hour decant. Dark, brooding and complex, with an iron core and some bright cherry acidity, it’s a virile wine with good length and a great accompaniment to beef. I’m lucky to have two more bottles and will excitedly try another in a few years’ time.

PS. Sorry for the unwarranted pic of my food but this was last week and I’ve since ditched the bottle. — 4 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.5

Had two bottles hidden in inventory because it came from their other location that shut down. I love Howell Mountain. I Iove Howell Mountain Zinfandel (think Outpost). And I love it when Turley brings it all together! While not as deep and dark as most Howell Zins, this one is much more delicate...almost Pinot Noir in style. Our Mad Scientist Sommelier really ‘got me’ with this one. — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Pop & pour,
Better than the 17, its not a thinker just a drinker.


Caterwaul is a collaborative project between Thomas Rivers Brown and Matt Hardon. Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker for some of Napa and Sonoma’s most iconic labels (Schrader Cellars, Outpost and his own Rivers-Marie), has more than twenty 100-point wines on his resume. Matt Hardin, is a 6th generation Napa resident and farmer, is a partner in Barbour Vineyards, one of the most renowned vineyard — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.6

Because who doesn’t love to celebrate national Cab Franc day? @rudiuswines is Brittany & Jeff Ames label. Jeff was an early understudy to Thomas Brown, working on Schrader, Maybach, and Outpost amongst others while he developed his own client list, including Tor Kenward, Boich, and Anthem. It’s worth noting that the wines Jeff has produced for Tor have been some of my favorites for at least a decade.

The 2014 Rudius Cabernet Franc Sugarloaf Vineyard Napa Valley envelopes your plate with a captivating display of mouthwatering raspberry, savory loam, sweet tobacco, and just the right hint of bell pepper before the cocoa powder dusted finish rocks your world. Delicious is an understatement. This was so spectacular I opened it two nights in a row (run don’t walk to Sunshine and steal it for $40). #delicious #rediculouslydelicious — 7 years ago

Rob N

9.8

Subtle (a la Outpost), oaky, great tannins, well-balanced. You do pay for it though. $350. With Greg Pelton. — 6 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

Neal Ferry

9.4

Utterly Fantastic — 4 years ago

Rob N

9.0

2018. Quite good! Very smooth, low tannin, almost like an Outpost but a litttttle more watered down. — 5 years ago

with Brendan

Karen Frohman

9.0

Nice $12 Montepulciano from Outpost. — 6 years ago

Laith A

9.5

Had side by side with the Outpost cab! This thing held its own and then some... smooth as silk with sweet, ripe tannins and tons of black and blue fruits! @Mike Smith great work! — 6 years ago

Justin Hart

9.5

This 2012 BDX blend could easily go another 7 years. It is still bound up (aeration required) and seething with intense blackberries, black currant and firm tannins. After mild aeration, the darker fruit gives way to a little bit of ripe cherry, tobacco and some faint but of vanilla. After heavy aeration, the vanilla comes out more noticeably on the nose, dominating everything else basically, with a hint of cherry at the end. On the palette the jamminess starts to show through, with ripe cherry and red plum overshadowing the tobacco and finishing with a strong white pepper note. — 7 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

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

Deborah M

9.0

Officially winter here and I immediately wanted to enjoy a bigger wine. It’s funny how the temperature outside can easily influence my wine choices. First time trying this one.

Mending Wall is a collaborative effort between three families that includes winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, Outpost Winery (Frank Dotzler) and Pulido-Walker (Mark Pulido & Donna Walker). It is located on the edge of St. Helena, at the foothills of Howell Mountain. The name comes from a Robert Frost poem. There is a line in the poem ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’

The 2017 is approachable now. Big, yet soft Cab. No need in waiting years, enjoy now with a short decant. Worth mentioning that it had a lot of sediment for a relatively young wine.

Shorter days, colder nights, bigger wines. Happy weekend.
— 4 years ago

Rob N

9.5

2014. Simply excellent, reminds me of an excellent california cab like outpost or larkmead. — 5 years ago

Rob N

9.2

RP/WA 94 pts, 2016, smooth muted cab in the style of Outpost — 6 years ago

Laith A

9.5

This is a gem from TRB.. reminds me of Outpost with a little splash of Caymus, but well balanced.. great fruit profile, soft silky tannins, nice long finish! Love it!! — 6 years ago

Laith A

9.1

Nice red blend from Morgado! A little lean when compared the outpost cab we had before it.. but that’s probably not a fair comparison! Solid wine nonetheless👍🏻 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The one thing I liked about this offering from Outpost is part of the proceeds go to fight cancer. When you watch someone you love suffer from this terrible disease, it changes your life. In this case, it definitely has with the previous owners. Let’s hope the new Outpost owners (AXA) carry on this project as it was created. Only available through Outpost.

On the nose, butterscotch, lemon, lime, honey notes, overripe pineapple, green & golden apple, marzipan, pie crust, almonds, marmalade, vanilla, cream, and yellow flowers.

The palate is thick & round. Butterscotch, lemon, lime, honey notes, overripe pineapple, green & golden apple, marzipan, graham cracker, almond, marmalade, vanilla, cream, limestone minerals, saline and yellow flowers. The acidity is round & sound. The big, rich, elegant finish is quite nice.

Photos of, their Zinfandel vineyard as viewed from the deck of their tasting room, private dining & tasting room, center of their wall cabinet in their private tasting room and their sloping hillside vines towards the backend of their property. — 7 years ago