Producer Spotlight: Outpost

Outpost Wines is a Napa Valley winery, that produces multiple different wines. Such a production can lead to one of two things, they can be a "jack of all trades, but master of none", or they can make great wines, no matter what grapes they are working with. Along with Ridge Winery, Pride Mountain Winery, and Rivers-Marie, I believe that Outpost makes great wines, regardless of the grape type.

By the way, the winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown, of Rivers-Marie winery, where he also makes an array of great wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Outpost was established in 1998, yet our history of grape growing on Howell Mountain dates back to the mid-1800s. Multiple generations were drawn to this vineyard's rocky red soil, high altitude, sunny western exposure and gentle cooling breezes where we have continued to produce fruit of exceptional intensity and richness, with the distinctive spicy character, unique to our terroir, that is a particular characteristic of the wines of Outpost.

Please join me at Nice Matin for a night of Outpost wines. This will be an 8-person dinner featuring 1 white wine followed by 4 red wines.

Here is a link to their menu:
Nice Matin Dinner Menu

Nice Matin is located at 201 W. 79th Street, the corner of Amsterdam Ave.

** The cost of this event is $70 and is for the cost of the wines.

NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It is annoying and confusing, but there is nothing I can do about it. It comes to approximately $5 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. MEETUP+ members are exempt from this charge.

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). You will be expected to order at least 2 dishes (an appetizer and a main, or main and dessert) to help support the restaurant.

Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $6 service fee.

The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):

2022 Outpost Chardonnay La Blonde ($100) - No reviews, but I poured it for us 6 months ago at Bobby Van's and the group loved it. A lot of oak, but well integrated.

2016 Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard ($140) - JD 98 points, "A blend of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, the 2016 Immigrant True Vineyard is one of the standouts in this stacked lineup. It has remarkable purity and elegance paired with serious oomph and density. Ripe blackberries, damp earth, and tobacco leaf notes flow to a full-bodied 2016 that has no hard edges, a great mid-palate, wonderful sweetness of fruit, and a rock star finish. Drink this beauty any time over the coming 15-20 years. 320 cases. (Drink between 2019-2039)"

2015 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon ($105) - CT 93.7, 100% Cabernet that spent 20 months in 80% new French oak. JD 95, WA 95 points, "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon gives up notions of cassis, blackberries, black cherries and plums with touches of pepper, aniseed, sage and tilled soil plus a hint of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, taut and firmly structured, it has a lively backbone lifting the muscular fruit, finishing on a savory/mineral note."

2016 Outpost Petite Sirah The Other ($75) - CT 92.5, JD 96 points, "the 2016 Petite Sirah Howell Mountain is a monster of a wine that has full-bodied notes of blue fruits, violets, blood orange, and pine. It has bright acidity, a stacked mid-palate, present tannins, and everything it needs to evolve gracefully for 2-3 decades. This isn’t one of those overdone, fruit bomb Petite Sirahs and is the real deal. (Drink between 2019-2039)"

2023 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain ($75) - JD 94, WA 95 points, "Outpost's 2023 Zinfandel marries ripe cherries with a wiry-briary character on the nose, but for now, this full-bodied wine is more complex on the palate, where the supple tannins are buttressed by notions of dried spices and cracked pepper on the lingering finish. (drink 2025-2035)"