The 2009 Petite Sirah The Other is rich, structured and totally beautiful. It shows gorgeous persistence and fabulous overall balance in a rich, seamless style for this variety. The wilder qualities of Petite Sirah are mostly tamed in this fruit-driven, gorgeous wine. Tar, mint, licorice and smoke add complexity on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. This is a gorgeous set of wines from Frank and Kathy Dotzler. The Outpost wines have very distinct personalities, and stand quite apart from most of what is being made in Napa Valley today, especially when it comes to Grenache, Zinfandel and Petite Syrah. The estate is located on Howell Mountain, in a very distinct microclimate that features a condensed growing season. When I visited in April this year the vines were completely dormant, yet when I returned, in late October, early morning temperatures were easily ten degrees warmer than they were on the valley floor.Tel. (707) 965-1718

Another 30, perhaps 50-year offering is the 2008 Petite Sirah The Other. Planted with cuttings from the famed Hayne Vineyard in St. Helena, this wine boasts a thick-looking, opaque purple color along with a beautiful bouquet of blackberries, incense, camphor and wet rocks. Massive, full-bodied and incredibly deep and pure, this 2008 begs for 5-6 years of patience; it should be drinking well when most of us reading about it now are pushing up daisies. Proprietors Kathy and Frank Dotzler along with winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown have quickly pushed this estate high on Howell Mountain to one of the leaders of that appellation. These wines all possess considerable character and the 2008s have certainly lived up to my forecast from last year, especially the Cabernets, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.Tel. (707) 965-1718; Fax (707) 965-1761

Another 40-year wine is the 2007 Petite Sirah The Other. Some fascinating Petite Sirahs came from Howell Mountain under the old Ridge regime in the early seventies, but these vines were torn up by Randy Dunn, and replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon. That’s a shame as this is an outstanding site for high elevation Petite Sirah. The 2007 Petite Sirah The Other reveals abundant amounts of blueberry and blackberry fruit, camphor, licorice, pepper, and incense. Amazingly rich and full-bodied with extraordinarily supple tannins, it will be even better in 4-5 years, and can be enjoyed over the following 40+ years. This has always been an impressive source for good Zinfandel as this vineyard originally produced the Lamborn Family Zinfandels. Kudos to proprietors Kathy and Frank Dotzler and winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.Tel. (707) 965-1718; Fax (707) 965-1761

Outpost has not overlooked one of the most underrated varietals in California, Petite Sirah. Their 2006 Petite Sirah The Other is a massive, broodingly backward, foreboding purple-colored, dense wine that reveals scary levels of concentration and extract. It should be forgotten for 5-8 years, and should provide gorgeous drinking for 20-25 years thereafter. This beautiful 40-acre estate (19 of which are under vine) high on Howell Mountain enjoys a sensational view of Napa Valley and the Mayacamas Mountains to the west. The renowned Thomas Brown is the winemaker. There are only around 300+ cases of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and significantly less of the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard.Tel. (707) 965-1718; Fax (707) 965-1761