Ken Venezio

9.6

Just stunning. All the benefits of bottle age, complexity and finesse make this a superb Howell Mtn Cab. Loads of up front mountain fruit, a nice floral nose and balance through the mid palate ending in a long romantic finish. Touché to the older days of Ladera. — 3 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.2

Dunn is fantastic. I prefer the Howell Mtn, but the Napa Valley is still great and much more drinkable in its relative youth. Black and red cherry, tannic but after an hour decant and soft yet providing a solid backbone. Just a great wine. — 4 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.3

Blackberry, Cherry, mountain wildflowers. Diamond Mtn fruit. — 4 years ago

Ron R

10

Mother nature dealt our friends at Lamborn a difficult hand recently. Due to the ongoing fires in California, they have lost their 2020 crop of cabernet to smoke taint. Our hearts go out to our family at Lamborn. Please keep our good friends in your thoughts, and in your glass. If you’ve never tasted a Lamborn wine, there has never been a better, or more urgent time to do so. We are stocking up on their premium Howell Mtn cab, and their rosé. Tell em that Ronnie and Anne-Marie sent you 🥰 — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

At the end of the Last Bottle Marathon a few weeks ago, I am surmising they cleared out the remaining Spring Mtn. Inventory. So, I bought this 2012 & a mag of 2007. Pretty good decision at $29 on the 2012 and $79 on the 2007 magnum. The 2012 is over delivering at $29.

Interesting story with this winery that closed in 2019. An investment fund bought the property & two others Spring Mtn. wineries and started investing to build them into something better. As bad luck goes sometimes, the Glass Fires followed in 2020. That was a big setback and they’re still in the process of regrouping.

The nose has a dark currents, red, blue & some purple fruits in its core. Hints of smoke, dark, sharpish spices, baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, soft used leather, fresh tobacco, barrel shavings, fresh & withering red & dark florals.

The palate shows dry, velvety, dark medium to plus tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, hovering raspberries dark cherries with notes of strawberries & blueberries. Dark spices that press the palate with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick shavings, vanillin, dark chocolate, warm caramel, some black licorice, dry herbaceous tones, moist to dryish grey volcanics/clay, crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry tobacco with ash, dry; dark, red, florals with withering violets, very nice acidity. The finish is long almost two-minutes, it’s well structured/tensioned for a 2012, balanced with elegance & smartly polished settling on earthiness & spice on the long set.

Has another 10-15 yrs ahead of it. — a month ago

Rena karefa-johnson

9.0

Super weird thick and funky! A bit sweet and viscous but great. Almost Orange wines. — 4 years ago

Ken Venezio

8.9

Howell Mtn Cab from the Ladera family. Inky out of the bottle with notes of cherry, blackberry and bright acidity. Chocolate, dried herbs and cocoa on the mid palate. A nice spicy finish but not going to blow your friends away. Good price point for the money. — 6 months ago

Ken Venezio

9.2

Last vintage of this Ladera Howell Mtn Malbec. Opens to a mouthful of red berries and a juicy texture. Soft tannins elongate the finish. This is a great juice. — 9 months ago

Gene Buonviri

9.4

I don’t appreciate buttery and oaky Chardonnay. This excellent Chardonnay has reduced the traditional characters and highlights
notes of honeysuckle,apple and Meyer lemon. Flavors of sickle pear, citrus and a dash of salt. A subtle blend of mineral and acidity. Excellent pairing with Thanksgiving. — 4 years ago

Cameron Parry

9.2

Missing our Angwin friends, but showing this beauty to new Walla Walla friends. Thanks Ashley&Chris!
One of the best high elevation Howell Mtn Zin’s out there. — 4 years ago