Lamborn Family Vineyards
The Diamond Anniversary Howell Mountain Zinfandel
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
If only this had a degree less alcohol this would have been superlative. It’s got that classic nose of aged Zin with gravel, brambly notes, sweet spices. The palate has loads of savory, minerally length, but the heat distracts (15.3%). Still pleasurable though.
UPDATE: Night 2. So I put this under a Vacu-Vin closure and re-tasted 24 hours later. What a striking difference. The alcoholic heat has submerged. The nose has gotten incredibly intense, and shows almost pungent brambly, inky cassis extract, and dark minerality. The palate tastes like the distilled essence of a pine forest floor combined with intense Zin extract. Remarkable and very unique. Upping from 9.0 to 9.3.
If only this had a degree less alcohol this would have been superlative. It’s got that classic nose of aged Zin with gravel, brambly notes, sweet spices. The palate has loads of savory, minerally length, but the heat distracts (15.3%). Still pleasurable though.
UPDATE: Night 2. So I put this under a Vacu-Vin closure and re-tasted 24 hours later. What a striking difference. The alcoholic heat has submerged. The nose has gotten incredibly intense, and shows almost pungent brambly, inky cassis extract, and dark minerality. The palate tastes like the distilled essence of a pine forest floor combined with intense Zin extract. Remarkable and very unique. Upping from 9.0 to 9.3.
This sure deserves a diamond moniker. So much blackberry, spice, and Howell mountain character that you would hope for from 2012 lamborn. Super impressive for an impressive price. #pnv15 #heidibarrett @Brian Lamborn
This sure deserves a diamond moniker. So much blackberry, spice, and Howell mountain character that you would hope for from 2012 lamborn. Super impressive for an impressive price. #pnv15 #heidibarrett @Brian Lamborn
1 person found it helpfulFeb 22nd, 2015Nice Zin. Good black cherry blossom and spice with a fair amount of roasted character. A little heated toward the finish. Probably best to open these in 1 to 2 years. Can understand the Sub 90 Ratings now but I still feel they are mostly given without considering how long these can hold. Adding to this note, it developed more of a brambly finish with wildflowers on the THIRD day... Yeah, I think I'm going to wait on all the others....
Nice Zin. Good black cherry blossom and spice with a fair amount of roasted character. A little heated toward the finish. Probably best to open these in 1 to 2 years. Can understand the Sub 90 Ratings now but I still feel they are mostly given without considering how long these can hold. Adding to this note, it developed more of a brambly finish with wildflowers on the THIRD day... Yeah, I think I'm going to wait on all the others....
Jul 24th, 2019
I really enjoy the Lamborn Zinfandel. Quality producer and a reasonable price point. Pairs perfectly with homemade brick oven pizzas.
I really enjoy the Lamborn Zinfandel. Quality producer and a reasonable price point. Pairs perfectly with homemade brick oven pizzas.
Apr 16th, 2017Really nice Zin for the night. Good fruit and classic Zin base with a hint of age/raisin on the finish. A bit thin on the first taste but it comes around after 45min. to an hour of opening.
Really nice Zin for the night. Good fruit and classic Zin base with a hint of age/raisin on the finish. A bit thin on the first taste but it comes around after 45min. to an hour of opening.
Apr 9th, 2017
Had some pretty tough competition this evening but it held its own.
Had some pretty tough competition this evening but it held its own.
Oct 19th, 2016Blackberry, dark cherry, some blueberry, followed by a little earthiness/tannin stricter, then finishes with nicely done vanilla. Well balanced throughout. My favorite Zinfandel.
Blackberry, dark cherry, some blueberry, followed by a little earthiness/tannin stricter, then finishes with nicely done vanilla. Well balanced throughout. My favorite Zinfandel.
Jul 29th, 2016