Lamborn 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

This Lamborn 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon greets you with warmth carved into restraint. The first wave of aroma unfolds in layers: glossy blackberry and blueberry compote, trailing into notes of burnt caramel, maple spice, and lavender-laced dark chocolate—a portrait of plush mountain fruit without bravado. 

The palate maintains that balance. Deep currants and blackberries stretch across the mid-palate, where whispers of coffee bean, mocha, walnut, and a flash of orange zest anchor the richness. Though full-bodied, the wine avoids heaviness—fine-grained tannins and sculpted oak elevate it toward poise, not power. 

Where context matters is here. Howell Mountain—its volcanic soils, cool nights, and elevation—delivers a structural backbone that tempers ripeness with precision. Lamborn’s estate vines, farmed organically, bear fruit shaped by slope and altitude. The vintage offered ideal balance too: late-season rainfall, moderating heat, and extended hang time allowed flavors to mature without sacrificing freshness. 

Winemaker Heidi Barrett’s stewardship is present but invisible. Ageing in French oak (34% new) for 22 months gives the wine a refined frame, not a stamp of oak influence. The result is clear: this is Cabernet that leans into its home and vintage, not roams in search of style. 

Drink it now for its layered generosity—or park it to see how the tannins settle and secondary notes emerge. Either way, it unfolds like a narrative, not a performance.

Lamborn 2018—Cabernet calibrated by mountain and vintage, elegant and enduring.