WTN: Lamborn in the USA

[David M. Bueker]

• 2012 Lamborn Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (8/10/2025)
  From my late father’s cellar, this was an unexpected delight. I had tried a few other bottles of the Lamborn Cabernet Sauvignon, and found them too big and alcoholic for my tastes. I did give this bottle a couple of hours in a decanter, and also held it a bit cooler than my summertime room temperature, so around 65-68 degrees, which felt about right for keeping the the aromatics open while still managing the alcohol.
  
  First sip right after decanting was lovely, with vivid dark red fruit, and rounded tannin support.
  
  A couple of hours later I took that first glass, and that fruit was still front and center, with surprisingly subtle oak influence. Some limited bottle development started showing up, though I admit I could have been mentally finding ways to imagine it because I thought it should be there. Overall the wine was still very young. The structure did come out more with air, but never dominated. Easy to drink, and easy to like, even for this Euro-centric palate.