Lamborn Family Vineyards

Lamborn Family Vineyards is a Howell Mountain heritage estate whose Zinfandel vines, planted in 1976, make it one of the few producers championing this variety on a mountain known almost exclusively for Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded by the Lamborn family and now managed with vineyard consulting from David Abreu, the valley's most famous vineyard manager, the estate occupies 9 acres of the steep, volcanic terrain that defines Howell Mountain. The decision to maintain Zinfandel vines on land that could command premium Cabernet prices is an act of agricultural preservation that benefits every visitor who tastes the unique wines these old vines produce.

The 9-acre vineyard sits on volcanic soils above the fog line, where intense sunlight and wide temperature swings produce grapes of deep concentration. The Zinfandel vines, now nearly five decades old, have developed the deep root systems and low vigor that mature vines require, producing tiny clusters of intensely flavored fruit. A small block of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted more recently to complement the Zinfandel program. David Abreu's involvement in the vineyard management ensures that the heritage vines receive expert care.

The Zinfandel is the estate's calling card, a wine that shatters every stereotype about the variety. Mountain-grown at 1,800 feet on volcanic soils, the Lamborn Zinfandel is structured, tannic, and mineral-driven, bearing almost no resemblance to the soft, fruity Zinfandels produced at lower elevations. The wine demands cellaring and rewards patience, with bottles from the best vintages aging gracefully for a decade or more. The Cabernet, from younger vines, provides a more conventional Howell Mountain expression.

Tastings are by appointment and conducted on the mountaintop estate, where the old Zinfandel vines are visible alongside the younger Cabernet plantings. The experience is intimate and focused on the heritage vines that make the estate unique. The $55 fee is moderate for Howell Mountain.

Lamborn matters because it preserves Zinfandel's place on a mountain that might otherwise be planted entirely to Cabernet. The heritage vines are irreplaceable, and every vintage they produce is a link to the viticultural diversity that once characterized Napa Valley's mountain appellations. David Abreu's involvement ensures that these living monuments receive the care they deserve.