An update to our 7/28/19 experience of drinking the 2010 Diamond Mtn and the 2010 Howell Mtn cabernets side by side. Both bottles were slo-oxed for 20 minutes to allow the wine to open, and both bottles showed sediment. This drinking experience was not much different from our experience of 9 months ago. Both cabernets were medium to plus bodied and showed a core of dark red fruits with some earth, both on the nose, and on the palate. Add to this some red fruits, some spice, integrated tannins, and more acidity than needed to balance. In addition, both wines showed some fading of their fruit as the meal continued, hinting that they are continuing to decline in their old age, so drink up.
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Compared to what I've been able to get to know about Haber with current releases, this one seems to be made in a very different style. Either that or this bottle was off.....or maybe aging isn't the greatest? I'd like to believe that this wine is in a really strange spot. Brambly raspberry and black cherry. Wasn't getting a lot of blue fruit. Wasn't getting a lot of chocolate, spice that I usually get. The newer releases are quite a bit more full bodied and although they are more red, there are subtle coffee, blueberry and black roasted fruit and spice notes. Quite a divergence from that. The structure of this wine was there, but this was just a little lackluster than I expected.
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Had alongside a bottle of the 2010 Haber Diamond Mtn Cab. Both bottles needed a 15-20 minute slo-ox to open up. The highlights here were not the differences between the two cabs, but the similarities: Both cabernets were medium to plus bodied and showed a core of dark red fruits, both on the nose, and on the palate. Add to this a touch of spice, a touch of tannin (slightly more in the Diamond Mtn), and plenty of acidity. However, both wines showed some fading of their fruit as the meal continued, hinting that they may be on the decline, so drink up. All in all, a nice example of Napa cabernets, but with a really terrible QPR.
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Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting. Nose of red cherry fruit, mocha and dust, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, better than a few months ago, long finish. Retail $120.
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Winorama with a surprise (engagement)!; 9/15/2013-9/18/2013 (Napa Valley California): Tasted at Ron & Sue-Marie Haber's house. This was a bit of a surprise - more red fruits than normal for Howell Mountain cab - got strawberries and some sour cherry. Tannins were clearly prevalent and also needs time. A bit softer though than its Diamond Mtn brother.
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Howell Mountain Tasting. Marked contrast to the 2009, nose of light red cherry fruit, more of the same on the palate, medium body, medium finish, no comparison with the 2009.
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4/30/2020 - VlgJeff wrote: 89 Points
An update to our 7/28/19 experience of drinking the 2010 Diamond Mtn and the 2010 Howell Mtn cabernets side by side. Both bottles were slo-oxed for 20 minutes to allow the wine to open, and both bottles showed sediment.
This drinking experience was not much different from our experience of 9 months ago. Both cabernets were medium to plus bodied and showed a core of dark red fruits with some earth, both on the nose, and on the palate. Add to this some red fruits, some spice, integrated tannins, and more acidity than needed to balance. In addition, both wines showed some fading of their fruit as the meal continued, hinting that they are continuing to decline in their old age, so drink up.
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9/27/2019 - mflesh wrote: 91 Points
Compared to what I've been able to get to know about Haber with current releases, this one seems to be made in a very different style. Either that or this bottle was off.....or maybe aging isn't the greatest? I'd like to believe that this wine is in a really strange spot. Brambly raspberry and black cherry. Wasn't getting a lot of blue fruit. Wasn't getting a lot of chocolate, spice that I usually get. The newer releases are quite a bit more full bodied and although they are more red, there are subtle coffee, blueberry and black roasted fruit and spice notes. Quite a divergence from that. The structure of this wine was there, but this was just a little lackluster than I expected.
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7/28/2019 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Had alongside a bottle of the 2010 Haber Diamond Mtn Cab. Both bottles needed a 15-20 minute slo-ox to open up. The highlights here were not the differences between the two cabs, but the similarities:
Both cabernets were medium to plus bodied and showed a core of dark red fruits, both on the nose, and on the palate. Add to this a touch of spice, a touch of tannin (slightly more in the Diamond Mtn), and plenty of acidity. However, both wines showed some fading of their fruit as the meal continued, hinting that they may be on the decline, so drink up.
All in all, a nice example of Napa cabernets, but with a really terrible QPR.
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11/30/2014 - cblinstrub wrote: flawed
The wine was hot. Possible cork defect or storage issue.
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5/18/2014 - Napacablover Likes this wine: 94 Points
The 2010 is not as floral on the nose as some of the earlier vintages, but still a high quality wine.
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3/19/2014 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Howell Mountain Spring Wine Tasting. Nose of red cherry fruit, mocha and dust, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, better than a few months ago, long finish. Retail $120.
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9/15/2013 - MC2 Wines wrote: 90 Points
Winorama with a surprise (engagement)!; 9/15/2013-9/18/2013 (Napa Valley California): Tasted at Ron & Sue-Marie Haber's house. This was a bit of a surprise - more red fruits than normal for Howell Mountain cab - got strawberries and some sour cherry. Tannins were clearly prevalent and also needs time. A bit softer though than its Diamond Mtn brother.
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3/20/2013 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 87 Points
Howell Mountain Tasting. Marked contrast to the 2009, nose of light red cherry fruit, more of the same on the palate, medium body, medium finish, no comparison with the 2009.
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