Library Sale Tasting Notes

Maybe it's been a couple years since you had that killer dinner party and finished off the last of your '04 cab. Or maybe you can't quite remember just how tasty the '03 Aldin was you drank for New Years 2010. Or, hey, perhaps you missed a couple years.

No matter the case, here's your chance to get the scoop behind the juice.

Below are updated tasting notes for our first library sale assembled by none other than our winemaker, Michael Trujillo.

Sale begins Monday December 3rd at 11:00 AM. Order online at www.karllawrence.com. First come, first served. All sales are final. Email jefferson@karllawrence.com with any questions.

2008 Karl Lawrence Cabernet – Drinking rich, lush, and plush. Big and forward dark chocolate, currants, and black fruits rush up in the nose and pallet. 2008 was a riper vintage that gave way to more decadence rather than firm structure. Well assembled with acid and fine tannin but more of a fat, richer style wine to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

Drink – Drinking great now! Will hold for another 5 -8 years but likely shed some of its decadence over time.

2007 Karl Lawrence Cabernet – Drinking well now but time will only improve this 2007. Still showing its youthfulness but lots of promise ahead. Upon opening, it expresses black fruits, ripe plum, and spice. Shy on the aromas at first but opens up nicely. The initial flavors are a bit reserved and a bit wound but defiantly has the stuffing. Dense, firm structure with a complexity open gently to the Cabernet Karl Lawrence is known for.

Drink – Hold off if possible. Can drink now with generous decanting. Will hold in cellar for another decade.

2006 Karl Lawrence Cabernet – Evolving into a beautiful wine. Time in the bottle has done well with this 2006 Cabernet and even more time will be more rewarding. Today, this wine is just rounding the corner to its fineness and complexity. Showing abundant black fruits, mocha, and a sweetness in the nose. On the pallet the firmness and structure are apparent but quickly give way to a beautiful, well-rounded wine. Bright, fresh, and expressive. Great food wine.

Drink – Now with decanting. Will hold in cellar through 2017 at least.

2005 Karl Lawrence Cabernet – Drinking smooth with complexity and balance. The abundant harvest in this vintage has 2005 wines being more subtle and complex rather than big and bold. This 2005 Karl Lawrence is showing clean bright red fruits of red cherry, hints of cocoa and the infamous Rutherford dustiness. Medium plus weight to the overall wine but well balance with acidity and fine tannin to carry this wine forward. Good food wine.

Drink – Now or over next 3 to 5 years

 2004 Karl Lawrence Cabernet – Wow, beyond expectations. Big, dense, rich, bold, complex, and fun. 2004 gave us a very hot harvest and wines that were a bit clumsy and tannic at bottling. However, time has done well for this 2004 Karl Lawrence Cab. Pretty and rich wine. Forward and aromatic notes of black fruits, coffee, tobacco and cedar. A slight mineralality shows a bit too. The balance on this wine is great and the expressions are generous throughout the journey on the pallet. A great wine through and through.

Drink – Drinking great now. Has at least 5 years ahead.

2008 Aldin Red Wine – Drinking great now.  Forward and pretty is a good way to express this 2008 Aldin Red Wine. Very aromatic with hints of red fruits, caramel, vanilla and sweet cinnamon all come forward. The flavors burst forward with lush and abundant offerings. A mellow yet complex red wine with a silky texture. Tannins and acid are well integrated to give a long and lingering finish.

Drink – Enjoy now and over the next few years.

2004 Aldin Red Wine  - Drinking great now and still has life ahead. A pleasant showing for a hot harvest. When bottled, this was a big and chewy Aldin Red but has carried well over the years. Defiantly has weight and structure. Takes some time to open up but gives way to big, forward, dense and rich aromas and flavors. Rich black fruits of black cherry and currants pave the way for an exceptional rich and complex wine on the pallet. This wine has plenty to offer up and enjoy.  

Drink- Now or can be held for a few more years. A solid wine.

2003 Aldin Red Wine  - Pretty and sexy. 2003 was a sleeper vintage and no exception for this Aldin Red. This wine is drinking like silk and fun to drink now. Aromas, flavors and balance are in full stride making this wine fun to drink NOW. Still showing fruit, complexity and has not swayed to being tired at all. Easy drinking.

Drink – Enjoy now! 

Fín

Well, folks, we're sure you've all been sitting on the edge of your seats, waiting for the final installment of Team Karl Lawrence's 2010 century ride.

This episode features some more rest stop banter, funky tunes, and shots of the valley that should have everyone getting on their bikes come August 2013 (hopefully a few months earlier if you plan on being in shape enough to finish).

Once again, if you'd like to join us next year, email ric@karllawrence.com. Thanks for watching. Here is the final chapter of Wine Guys in Spandex:

Wine Guys in Spandex: Part 5 of 6

In this leg of the Tour of Napa Valley 2010, Team Karl Lawrence listens to violins, rides Lake Hennessey to Star Wars tunes, and even reconnects with a long lost friend.

It's almost over, and it's sad. But, no worries, people. All you need to do is join us in real life in 2013:

Baby Jack and Part 4 of 6

Before the unveiling of the newest installment of Wine Guys in Spandex, we have some other, much more important, news. Our general manager, Jefferson Henry and his lovely wife Alisa, just gave birth to a new Henry boy.

So without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, here is John "Jack" Solo Henry:

Born Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Congrats, Jeff and Alisa!

Well... Li'l Jack's going to be a hard act to follow. But here goes nothing. 

In this episode of Wine Guys in Spandex, non-cyclists (or just cyclists who've never had the privilege of riding on the Tour of Napa Valley) will get to see the mysterious bag-piper of Mt. Veeder. He's an old soul who volunteers to stand atop the first serious climb of the ride in order to give bicycling folks a Braveheart type of courage.

You'll also get your first glimpse of what the Napa Valley looks like as the rising sun burns through the early morning fog... But enough of the flowery language, here's episode 4 of Wine Guys in Spandex:

Wine Guys in Spandex: Part 3 of 6

In the episode, Team Karl Lawrence finally hits the road. Who would of thought these nerds would ever stop talking and actually ride?

Well, there's still a bit of lolly-gagging and trash talk, but you guys know the deal, so let's cut to the chase. Here's the third installment of Wine Guys in Spandex:

The Office Gets Bottle Shocked

With harvest nearing full throttle, the tasters keep on coming. On a few occasions, we've even had some famous faces swing by for a visit.

Here's famous Napa Valley wine guy, Jim Barrett, holding a tennis painting of himself done by St. Helena artist Greg De Lucca.

Yes, this is the Jim Barrett from the movie Bottle Shock. But contrary to popular belief, Ric is not one of Jim's boxing partners. However, he and Jim are regular tennis partners. 

Here's Jim and his whole tennis crew, Ric included:

And here's a picture of Alice and Norm Farley. Norm was Ric's 10th and 11th grade Bible teacher at Sacramento Adventist Academy. They're the ones responsible for giving Ric his job after college (at their group home for wayward girls, in Riverside, CA). And to show you how progressive they've become, they did leave with some Karl Lawrence.

In other news, the offering letter for our '08 Reserve goes out via email. So keep your eyes peeled!

Wine Guys in Spandex: Part 2 of 6

We're sure seeing Ric's Pasta Pig-Out kept you on the edge of your seats, but instead of lamenting over missing out in 2012 (or 2010), you can join our cycling team and attend the Pig-Out yourself in 2013. 

But ye be warned! This episode does include Ric in a hot tub... 

So, regardless of your feelings toward the situation, you can admire his dedication to the sport by getting up at 5:15 AM to "loosen up."

Okay, we're getting side-tracked. Here's episode 2: