We have a new website!

New things are afoot at Karl Lawrence and we've moved everything over to the new and improved: karllawrence.com.

See you there!

Solo and Snakes

There comes a time in every cyclist's life where he or she faces a peculiar dilemma on the road and is forced to decide whether to carry on with the beloved spandex'd sport. 

For Karl Lawrence team member and longtime friend, Dave Jamieson (pictured above comparing sleeve lengths and farmer's tans with Ric and Richard Chan in Modesto, CA) it happened during a treacherous climb on the infamous Wards Ferry Road. Old road... No guardrails... Plummeting into the Don Pedro Reservoir seems nearly unavoidable. You get the picture.

Well this moment of fear-inspired clarity happened to Ric just as this year's harvest jumped off:

 Yep. That's about seven slithering rattles crossing the road up by Lake Hennessey in St. Helena. Indeed, even during Napa Valley's most beautiful time of year, these fanged reptiles are waiting for an oblivious biker's ankle to sink their teeth into... But, on the bright side, Ric claims to have clocked one of his best times up Greenfield Road after nearly falling off his bike in shock. Must have been all the adrenaline.

In other news, here's a bearded Ric with his longtime tennis partner, Michaela Rodeno. 

Michaela just released her first book of a two volume set, titled From Bubbles to Boardrooms: Act 1: Startups are such Fun. In it, she relates her experiences being the CEO of Domainne Chandon.

Another good tennis buddy, Ron Nicholson, and his wife, Lauren, are on the cover of, and featured in, the current issue of Napa Valley Life:

And here's Mike and Danielle Martines, from Denver. They're long time Karl Lawrence people who stopped by on their annual trip through the Valley. Since our tasting lounge has closed, Ric took them over to see our good friend Bob Bressler, of Bressler Vineyards.

To sum this update up, we are thrilled to announce that our very own Jack Solo Henry turned one! Here's a shot of him and his old man:

Tour of Napa Valley 2013

Here's what may be the last group picture of Karl Lawrence's cycle team as they pause at the Aetna Springs rest stop (mile 65) in three digit heat:

 Left to right, front row: Armando Flores, Scott Smith, Bill Kendal, Ric, Dave Jamieson, Mike Purnell. With Bob Fores in back.

The gang was gearing up for the 4.3 mile ascent of the Ink Grade's 1,200 feet of climb. This year marks the sixth consecutive year for Cycle Team Karl Lawrence to ride the 100 mile Tour of Napa Valley. 

Buick Romance

Well, folks, it's time for some good ol' Karl Lawrence Now & Then. Or Then & Now.

On October 10th, 2009, David and Michelle Russell took a wedding day drive in Ric's 1936 Buick.

Straying from our usual array of blurry cell phone photos, here's a professional shot of the two lovebirds on their special day:

Now, almost four years later, David and Michelle ventured back to the Valley for yet another ride in the Buick. Here they are at Henry Brothers' Ranch this week:

The Buick's been rolling now for about 77 years. And while our tasting lounge no longer hosts the killer parties it used to, the Buick still navigates the Napa Valley roads with unmatched style and precision. 

So if you're around, give us a ring and you might just be lucky enough to be a passenger in this classic cruiser.

Summer Update

Fresh after the last of our gear was cleared out of the tasting room, Ric's granddaughter, Zoey, showed off her newly acquired back bridging skill over a bottle of Karl Lawrence.

A few days prior, longtime Karl Lawrence fans, Jamie and Brooks Laudin, came over from Walnut Creek, CA to stock up on some KL Reserve. They hope they have enough to last a couple decades.

Finally, Scott Urie (center) brought his usual suspects for his annual BBQ at KL. Scott's been Karl Lawrence's master grill man for what seems to be about 10 years. We're confident he'll find a new spot to drink good wine and cook up the finest meat in town. 

Thanks for everything, Scott!

2010 Sold Out and The Tasting Lounge's Last Month

Well, folks, we are sold out of the 2010 vintage. The only wines left are the '09 Reserves and some bottles from the library release. You can order on our webshop or email ric@karllawrence.com with any shipping or shopping inquiries.

Also, we are sad to say that our tasting lounge will be closing by June 30. It's been a great few years! But on the bright side, that leaves you guys just enough time to pencil in a visit!

Loyal Karl Lawrence visitor Russel Tom drove up to see us the other day. We'd love it if you all did the same.

Spring Things

Well, folks, let's start this Spring update off right with a recent photo of Ric and potential winery heir apparent, Baby Jack:

Three generations, two doo-rags, one nation.

In other news, Karl Lawrence aficionado Ken Yzurdiaga made his last warehouse run. Now that he's stocked up with enough KL to last far into retirement, he's moving to Nevada:

Here's Karl Lawrence Cycle Team member, Bob Fores:

Bob's ridden the Tour of Napa Valley with us four times. He organizes Ride for Mom each year in Modesto, the day before Mother's Day. Here he is last weekend at the after party with a bottle of his favorite wine. 

And while we're on the subject of bike ride organizers, here's Jack McGlynn:

Jack organizes the PCH ride from Carmel to San Simeon, which has been on the cycling circuit for 41 years. Here he is after this year's ride a couple weeks ago with his two prized possesions: a bottle of Karl Lawrence and his new Renovo wooden bicycle frame (a surprise gift to Jack from the PCH riders this year).

Ric in front of the Bixby Bridge on this year's PCH Ride.

And to put an end to the bicycle-fueled update, here's a couple shots from the Stones' concert in Oakland: 

The usual suspects: Dave and Ginge Jamieson with Cheryl and Ric outside Oracle Arena.

A view from the "cheap" seats. 

That's all for now, folks! Hopefully we'll have some actual wine news for you in the near future.

Tasting Notes, Inventory, and Visitors

Before some tasting notes from the pros, we'd like to inform you that the 2010 3Ls are all sold out. Head over to our shop at karllawrence.com to see what you can still get your hands on. Now for the fun stuff.

Assistant winemaker Mike Henry, along with the dynamic duo, Richard Zulch and Craig Issacs, got together to give the '09 reserves a quick taste. 

After the three of them discussed each one in the warehouse, Mike took the bottles home for a more "thorough" tasting. Here's what they determined:

Henry Brothers' Ranch 

Dense dark fruits, "red mountain" dust, pepper on the nose. Bold forward red fruits turning to dark black fruits, eucalyptus, pomegranate, spicy dark chocolate. Very "mountainy."

Richard & Craig said the HBR "has a finish a mile long; it will last forever." 

Gary Morisoli

Bright nose, black cherry, woody. Definitely shows "Rutherford dust." Very structured, elegant, a bit firm. Nice balanced dark fruits and vanilla woodiness.

Dr. Crane 

Spicy plum "chutney" on the nose. Black fruits, chocolate covered cherry. Long finish. More chocolatey than the others.

To Kalon

Very floral and perfumey sweet nose, plush. Rich and "slutty." Very bold and dense dark fruits. Definitely needs time to spread out. Most opulent of the four.

--

Mike also suggests waiting at least 5 years before opening any of these four. So patience, friends. 

The three of them, as well as Ric, agreed the Henry Brothers' Ranch definitely stands out from the three Valley wines.

To finish up this KL update, here's some recent photos:

Kirsten Modrich from the Marin swung by the office with her mother, Margaret, and her two children, Johann, and Sophia:

Afshin Arya from Rocklin, CA also came by to pick up a case:

Finally, Cycle Team Karl Lawrence had to make another appearance. Here's the crew "training" near Los Alamos:

Celebration of Life: Jim Barrett

As many of you know, one of Napa Valley's legends, Jim Barrett, passed away a couple of weeks ago. During harvest last year, Jim, and the rest of his and Ric's tennis crew, swung by Karl Lawrence.

We blogged about the office's brief shine of celebrity spotlight then, and would love to post the photos again. So here they are.

Here's Jim holding a painting of himself at the court done by St. Helena artist, Greg De Lucca:

Ric was happy to see the above picture used in Jim's celebration of life slideshow Tuesday at the Meritage in Napa. There were 500 people in attendance. Greg's painting was on display, as well.

Here's the whole tennis crew. At the ceremony, the gang sported their tennis gear and all stood up together as a tribute to Jim.

Jim was their leader, organizing four doubles matches a week. With Jim gone, the crew is leaderless, but will keep on playing in his memory. 

Spring Update

Kicking things off right, we'd like to give a big shout-out to our local boy, Walker Ryan, who's landed his first magazine cover. Here he is holding the April 2013 issue of Transworld Skateboarding, one of the premier mags in the industry:

Walker just recently had a part in Transworld's skateboarding film Perpetual Motion which premiered last week in L.A. and San Francisco. The cover was the cherry on top for the year he's spent filming for the video.

Walker's parents have been drinking Karl Lawrence since he first stepped on a skateboard and we've been lucky enough to see him shredding the sidewalks of St. Helena for the last 20 years. 

He was instrumental in our town's mission to build a skatepark, and has never forgotten his roots despite his constant flux of global travel. Even his shaggy 16-year-old sillouhette can be seen in the middle of the park's sign!

If you've been by the office, you've seen his first pro-model skateboard hanging on the wall. By your next visit, we should have the mag hanging next to it. Here's a closer look:

Make sure to get a copy for yourself. They'll be hitting stores and stands this week. For more on Transworld and Perpetual Motion, check out skateboarding.transworld.net.

In other news, Cycling Team Karl Lawrence recently summited Mt. Diablo. Here's Ric, Bob Fores, Mark Jensen, and Dave Jamieson to prove it:

The mountain earns its name by providing 4,000 ft. of elevation in just a 10-mile climb. The crew logged a total of 35 miles for the trip.

And for all of you wondering about our inventory:

- All of our Aldin is sold out! 
- Only a few case of '09 remain. 
- The '10 is selling at a fast clip.  
- The '10 Reserves should be released in late March, after the bottles are labeled.

That's it for now. If you have any ordering questions and/or bicycle requests, you can email ric@karllawrence.com. 

Karl Lawrence says Aloha

Albert Holt has been with us since the early days. Here's him and Cheryl in Hawaii. 

Al took Ric and Cheryl to the Top of Waikiki and gave them his two cents on the plethora of great Hawaiian golf links.

Besides drinking Karl Lawrence, Albert stays busy running AL's Kona Coffee. Give them a look! www.alskonacoffee.com

2013 Happenings

Ken Yzurdiaga heard that the Karl Lawrence warehouse would be closing down within the year, so he stopped by to help clear it out. Y'all can help, too!

Also, Ric guided his KL friends on a cycle tour of the back roads of the Upper Napa Valley.  

On their trek to the shore of Lake Hennessy, they encountered one car on the final ten mile loop. Bob Fores, on the right, organizes the Ride For Mom ride in Modesto. You can ride with Ric there on May 13. Check it out at www.rideformom.com.

Also, if you happen to have the blues on Valentines Day, head down to the Cameo Cinema the day after  to boogie-woogie  with Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. 

Ric helped book Mitch. The blues man's been a longtime fan of Karl Lawrence and really knows how to throw a party. 

You can't beat wine and the blues. Especially at the Cameo, where all three of Ric's kids have worked. 

Mitch Woods: mitchwoods.com. The Cameo Cinema: cameocinema.com.

Baby Jack and the 2010 Release!

In our first blog post of 2013, three-month-old Jack Solo Henry helps his dad, Jefferson, notify everyone that our Karl Lawrence 2010 is available TODAY!

It was his first email blast, and let us be the first to say, he made us proud...

Check our website for ordering information.

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: