Announcing the Release of
2000 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Aldin Red Table Wine
2001 Aldin Chardonnay
2002 Harvest
Looking to be another "Great Vintage"
The 2002 Harvest is looking to be another great vintage for Karl Lawrence wines. The spring growing season started with a little threat of frost, but overall had cool and mild conditions. The grapevines set with an average-to-light grape load with looser, more open grape clusters. These more open clusters are ideal for intensifying the colors and flavors in the grapes. The summer conditions were ideal with warm days and cool nights, giving to a long, mild growing season, with only a few manageable heat spikes mid-season. As the grapes ripened and the harvest approached, we anxiously awaited another orderly, successful harvedst. However, Mother Nature didn't want this grape harvest to be orderely for us. This year everything to do with the actual harvedsting and crushing of the grapes was compressed into a much shorter than normal time frame. All the grapes seemed to ripen at once and were harvested and brought to the winery at a record pace. Our first picking was Cabernet Sauvignon from Gary Morisoli Vineyard on September 29. We harvested and crushed almost daily, finishing with our last picking of Cabernet Sauvignon from Herb Lamb Vineyard on October 14, a full two weeks shorter than that of last year's harvest. Even with the compressed harvest, the wines for the 2002 are looking to be remarkable. All the grapes reached full maturity and are making wines with deep, rich color and bold, fruit forward, concentrated flavors.
This 2002 vintage will be remembered for its fast, ripe, delicious and hectic harvest.
Karl Lawrence Cellars
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
We are proud to announce the release of the 2000 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon. For the tenth consecutive vintage, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the artful blending of grapes from the Gary Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford, with grapes from the Herb Lamb Vineyard, just off HowellMountain. This vintage is blended 79% Morisoli Vineyard and 21% Herb Lamb Vineyard. The unique blending of these two different vineyards is what defines the style of Karl Lawrence Cabernet.
Winemkaer notes:
The 2000 vintage reminds me of the 1994 vintage. The wine is forward, powerful and up-front, giving way to a complex, firm, well-structured wine. Bold, forward aromas of black currant, spice, and bitter sweet chocolate. The flavors are unblushing and densely packed, showing plenty of the black fruits, jam, chocolate, licorice and spice. A bit more tannin structure than that of our past vintages, but backed with plenty fruit and flavor for graceful aging. This wine will only improve with additional bottle aging. Be patient!
The Debut of
2000
ALDIN
Red Table Wine
Our "Aldin Chardonnay" debuted in our last mailer with remarkable success. This year we are proud to also introduce, for its' first release, the "2000 Aldin Red Table Wine." The name "Aldin" derives from our partner, Ric's middle name. This limited production, Meritage style wine, is made to have fun with. It is ONLY offered to our mailing list customers.
Winemaker notes:
This red Meritage style wine is made from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petite Verdot. Blending four of the five Bordeaux varieties, make this wine aromatic, soft, rich and approachable. Sweet spice, fruit forward aromas seem to jump from the glass. Rich, bold, velvety fruit flavors from all the different grape varieties come forward in unity to express the broad richness and complexity of this wine. This is a great red wine to be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
Wine composition:
65% Cabernet Sauvignon; 22% Merlot; 11% Cab Franc; 2% Petite Verdot: = 100% Napa Valley.
Two New Vineyards
&
Grape Varieties
Michael Trujillo, winemaker, has continually strived to improve and elevate the quality of Karl Lawrence wines without compromising the style or quality. For many years, Michael has been looking for and experimenting with other vineyards and grape varieties to compliment the Karl Lawrence program. In past vintages, prior to the 2000 vintage, these experimental lots of wine made from different vineyards, locations, and variatals, have not been to his satisfaction to blend with Karl Lawrence wines; therefore, they were sold away as bulk wines. Beginning with the 2000 vintage, Michael has pleasingly found the perfect grapes to compliment his winemaking for Karl Lawrence and Aldin wines.
Beckstoffer/Tokalon Vineyard
Beginning with the 2000 vintage, Karl Lawrence purchased small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon (clone #6 and clone #7), Cab Franc and Petite Verdot from the Beckstoffer/Tokalon Vineyard in Oakville under a one year contract. The grapes and style of the wines fit the Karl Lawrence program like a glove and longer-term contracts have been put in place. Karl Lawrence Cellars looks forward to these grapes for years to come.
Boeschen Vineyard
This family owned vineyard is located north of St. Helena on the eastern Napa Valley hillsides. In 2000, Michael with the help from Mike & Linda Neal, their vineyard managers, contracted the grapes from this vineyard for its great Merlot. The wines made from this vineyard will compliment Karl Lawrence wines in the future only for the better. Today, the owner of the vineyard has expanded the plantings to include some hillside Cabernet Sauvignon. Karl Lawrence Cellars looks forward to working wiht the Boeschen Family and vineyard.
2001
ALDIN
CHARDONNAY
We are proud to offer our second vintage of the Aldin Chardonnay. The last release of the 2000 vintage went well and the return compliments are appreciated. The reason Karl Lawrence makes a Chardonnay in the first place is because of Michael's continuous hunt for additional red grapes. In 1999, Michael wanted to purchase and experiment with some Cabernet grapes from one particular vineyard. A deal was negotiated to purchase the Cabernet, but also had to include the two to three tons of Chardonnay, growing in this vineyard as well. Michael was up for the challenge to make a great Chardonnay. The first vintage in 1999 didn't meet Michael's expectations of style. That wine was sold off as bulk. Last year, we introduced the 2000 with great success. We are even more excited with this 2001 vintage.
It is our goal to offer these great Aldin wines to our mailing list customers only, at a fair and reasonable price. This last year, Chardonnay grape prices moved downward. Unfortunately, the prominent Napa Valley red grapes still command top prices. The savings from the lower Chardonnay grape prices are being passed on to you with this vintage.
Winemaker notes:
This wine is100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels and undergoes 25% malo-lactic fermentation; made more towards the Curopean style, expressing the fruit characters, and natural acidity of the grape in the wine. Forward aromas of pineapple, sweet pear, are laced lightly with sweet toasted oak. Generous creamy flavors of pear, apple and toasted nuts are complimented by the wines natural fruit and acidity, giving way to a long, rich and lingering finish.
Thank You,
From All Of Us At
Karl Lawrence Cellars
The End
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The 2002 Newsletter
Announcing the Release of
1999 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Aldin Chardonnay
Coming Soon!
2001 Harvest
The Start of a New Millennium
The 2001 vintage is looking to be an exceptional vintage. The quality of the grapes and the intensity of the wines are reflecting the same superior qualities of the 1997 vintage. The year began with budbreak coming two weeks earlier than that of the 2000 vintage, which had us nervously guarding the vines from the early frosts. Early bloom followed by a fast and even veraison, had us excited to see an earlier harvest. A few heat spikes, in May and June, turned our excitement to worrying that the grapes would come in too early, and not have the needed hang time to achieve the maximum flavors in the grapes. Fortunately, August and September cooled down to perfect temperatures, along with very cool nights, putting the vines back on track. This allowed the grapevines to settle, extending the all-important "hang time" needed to achieve maximum flavors from the grapes. Our first picking was some Merlot on September 9 and the first pick, of Cabernet Sauvignon, came from Gary Morisoli's Vineyard, September 21. As we did last year, we also harvested some small amount of Cab Franc and Petite Verdot grapes. We finished picking the last grapes, from the Herb Lamb Vineyard, October 13. Our overall yields were down, but the fruit quality is fantastic. Smaller and thicker skin berries were the result of the 2001 growing season and will produce bold, rich and intense wines.
A Great Harvest
The Debut of "Aldin" Chardonnay
This is our very first release of a different varietal wine, Chardonnay. We have chosen to call this wine "Aldin" which is our partner, Ric's, middle name. As many of you know, "Karl Lawrence" comes from combining the middle names of the two founding partners, Michael Karl Trujillo, and Bryan Lawrence Henry. Ric Aldin Henry later joined Karl Lawrence as a partner in 1994. It was a unified and pertinent decision to name this wine with Ric's Middle name. This is a very small production and is ONLY offered to the mailing list customers. ENJOY!
Winemaker notes:
This is a fun Chardonnay! It has forward aromas of pineapple, and sweet pear, laced lightly with sweet delicate toasted oak. Generous flavors of creamy, buttery pears, figs and toasted nuts. The acidity and balance carry the fruit flavors in the wine nicely to a flavorful, lingering smooth, rich finish. This wine will improve with some bottle aging, but will show it's best within the next three years.
KARL LAWRENCE CELLARS
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon
We are proud to announce the release of the 1999 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon. For the ninth consecutive vintage, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is the artful blending of grapes, from the Gary Morisoli Vineyard, in Rutherford, with the Herb Lamb Vineyard, just off Howell Mountain. This vintage is blended 80% Morisoli and 20 % Lamb. The unique blending of these two different vineyards is what defines the style of Karl Lawrence Cabernet.
Winemaker notes:
The 1999 Karl Lawrence Cabernet is definitely showing to be a classic wine. Very dark in color, with generous and forward aromas of black currant, black cherry plum and sweet vanilla spice. Firmly structured with plenty of rich, complex, flavors of black fruit, coffee, spice and bittersweet chocolate. This Cabernet comes on bold and determined, but constantly unfolds layer after layer of wonderful aromas and flavors, complimenting the complexity and balance of this 1999 Karl Lawrence Cabernet. Recommend aging this wine for a few years. It will only get better.
Shipping
Karl Lawrence utilizes shipping companies that specialize in shipping wine and ships to all states that have reciprocal agreements with California. A table listing estimated shipping rates, is provided on the order sheet. Please understand that the rates you are charged, by the shipping company, will vary, given your particular zip code within your state.
Wine is shipped as your order is received, pending additional allocation requests and the weather. Please understand the delicate nature of wine shipping. Last year, the West Coast experienced the coldest month of April, on record, followed by the hottest May, ever. Ironically, the bulk of our wine shipments went out in mid-June.
We advise that you have the shipping companies ship to a business address. That way, someone is always there to receive your shipment during delivery hours. Most delivery companies offer a small discount for delivery to a business address. Surcharges, by shipping companies, for incorrect address, or failure to deliver, will be passed on.
Will-call pickup is possible. You can indicate your desire for a will-call pickup in the special instructions section of the order form. We ask that you make arrangements, if at all possible, for a weekday business hour pickup, by the end of June.
Please contact Ric at 707/965-2597, or at orders@karllawrence.com, to address any of your shipping concerns.
Thank You
From all of us at
Karl Lawrence Cellars
September 11
We're saddened by the loss of a Karl Lawrence customer and friend who was aboard one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. In a desire to help out in the worldwide effort to assist victims of this attack, Karl Lawrence donated to the Grapes of Grief benefit wine auction that took place On December 8. Proceeds raised, benefit The New York Police & Fire Widows & Children's Benefit Fund.
In addition, the partners of Karl Lawrence have made private donations to the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund. This fund directly benefits the families of staff who worked at the Windows of the World Restaurant. We are proud to have had Karl Lawrence served at this world renowned restaurant. Michael and Elizabeth poured Karl Lawrence wine there, each March, for the last couple of years; an event, made more enjoyable, because of the fine staff. You can also make a donation to this fund at the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, c/o David Berdon & Co., LLP, 360 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017, 212/832-0400.
Henry Brothers' Ranch
Bryan reports that the development of the Henry Brothers' Ranch is progressing at a good pace. He's moving ahead with the permit process to plant vines on twenty of the forty acres. Weiland and Lois Henry, Bryan's and Ric's parents, have owned the ranch since 1975. It is situated on top of Howell Mountain, between the Dunn and Duckhorn vineyards, and across the street from Beringer's Tre Coligne vineyard.
Karl Lawrence Cabernets
Aging
A common question is the age ability of Karl Lawrence Cabernets. Karl Lawrence Cabernets are not made in the huge, tannic, heavily extracted style. Our style strives more for balance and finesse from each vintage. Michael believes that when this balance and finesse is done correctly, the wine can age gracefully for many years. It is easy to say that all the Karl Lawrence Cabernets will age further depending on the particular vintage.
Decant or Not Decant
Many have asked us on our recommendation on decanting Karl Lawrence cabernets. We DO encourage decanting of all the Karl Lawrence Cabernets before serving. The decanting is done more for the aerating of the wine, rather than separating any sediment. With our younger Cabernets, we recommend to decant vigorously and introduce a fair amount of aeration. With the older wines (1991-1993), a gently decant is recommended. For best results, allow the wine to breathe, in the decanter, for one to two hours.
Allocations
Karl Lawrence utilizes an allocation process to distribute our wine to our customer. We do this in an effort to be as fair as possible to our long-term, as well as our new customers. By keeping the allocation volume, to a reasonable amount, allows new customers to transfer from the waiting list.
We don't pay for advertising, but have been fortunate enough to receive some favorable reports and good word-of-mouth. This has created a high demand for Karl Lawrence. Rather than drastically increasing the price, and letting the market decide who would get Karl Lawrence, we decided to distribute with an allocation system. Our goal has always been, to provide the best premium wine that we can, at the fairest price.
Karl Lawrence Cabernets
Are served in the top restaurants
Of California and New York
Look for Karl Lawrence Cabernet on the
Wine list, next time you're dining.
