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The Latest from Karl Lawrence Cellars
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Monday, April 19, 2010 .
Its amazing how you get a little sunshine, and people want to visit.
Chris Sholota and his family from Duluth, Georgia visit with Michael at our tasting room in St. Helena. The Beckstoffer-Dr. Crane Vineyard lies in the background at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains.
Audrey Hagen, of Arizona plays makeup with my granddaughters, Zoey and Indiana, while inside our tasting room.
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Our Comcast cable was down for three days. So we didn't have any phone, fax, or internet. Thank you all for being so persistent. When we did get back up and running, I received a ton of emails with orders and questions as to what was up. Well, we're back in business now and its been over 80 degrees in the Napa Valley for the past three days. So please, get those orders in before summer totally supplants spring. While the cable was down, Jefferson and I snow boarded at Tahoe where it was 50 degrees at 10 AM. After lunch, we exchanged our boards for water skis.
Michael and Chris Madrigal are co-hosting, along with others, a fundraiser at Madrigal's Estate Winery on Friday, April 30 from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM. You're all invited. The fundraiser is for the Foundation for African Medicine and Education (F.A.M.E.). It'll be an evening of wine, noshing, music, and a silent auction. Of course Karl Lawrence and Madrigal wines will be poured as well as those from Charles Krug, von Strasser, and Switchback Ridge. You can sign up at: www.famenapavalley.com.
. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 .
Yesterday was in the high 70s making it the warmest day of the year and the blossoms are springing out all over. I'm finally posting some 2009 harvest pictures.
When Brad Keller's not sandbagging his Fargo home from the Red River, he likes to volunteer at Henry Brother's Ranch.
Jefferson also joined in the fun. So much for office work.
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Friday, March 05, 2010 .
The 2007 Release Offering Letter went out this week to those of you living in the cooler areas. By "cooler," I mean colder than the warmer areas. March and April are good shipping weather months. So now is a good time to send in your orders.
. Friday, February 19, 2010 .
Karl Lawrence at the San Jose Rep Theater Gala
Rep Patron and Blues Cruise buddy, Barry Walter shows some gangsta' attitude.
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The Offering Letters for the 2007 release went out to those of you in the warmer areas, this past February 1. We're working to process these order this month while the shippers are not busy and the weather is nice and cool. The Offering Letter will then go out to those of you living in the cooler areas this coming March 1.
The 2007 vintage is our seventeenth release and our nineteenth year in business. Little precipitation fell during the 2007 growing season, resulting in early bud break, bloom and set. The summer temperatures ranged on the cooler side with very few hot days. This gave the grapes a longer hang time to reach full maturity. Our crop levels came in at twelve percent below average. Michael states that it is easy for him to predict that "2007 will be the vintage of this decade...outstanding in every way!"
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Our 2007 Cabernet is totally a ROCKIN' wine. Mother Nature gave us perfection in this vintage that comes to full expression in this finished wine. The vintage is loaded with color and packed with flavor, all knitted together with spot-on tannin balance. Even in analytical lab results, the numbers peg the scales.
The 2007 Cabernet has big, generous, forward fruit expressions of currants, black cherry, mocha, and licorice. Deep down there is a jammy black berry with sweet toastiness and hints of caramel. The nose is ever changing for the better and showing off its complexity layer after layer. In the mouth, the wine reveals big forward black cherry, currants, with bittersweet chocolate and cocoa. All these rich, full, silky smooth flavors are perfectly complemented by a firm but velvety tannin structure, expressing itself effortlessly and endlessly to an everlasting finish. Michael states that the wine can be approached early with proper decanting and sums up this vintage of the decade wine in one word--"Wowzza!"
Blend Percentages:
76% Gary Morisoli
9% Beckstoffer- To Kolan
8% Herb Lamb
7% Beckstoffer-Dr. Crane
2007 Aldin Red
As is customary, the 2007 Aldin Red Wine is created with the blending of Karl Lawrence's main four sourced vineyards. The Healy Vineyards Cabernet is new to the Aldin blend this year. In conjunction with the multiple Cabernets, Merlot and Cab Franc are blended in to loosen and broaden the wine. You'll find that Aldin Red is a smooth, silky wine with more spice and herbal notes coming in from the blending grapes. As a Meritage style red wine, Aldin Red tends to become approachable sooner than the Karl Lawrence Cabernet blend, however Michael cautions you not to rush into consuming Aldin Red too soon as it has shown wonderfully with additional bottle aging.
Blend Percentages:
59% cabernet Sauvignon (Gary Morisoli, Herb Lamb, Beckstoffer-To Kolan, Beckstoffer- Dr. Crane, and Healy vineyards)
28% Merlot (Boeschen and cunat vineyards)
13% Cab Franc (Beckstoffer-To Kolan vineyard)
2008 Aldin Chardonnay
Out Chardonnay this year, from the Matschullat vineyard near Soda canyon, shows more of a Burgundy style than past vintages. A mineral note accompanies the delicate and wonderful fruit aromas of pear, apple and subtl tropical fruit notes. Also, a creamy nuttiness adds complexity and layers in the aromas and flavors. The acid structure is crisper than past vintages, but balances nicely to support the delicate fruit flavors. The gravelly and mineral note reminds Michael of a young Burgundy wine which will complement many dishes. Upon release, the Chardonnay will be quite nice and a bit racy. It will respond well with a few additional months in the bottle and can lie in your cellar for a few more years.
Final Notes
We are pleased to announce the opening of our new tasting lounge in St. Helena and would be happy to have you come by for a tasting. We are open by appointment only. So please email me while planning your trip. I can meet with you on most weekdays and can arrange for someone to meet with you on some weekends.
All four of our sourced vineyards will be released as Single Vineyard Designated Reserves. We will automatically send out the Reserve Offering Letter to those who purchased the 2005 Reserves. As this is a separate mailing list, please let us know if you would also like to receive the Reserve Offering Letter.
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