9/22/2023 - knelsfk wrote:

What a fabulous wine from the early days of Donelan! Still drnking relatively young but has great power and finish. Aromas and flavors of dark berry fruit, earth and subtle toasty oak. Easily will drink great for 5+ more years!

12/24/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Christmas Eve watching Eagles / Cowboys Game

12/21/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Tasted with Phil and Elizabeth in anticipation of opening a 6 Liter bottle at their rehearsal dinner. Drank very well; just beginning to show some signs of aging with hints of ripe fruit.

12/6/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Opaque purple color with aromas of dark berry fruit; medium to full body with balanced finish and impressive finish; definitly at it's peak but several years of drinking potential remain.

11/25/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and poured. Dark purple color with aromas of pepper and toast.
Medium to full body with dark berry fruit; balanced tannins and long finish.

11/25/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color with opulent aromas of chocolate, tobacco and minerals. Full bodied with cherries and concentrated dark berry fruit. Balanced tannins and long finish. With an hour of aeration became even better. A very enjoyable wine.

11/17/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color with no sign of age. Aromas of dusty earth, tanned leather and cigarbox; medium body with smooth tannins and wonderful finish of dark berry fruit and toasty oak. Probably at its peak but no sign of fading.

10/14/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Maturing nicely with earthy nose and bold secondary flavors, smooth tannins and long finish. Easily should last another decade.

1/29/2022 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and poured. Cork was in great shape. Hints of cedar, underbrush and mushrooms on the nose. Closed when first tasted but gradually evolved with understated ripe fruit and soft tannins. Pleasant finish. In the latter stages of its drinking window.

3/31/2021 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark, inky purple color. Aromas of dark berry fruit and smokey oak. Full body with rich flavors and smooth balanced tannins. Finishes long. A great effort. This wine has gotten better with some bottle age and I am happy to see that Russell made it again in 2018. Drink now and over the next 5-7 years.

3/26/2021 - knelsfk wrote:

Drinking beautifully, this wine is fully mature and in retrospect a great value purchased on release. Dark purple color, with aromas of earth, mushrooms and cigar box. Medium body with great structure. Dark berry fruits in nice balance with the restrained tannins. Finishes long and elegant. Fully mature but should drink well for several more years.

2/27/2021 - knelsfk wrote:

I haven't had this wine in over a decade and my notes from that bottle reveal a badly seaping cork but a surprisingly great wine. This bottle also had a leaking cork but the wine was fresh with no signs of oxidation. Dark purple color with nose of leather, tar and tobacco.
Medium body with restrained tannins and elegant finish. A very nice Bordeaux with 30 years of bottle age and looks like it has more years ahead; although, I can't imagine it getting any better. I will drink my remaining two bottles from a case over the next 5-7 years. Quite a treat!

2/6/2021 - knelsfk Likes this wine:

Dark purple color with subtle nose of earth, toast and hint of tar. Full body with complex dark berry fruit flavors; finishes long. A great value and nearly as good as the Reva. Drinking great already with plenty of cellar life. Very enjoyable.

11/13/2020 - knelsfk wrote:

Still drinking great; no signs of oxidation; fresh bold fruit with hints of earth and spice on the nose; long finish; an excellent California Pinot Noir aging gracefully. Should easily last several more years and be very enjoyable.

2/18/2020 - knelsfk wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Excessive minerality on the nose that blew off somewhat with time. A completely disjoined wine with ripe berry fruits and awkward finish. Tannins were restrained but a wine that has not aged gracefully. Two bottles - both drank the same. A big disappointment.

2/15/2020 - knelsfk Likes this wine:

Decanted for two hours. Two bottles with no variation. The wine is drinking perfectly right now. Great color with no sign of oxidation; restrained but fresh dark berry fruit with smooth tannins and a long elegant finish. Impressive for an 18 year old California Cabernet.

2/1/2020 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and decanted about two hours. Dark purple inky color; aromas of ripe berries and spice; full bodied with great structure and long finish; a beauty already and should last many more years.

12/31/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color with dark fruit and oak aromas. Medium body with ripe jammy fruit dominating the palate. Oak present but out of balance with the fruit. A little flabby with and medium finish. Retasted after open for 24 hours and was much more in balance and enjoyable. Not sure what will happen with more bottle age.

12/31/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Deep purple color with no signs of oxidation. Nose with hints of mushroom and dark berry fruit. Medium to full body with elegance and polish. Flavors of black currant, licorice and minerality. It finished long. An impressive wine with years of life left.

9/29/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Aromas of explosive dark berry fruit, spice and toast. Full body, very fruit dominated with bold oak and strong but balanced tannins. Should evolve nicely for several more years.

8/17/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color; nose of cedar, tobacco and smoke; full bodied with soft balanced tannins; finishes long; drinking beautifully now with no signs of fading.

8/7/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and drank over 24 hours. Restrained nose and big on the palate but with disappointing fruit; finishes long with some heat. Maybe going through an awkward stage but disappointing.

5/19/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Unspiring nose; bright acidity with restrained fruit; a disapointment.

5/18/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Nose of tropical fruit and maple syrup; medium body with bright fruit and balanced acidity; finishes beautifully.

5/1/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color. Complex nose of violets, leather, and some hints of earth; full bodied with impressive dark berry fruit flavors; bold but balanced tannins; finishes long; drinking very well.

3/30/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Restrained nose of liquor and spice; medium body with silky smooth tannins; finishes elegantly; not a big fan of Tempranillo and this blend but a well made wine drinking perfectly.

3/27/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Restrained nose with hints of earth and saddle leather; medium body with soft tannins; finishes long and rather elegant; likely at its peak and should be consumed over 1-2 years.

3/24/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color; aromas of earth, tar and leather; great fruit with some secondary flavors; balanced with smooth tannins; probably at its peak with no sign of decline.

3/22/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Corked

3/11/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color with no sign of oxidation; aromas of cedar, spice and tobacco; lovely secondary flavors with balanced tannins; long finish; drinking very nicely and probably at its peak.

3/10/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

A wine on rapid decline; when first opened had aromas of ripe fruit; tertiary flavors dominate; fell apart in the glass over 2 hours and became unpleasant to drink; I hope that this was a bad bottle; have a few more and will try another one soon.

3/1/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Drinking perfectly; after 30 minute decant displayed aromas of leather, earthy loam and cedar; full body with smooth tannins and elegant finish.

2/25/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Retains it's dark purple color; nose of earthy loam and leather; full body with soft tannins; secondary flavors of ripe dark berry fruit; elegant finish; have been drinking through a case of this wine purchased when released; has lasted much longer than expected; drinking at its peak but several more years of life.

2/14/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

An aged California Cabernet that is drinking very well; dark purple color with some hints of bricking; aromas of leather, earth and moss; medium body with restrained fruit and smooth tannin. At it's peak and probably best to consume over the next 1-2 years. One of the best KL vintages.

2/12/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color; earthy nose with outstanding balance of dark berry fruit and restrained tannins. Drinking very nicely already and should last many more years.

1/23/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark ruby purple color with no signs of bricking; aromas of tobacco and leather; full body with mature jammy fruit and balanced soft tannins; a lovely aged Aussie Cabernet that has several more years left.

1/11/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

To dark to evaluate color; aromas of chocolate, cigar and cedar; full body; incredible fruit with balanced tannins; long finish; very enjoyable already.

1/4/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Earth and ripe fruit aromas; restrained fruit with soft tannins; an aged cabernet ready to drink.

1/4/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Popped and poured; drinking very well; earthy nose of grilled meat and cigars; full body with abundance of fruit and balanced tannins; long finish; very enjoyable.

1/3/2019 - knelsfk wrote:

Sadly this wine was far beyond its optimal drinking window; consistent with what appears to be accelerated aging for this vintage of Karl Lawrence - clearly an off year for this producer. Dark purple color with hints of brown. Nose of over ripe fruit with earthy tones. Nothing interesting on the palate with a funky vegetable finish. I have a mag left which I will open soon hoping that I caught it before it is gone.

12/27/2018 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark purple color with aromas of tobacco and spice; full-bodied with long smooth finish; should easily last 5-7 years. Very nice.

6/17/2018 - knelsfk Likes this wine:

Pulled right from cellar and drank over two hours; evolution was fantastic; great extraction and long finish; a very nice wine drinking fabulously right now with years left.

4/11/2017 - knelsfk wrote:

This wine is still going strong although the cork was very brittle. Deep ruby purple color; spice, hints of earth and cedar aromas; medium body with great balance; subtle tannins and nice finish; should drink well for several more years. I have been drinking this vintage of Karl Lawrence since release and it has never disappointed like some of the others have.

3/22/2017 - knelsfk wrote:

Still going strong after almost two decades. A great traditional California cabernet with balance and elegance. Hints of smoke and cedar, smooth tannins with a long finish. No signs of fading. Should drink well for another 5 years.

3/1/2017 - knelsfk Likes this wine:

Dark purple color; aromas of earth, licorice and spice. Great balance with ripe fruit and smooth tannins; finishes long. Many more years of drinking pleasure.

12/14/2016 - knelsfk wrote:

Wow, I have had many bottles of Karl Lawrence from every vintage through 2008 over the last 10 years and this bottle stands out from all others. Not sure if the 2006 has evolved in general to a wonderful wine or if this was just a situational misread for me. The wine had a dark purple color with restrained aromas of ripe fruit. On the palate it had incredible balance and silky smooth tannins that finished long. Drank over two hours and stayed wonderful. I am looking forward to trying another 2006 soon. I hope this was not a fluke.

12/13/2016 - knelsfk wrote:

Dark ruby purple color; nose of ripe fruit with earthy scents; medium body, still with great purity for a 20+ year old wine; long finish with smooth tannins; drinking great with at least several more years of drinking pleasure. Bottle was stored perfectly since release.

5/30/2015 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and poured; dark purple color with no signs of oxidation; aromas of dark berry fruit, hints of earth and tobacco; full bodied with smooth tannins and long finish; still going strong; should last several more years easily.

5/30/2015 - knelsfk wrote:

Opened and poured; dark purple color with reddish brown hues at the edges; nose was almost non-existent with only faint aromas of ripe fruit, loam and clay; a disappointment on the palate with fading fruit and little finish. After 2 hours in the glass little change in nose or taste. A shadow of what this wine once was; now of little interest.

2/13/2015 - knelsfk Likes this wine:

Cleaning out my old dead dogs. Expected this wine to be way over the hill. What a surprise! Cork was perfect. Deep ruby red color. Smoke, toasty oak and vanilla aromas. Medium body with smooth tannins, elegant, dark berry fruit, hints of chocolate and minerals. Finishes long and classy. Last bottle from a case that was purchased over 20 years ago probably for $20/bottle. Will the $100+ bottles of California Cabs dominating the market even come close to this kind of drinking window. I have my doubts. Looking forward to drinking my next "dead dog".