Decanted for 7 hours per oldwines' suggestion - From the hayday of Karl Lawrence. Great fruit from fabulous vineyards. Opened nicely with deep and fresh fruit -cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, fine, integrated tannins, medium long tannins. Paired great with rack of lamb. Should have waited until the next day to finish the bottle, but I didn't (and paid for it next day).
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Not quite as good as the last bottle. Not sure if its bottle variation or starting to decine. A beautifully aged Cabernet. Not decanted. Beautiful nose with blackberry, cherry, anise, leather, earth, mocha, herbs and a touch of cedar. Lots of flavor with black cherry, blackberry, mocha, leather, herbs, cassis and a touch of cedar. Wonderful balance with good acidity. Long silky smooth finish.
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A beautifully aged Cabernet. Minimal bricking at the edges. No decanting needed as it had a beautiful nose upon opening. Blackberry, cherry, anise, leather, earth, mocha, herbs and a touch of cedar. Complex flavors with black cherry, blackberry, mocha, leather, herbs, cassis and a touch of cedar. Wonderful balance with good acidity. Long silky smooth finish. In a really good place now, but no concerns about holding for years to come.
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Decant for an hour and then follow for 2 hours. Still not mature. Front of the palate is dark red fruit. Back of the palate is gripping acidity, which was a surprise. Not citric acidity, just biting acidity that gave balance to the fruit in the front. There was no astringent tannin so no mouth implosion. No sweetness. Some roasted meet type presentation, although no such flavors. Excellent accompaniment to rolled rib cap steaks.
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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.
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Red/black cherry and blackberry fruit up front. Notes of mocha, leather, savory herbs, and toasty oak. Very balanced wine right now where the flavors just coat the palate. Soft, smooth tannins round out the long finish.
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Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, licorice and wood spices. Ripe, medium-bodied fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length and well-integrated tanning and oak. Nicely integrated and supple on the palate. In sweet spot of peak drinking period.
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Decanted for 40 minutes, dark red in color, black and blue fruits on the nose, subtle vanilla and spice notes with a hint of smoke. A well balanced that wine coats your mouth, classic sweet California fruit, velvety tannis play on the tongue and a long satisfying finish just makes you want another sip.
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FROM MAGNUM: Simple but well made wine. Tastes of Malo, but not distracting. Loads of soft and overripe black and blue fruits. Took about 30 minutes in the decanter to come around.
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Red/black cherry, blackberry fruit with mocha, tar, and licorice notes. Nice balance, long finish with smooth tannins. This has developed nicely over the years.
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Hmm, according to ct, haven't had one of these in a while. Definitely aging but in a good way; this was a very nice bottle. While a bit sour on the pop n pour, after an hour of air while dinner cooked, it was in a great place. Baby fat behind it, a really nice nose of chocolate cherry and leather greets you. Then on the palate you are joined by some cedar, tobacco and some dark red fruit.
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Pop and pour. This is not a fruity wine and there has not been much if any secondary development. What I did fine was a healthy amount of sediment. A careful decanting is warranted because the tannins can overwhelm the little fruit left. Drink now.
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This wine is in a great place right now. Nose is dark cherry, black olive, leather. Palate is soft with black fruits and cassis and some oak. Finish is moderate with round tannin.
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Still vibrant for a 20 year old wine. The tannins have softened to an almost unnoticable presence but there is still lots of structure to the wine.
Nice nose of dark fruits and vanilla with a little spice. On the palate there are flavors of cassis, toast, vanilla and cedar. Fairly long finish but a little light on the mid palate. It started to fall apart a little about 5 hours after opening, but was still a wonderful easy to drink cab. Even my wife liked it and she normally says that Cabs are "too strong." I have one bottle left and I think I will drink it within the next couple of years.
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I opened this to drink during the Super Bowl. It went very well with a spread of baguette slices and cheeses, chips with humus, and various sliced deli meats.
Dark purple in color. Wonderful nose of dark cherry and leather. On the palate lots of dark fruits, olives, cassis, and a little cedar. Tannins are still firm, but not annoying. Fairly long finish.
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(Recently purchased off a supermarket shelf by my neighbor, so this bottle is likely further along the aging curve than one from pristeen storage.) Not decanted. Purple-garnet color. Immediately aromatic and generous on the palate. Notes of black cherry, nicoise olive and a mild green chile streak, though there is otherwise nothing underripe about it. Fleshier and more secondary than either the 00 or 01 right now; so not one for the long haul but should delight for the next 2-4 years.
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This wine is singing right now! It has improved so much in the last year. Plush black fruit surround a core of firm tannin. The palate is full of black leather, cassis and black currant. Touch of olive and earth. Finish is lengthy. This wine has had a spotty history, but is getting better every year.
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One of the best regular KL's I can remember. Drinking great now with an hour decant but has lots of tannin and fruit and should continue to improve for at least another 3-4 years perhaps more. A terrific KL.
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Wow! Beautiful color, amazing nose (berries, tobacco, leather) with long, integrated/balanced finish. We had a Cliff Lede Diamond Mt. along side the KL, so the superiority of the KL was readily apparent.
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Lots of dark fruit. Resolved tannins. Deep colored with no hint of bricking. Typical Cab nose, nothing breathtaking. Overall, solid and balanced, with no extra excitement factor. Yes, there is oak, but we had it with a grilled steak and it was well matched.
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On the nose the currant is really starting to come forward with some licorice. The palate has softened and is full of cassis, black leather and blackberry. Touch of vanilla, but not over oaked. This is coming on nicely, despite the nay-sayers. Gotta wait another year to open the next, but as always, KL delivers the goods.
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See previous notes...this wine is very plain and lacks any depth or complexity. Not a flawed wine, just no excitement at all here. Too bad, I have held these wines with expectations drinking a quality wine at a reasonable price. Did not turn out that way.
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This wine is probably on the decline. Dark fruits - Ludens cough drops. Also detected some weird type of mint(wintergreen?). I surely expected this to be a better wine when I purchased. Drink em up now.
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Could it be ... brett? This bottle tasted old before its time. Marred by brett and tasting pretty thin. I bailed after a couple of sips. Surprising.
Day 2 notes.. OK, I clearly suck at wine tasting. I tried this bottle on day two and the wine had definitely plumped up and the brett notes (which I'm realizing may also just be green, unripe fruit .. I sometimes confuse the two) have receded somewhat but still present. Overall, while not my favorite KL this bottle ended up being perfectly drinkable on day two... mid-eighties score.
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Nose of cocoa infused black currant and clack raspberries. Palate shows an immediate purity and depth. This approaching more new Napa Cab style; it's plush and full bodied with a bruising quality that crosses over to.... too much; it's awkward, over extracted (enough to put the average AFWE into a coma, over 'defined' and slightly unbalanced with too much gobby fruit in the forefront that becomes a bit ponderous and tiring on a Friday night after a tough week. Let me stop there--and I've been 'kind'.
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Nice marbley jammy nose. Ripe fruits and red cherries spill out the nose on this youthful wine. Very smooth on the palate with a nice grainy texture that reflects a well-crafted though more simple wine. A straight-forward Napa Cab with lively deep black cherries on the palate. The wine remains a wonderful full-bodied cabernet that delivers with incredible consistency. Was introduced to the wine by the legendary Ben Sherwin and I remain grateful for his generosity as this wine remains my personal favorite from regular bottling through the majestic To Kalon joys.
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I expected a little more for this wine. Dusty red to red/black fruits on the nose. Mouth was monolithic with little complexity. Able to pull some blackberry, raspberry and a hint of mint on the taste. The finish was short with no perceptible alcohol. I do not see this getting better...drink up.
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1 hour decant. Nose of black currant and cola. Palate shows some nice purity. Good black fruits of currants and black cherries and blackberries with some cola. With some coaxing you get some additional depth and pizzazz. There is more than expected amount of sediment with this tonight. Balance is nice. This has some hidden elegance. I think this may be in a slightly dumb stage, (I lived through the 70s, so I know how it feels). Finish is longish with the fruits never really quitting. This is slightly two dimensional really just ‘correct’, not more, not less. I think worth the $40 I paid
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This wine has changed in the last year and not in a good way. The nose has softened to muted black cherry and cassis. The vanilla has gone as has any leathery aromas. The palate has hollowed and flattened. Thee is still good fruit, but is has likewise muted. Deep slumber? Early slow death? We'll see next year. I open this every year around our anniversary- as we were married in 2004. We bought a case and are watching it develop.
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This wine is ready to drink now. It is mature in a good way. No over the top tired flavors but instead the fruit is ripe and in no way over the top. No unripe bell pepper notes. Nice wine!
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Decanted 90 minutes. Nice purple color with medium texture in the glass. This wine was flat compared to same wine opened one year ago. Muted nose. Dark fruit in the mouth and tannins are still tightly wound. Pleasant but not exciting. Not sure where this one is going.
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Perhaps not the best KL I've consumed but very tasty none the less. I decanted for an hour. Perhaps it was enough of a decant. This wine seems to need more time?
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Developing well. Strong nose of dark cherry, cassis and black currant. Palate is rounding out with softening tannin, black cherry, currant, a bit of leather and some oaky vanilla. Finish is moderate. Turning into a real winner.
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Popped the bottle and this was a tannic beast right out of the gate. After four hours of air this wine finally started to open up. Dark blue and black fruits on the nose, ripe blackberries and blueberries. Cool herbaceousness on the nose with fresh sage and mint leaves. Interesting sweet blood orange component coming through. Tons of interesting scents popping up after each swirl. Underneath all the fruit are layers of ground coffee beans, dark cocoa and a fresh creamy note. Palate is medium body, broad structure still showing and completely focused. Nutmeg, cedar box, black currants, plum and graphite. Throwing a bit of sediment as well.
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Decanted 1 hour. Very pretty dark garnet in the glass with purple undertones. Very nice nose of vanilla, dark fruits, and hints of leather. Medium to full mouth - dark fruit, oak in a slightly rustic in style. Needs a bit more time to develop and integrate the tannins. Hold.
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Decanted for about an hour. Dark garnet with a nose of cedar, currant, and mint. Medium full bodied with rugged black currant fruit. Decided this was still tight so I left it overnight (back in the bottle) to try again. Day two it had not changed much. This still needs time, but I'm a little concerned it might dry out (lose fruit) before it softens up. As is, this is about an 87-89 for me.
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Opened but not decanted approximately 1 hour. Decanted and consumed over another 2 hours. I'm hoping that this is shut down as it never evolved from the opening of the bottle to when it was finished. Quick notes: sharp, angular, chewy tanins with black fruit notes. This may need 1-2 more years of bottle age to show better. Good right now.
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This was the second bottle of this wine I have had and found it to be much less captivating. Maybe I had more time to think about it, but it was lacking some fruit and seemed off balance, with a distracting finish. When you really get into it and think about it, all the stuff was there (fruit, wood, bit of earth), but it just wasn't coming together this night.
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Nose was very reserved when first opened, but it started to come around after an hour or so, dark cherry and spice. The palate was quite smooth with a moderately long finish. Overall a very good wine, but will benefit from some more time.
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Blast of cherry and vanilla. My wife agreed it wasn't too oaked and the fruit certainly was the main focus. Smooth tannins. Very well put together but perhaps a bit too one dimensional to be truly extraordinary. They have done a good job holding prices steady the past few years and it is (after discount for long-term customers) almost certanly one of the best <$50 Napa cabs available.
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Opened not decanted. Dark fruit on the nose and palate with dominate oak, showing tight tannins with sweet blackberry notes on a dry finish. Still shows some greeness. Needs air and / or bottle age. Good.
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One of my last 375s. Huge, beautiful wine. Drinking even better than the 750 in the vertical last week (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and the 2004 was picked #1 by most of the SAS folks. :-) (Not me, though - 03 and 05 were my favs.)
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I think this is beginning to shut down. The nose was lighter than the past few years and the palate seemed somewhat thinner and more muted. It still had the signature KL style and great fruit, but it was more muted. The finish was medium and soft. We'll see what the next one holds next year, as I open one of these a year on our anniversary.
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What a fantastic nose on this wine - intoxicating is overused but in this case it applies - the nose on this bottle was outstanding, among the best I've ever smelled - the only quibble a touch of alcohol after at least 15 seconds of the schnoz in the glass. Unfortunately, the palate had not (at least as of yet) caught up. In the mouth, it was still a good wine but not equal to the nose. Still fairly tannic, it's a little one-dimensional, with a main fruit note of cranberry.
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This drank nicely last night at a dinner; still young and fairly tannic, there was ample fruit. Not overly complex, but there was a nice layer of cedar and spice to go along with that fruit and tannin.
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Very dark color. Rich, ripe black fruit and milk chocolate flavors, with low acidity and fairly well balanced alcohol. Moderate structure; not much tannin. This is good, but not in the same league as the 2002.
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great color, nice mouth feel and finish. A bit strong on the first tastes but had greatness within as the night wore on... I'd say this one's got a good 4-5 years before being at it's peak. It's got all the elements of a cult wine built into its frame. Lets see if it stands the test of time...
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Light purple/ ruby red around the edges. Cherry, chocolate, with a little bit of vanilla on the nose. Initially a bit tannic with some alcohol showing through. However after being opened half an hour it started to balance out. A nice feel, but surprisingly short finish and a bit tart on the end. Not ready yet.
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Light on the tannins as with other '04 napa cabs. drank with a beef stew dish and complemented it nicely with its rich dark cherry flavors. the length and finish was not a nice as '03. perhaps can evolve for a year or two but i'll designate this as a good BBQ wine along with my ridge zins.
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Opened not decanted. Dark sweet fruit with a whiff of alcohol and greenery on the nose. Very young with a narrow and undeveloped middle and a dry and chewy finish. Fair to Good right now. Let sit for at least 2 more years.
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This was my first taste of the '04 KL since it was released. This wine is more aggressive than I first remember it. It is definitely the most ripe and aggressive KL that I have tasted to date. Big fruit, good mid structure. Lacking a bit of structure on the finish, but I think this wine just needs a bit more time to settle down and integrate. Overall enjoyable right now, but I think it will improve. Tasted out of a 375.
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Wine has evolved nicely since I first rated it last year. The fruit is coming through in full force. Garnet with ruby edge in the glass. Amazing nose on this wine, chocolate, vanilla, blackberry, cinnamon and mint. Palate follows the bouquet with some blueberry flavor. Velvet tannins. Beautiful wine. Smooth and long finish. Personally I'd like to see a little more nuances of the classic cigar box or earth but this is a very good wine.
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Taste from Dan Cushin at WF OB. Disappointing overall. Abrasive wine on the finish. Nice nose. Aromas of blackberries, chocolate and cassis. Yet the wine falls short on all other facets. The palate is out of balance now with overwhelming alcohol on the finish. Would not recommend this wine...especially for over fifty dollars.
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Opened this for our 4th anniversary. Out the gate the nose is dark, bittersweet chocolate, black cherry and eucalyuptus. Palate is black currant, cassis, blackberries with hints of the chocolate and eucalyuptus. Finish had some drying tannin that developed about an hour and a half after opening, but is medium-long. This is developing slowly and just needs time. Might not ever get to the point of the '03, but it's still a damn fine wine.
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Karl Lawrence Vertical (wally's house, barrington IL): nose: really big and jammy with a good amount of oak and vanilla with big ripe cherry tones too. This is over the top and extracted and the nose isn't really doing it for me. This is the kind of nose that bothers me a bit with new world wines
taste: while fruity and upfront, this isn't anywhere near as jammy or extracted as the nose and gives me hope that this turns into some of the older ones. It posseses flavors of dark cherry, cranberry, raspberry, vanilla extract, and toasted oak
overall: ripe and very bold. This is bordering on over the top but its the palate feel and flavors that do more for me then the overtly ripe and jammy nose.
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Disappointing. Nose of plum with undertones of caramel. Weak attack. Big hole in the mid-palate. Decent but short-ish finish. This didn't do much for either of us.
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Decanted 1-1/2 hours. Medium body. Very dark, black fruits up front with coffee and chocolate. The mid-palate and finish was short and watered down however. Good but not the complete package. Light on tannin.
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Nice rich purple color...decanted and on opening the nose was a little tight, opening in time to show a concentrated and firm dark berry, a hint of chocolate and earthy cedar. On first tasting this was tight, and only started to show after a few hours revealing a nice rounded and firm mid palate with a great fruit presance, nice tannic framework led to a lingering finish...I am glad I gave this some time to open up.
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Decanted for 2 hours, Big fruit foward wine with lots currant and cassis notes. Gripping tannins. Not overly complex but very enjoyable. Will be interesting to see how this one evolves. There are lots of tannins but I think they maybe enough fruit. Check back with this one in 4 or 5 years.
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Dark purple with aromas of currant and citrusy perfume. Full nectar with mild, drink me tonight tannins, on a bed of fresh squeezed blackcherry and caramel on a long finish. It's fruit forward and very simpleminded.
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Big wine with a lot of concentration and heavy on fine grained, tongue staining tannins. Lots of succulent cherry upfront, with a slightly tannic finish. Very good, but not memorable and the complexity wasn't enough to score higher.
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90 now -- but I expect this to be a blockbuster 94+ starting 2 years or so from now. I just wanted to see how the wine is progressing in the bottle, and 375s seem to move more quickly. Intense purple color. 2 hours after decanting, still tight and tannic. Found more 2003 375s, so hopefully I can hold out another 6 months before opening another 2004. (Yeah, right.)
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Very nice nose of black cherries and chocolate. Full bodied and very tannic at first. After some air time noticed some mocha and red fruits as the tannins wore down. Has some heft to it but it was still delicious right now.
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Decanted about 2 hours prior to tasting. Color is deep, dark purple. Nose is very fruity with loads of currant and cassis. Plenty of oak. The palate is quite tannic at this stage in typical Napa fashion with cassis, blackberry, currant, leather and black cherry. Finish is medium long. While quite primary at this point, I believe it will develop well. Just give it some time in the cellar. Better than the first bottle I had.
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Not up to par with the 1999, 2001 and 2003 Karl Lawrence but still a very good wine. Definately a little different style then past KL's, this one is more backwards and old world. A little more tannic and less of a fruit bomb then I remember in past KL's. Dark and inky. The nose has a nice blackberry, currant and metallic quality. A bit hot on the attack but after a long decant the fruit starts coming through nicely and you can tell the wine has good structure. Hold on to this one and try in a couple of years and I think it's score will raise with some bottle age. Tasted from a 375ml, I'll be saving my other bottles for a few years, I think this one will age gracefully.
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At dinner at a friend's house popped and poured. Very tannic and too young (hold 3-5 years) wne seems out of balance at this stage. None of the silkiness of previous years. Should improve with age.
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Decanted 3hr’s. Subdued nose of red currants and plum. Tight, tart and tannic with flavors of cassis, plum, blackberry, tar and graphite. This opened up only slightly after an additional 2 hr’s. Consistent on the palate with some acidity, but has significant tannins on the finish. At this point in its development, this is not nearly the quality of wine of its ‘01-‘03 siblings. Try again in a couple of years. NS
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I passed on the 04 mailer, but it should be noted that I am a KL fan in many vinatges. the 03 is a spectacular wine. I've had the wine twice now with consistent notes. This wine just did not deliver up to the KL standards. It is incredibly choppy and disjointed. Some red fruits mostly with black background, but nothing special. The acid seems odd and the tannin is significant and jarring. None of the KL lushness, palate fat, choco-coffee smoothness despite big scale I've come to expect is there. never a big believer in travel shock, who knows, but I am glad I did not buy it.
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Nosed is a bit closed off, but what is there is some bacon fat (interesting), dark currant and dark fruits. Very tannic this early, but seems in balance with the fruit. It should be a good wine in a few years.
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Don't bother trying for at least 6 months. This wine is a tannic monster. 5 hour decant and still tight as a drum. Mouth drying tannins. Built for the long haul. No rating at this point.
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8/29/2021 - VinCA wrote:
Decanted for 7 hours per oldwines' suggestion - From the hayday of Karl Lawrence. Great fruit from fabulous vineyards. Opened nicely with deep and fresh fruit -cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, fine, integrated tannins, medium long tannins. Paired great with rack of lamb. Should have waited until the next day to finish the bottle, but I didn't (and paid for it next day).
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8/2/2021 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to the 10/12/19 bottle for about 30 minutes before the wine started to deteriorate.
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6/25/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not quite as good as the last bottle. Not sure if its bottle variation or starting to decine. A beautifully aged Cabernet. Not decanted. Beautiful nose with blackberry, cherry, anise, leather, earth, mocha, herbs and a touch of cedar. Lots of flavor with black cherry, blackberry, mocha, leather, herbs, cassis and a touch of cedar. Wonderful balance with good acidity. Long silky smooth finish.
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3/9/2020 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
A beautifully aged Cabernet. Minimal bricking at the edges. No decanting needed as it had a beautiful nose upon opening. Blackberry, cherry, anise, leather, earth, mocha, herbs and a touch of cedar. Complex flavors with black cherry, blackberry, mocha, leather, herbs, cassis and a touch of cedar. Wonderful balance with good acidity. Long silky smooth finish. In a really good place now, but no concerns about holding for years to come.
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10/12/2019 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
A touch richer and more complex than the 12/8/17 bottle.
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5/12/2019 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decant for an hour and then follow for 2 hours. Still not mature. Front of the palate is dark red fruit. Back of the palate is gripping acidity, which was a surprise. Not citric acidity, just biting acidity that gave balance to the fruit in the front. There was no astringent tannin so no mouth implosion. No sweetness. Some roasted meet type presentation, although no such flavors. Excellent accompaniment to rolled rib cap steaks.
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2/14/2019 - knelsfk wrote: 92 Points
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.
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9/15/2018 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to the 12/8/17 bottle.
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5/29/2018 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red/black cherry and blackberry fruit up front. Notes of mocha, leather, savory herbs, and toasty oak. Very balanced wine right now where the flavors just coat the palate. Soft, smooth tannins round out the long finish.
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12/8/2017 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, licorice and wood spices. Ripe, medium-bodied fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length and well-integrated tanning and oak. Nicely integrated and supple on the palate. In sweet spot of peak drinking period.
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11/11/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank from magnum. Really great. Good fruit and soft tannins. So smooth. Classic Napa!
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9/24/2017 - Deryl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Amazing fruit. Tannins fully resolved, I would not hold any longer.
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8/28/2016 - TD2Irish wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 40 minutes, dark red in color, black and blue fruits on the nose, subtle vanilla and spice notes with a hint of smoke. A well balanced that wine coats your mouth, classic sweet California fruit, velvety tannis play on the tongue and a long satisfying finish just makes you want another sip.
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3/18/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
FROM MAGNUM: Simple but well made wine. Tastes of Malo, but not distracting. Loads of soft and overripe black and blue fruits. Took about 30 minutes in the decanter to come around.
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12/1/2015 - brianofthevine wrote: 91 Points
Red/black cherry, blackberry fruit with mocha, tar, and licorice notes. Nice balance, long finish with smooth tannins. This has developed nicely over the years.
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6/16/2015 - Squirreljam wrote:
Hmm, according to ct, haven't had one of these in a while. Definitely aging but in a good way; this was a very nice bottle. While a bit sour on the pop n pour, after an hour of air while dinner cooked, it was in a great place. Baby fat behind it, a really nice nose of chocolate cherry and leather greets you. Then on the palate you are joined by some cedar, tobacco and some dark red fruit.
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2/18/2015 - bobpsi wrote: 93 Points
1.5 hr decant. Big nose of black fruits, pipe tobacco and cedar. Medium plus body, moderate tannins blackberry, sour cherry, leather and herbs.
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2/14/2015 - jwebtx wrote:
Pop and pour. This is not a fruity wine and there has not been much if any secondary development. What I did fine was a healthy amount of sediment. A careful decanting is warranted because the tannins can overwhelm the little fruit left. Drink now.
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7/11/2014 - kstoddard wrote:
Fading. Drink now.
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6/19/2014 - Rayburn wrote: 92 Points
This wine is in a great place right now. Nose is dark cherry, black olive, leather. Palate is soft with black fruits and cassis and some oak. Finish is moderate with round tannin.
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4/13/2014 - dinwiddie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still vibrant for a 20 year old wine. The tannins have softened to an almost unnoticable presence but there is still lots of structure to the wine.
Nice nose of dark fruits and vanilla with a little spice. On the palate there are flavors of cassis, toast, vanilla and cedar. Fairly long finish but a little light on the mid palate. It started to fall apart a little about 5 hours after opening, but was still a wonderful easy to drink cab. Even my wife liked it and she normally says that Cabs are "too strong." I have one bottle left and I think I will drink it within the next couple of years.
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2/3/2014 - dinwiddie Likes this wine: 90 Points
I opened this to drink during the Super Bowl. It went very well with a spread of baguette slices and cheeses, chips with humus, and various sliced deli meats.
Dark purple in color. Wonderful nose of dark cherry and leather. On the palate lots of dark fruits, olives, cassis, and a little cedar. Tannins are still firm, but not annoying. Fairly long finish.
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8/18/2013 - Neecies Likes this wine: 92 Points
(Recently purchased off a supermarket shelf by my neighbor, so this bottle is likely further along the aging curve than one from pristeen storage.) Not decanted. Purple-garnet color. Immediately aromatic and generous on the palate. Notes of black cherry, nicoise olive and a mild green chile streak, though there is otherwise nothing underripe about it. Fleshier and more secondary than either the 00 or 01 right now; so not one for the long haul but should delight for the next 2-4 years.
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6/20/2013 - Rayburn Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is singing right now! It has improved so much in the last year. Plush black fruit surround a core of firm tannin. The palate is full of black leather, cassis and black currant. Touch of olive and earth. Finish is lengthy. This wine has had a spotty history, but is getting better every year.
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12/30/2012 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best regular KL's I can remember. Drinking great now with an hour decant but has lots of tannin and fruit and should continue to improve for at least another 3-4 years perhaps more. A terrific KL.
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12/5/2012 - craigi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow! Beautiful color, amazing nose (berries, tobacco, leather) with long, integrated/balanced finish. We had a Cliff Lede Diamond Mt. along side the KL, so the superiority of the KL was readily apparent.
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9/27/2012 - pape du neuf wrote: 90 Points
Lots of dark fruit. Resolved tannins. Deep colored with no hint of bricking.
Typical Cab nose, nothing breathtaking. Overall, solid and balanced, with no
extra excitement factor. Yes, there is oak, but we had it with a grilled steak and
it was well matched.
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8/4/2012 - Taylor56 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. Very nice color extraction of dark garnet. The wine showed better than our last bottle and opened up nicely in the glass. Solid.
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7/15/2012 - BonnieM wrote:
Dry, blackberry with a hint of mint. Needs a steak. Don't try just sipping this.
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6/21/2012 - Rayburn wrote: 92 Points
On the nose the currant is really starting to come forward with some licorice. The palate has softened and is full of cassis, black leather and blackberry. Touch of vanilla, but not over oaked. This is coming on nicely, despite the nay-sayers. Gotta wait another year to open the next, but as always, KL delivers the goods.
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5/19/2012 - S2 wrote: 86 Points
See previous notes...this wine is very plain and lacks any depth or complexity. Not a flawed wine, just no excitement at all here. Too bad, I have held these wines with expectations drinking a quality wine at a reasonable price. Did not turn out that way.
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4/22/2012 - S2 wrote: 86 Points
This wine is probably on the decline. Dark fruits - Ludens cough drops. Also detected some weird type of mint(wintergreen?). I surely expected this to be a better wine when I purchased. Drink em up now.
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3/3/2012 - reese wrote:
Could it be ... brett? This bottle tasted old before its time. Marred by brett and tasting pretty thin. I bailed after a couple of sips. Surprising.
Day 2 notes.. OK, I clearly suck at wine tasting. I tried this bottle on day two and the wine had definitely plumped up and the brett notes (which I'm realizing may also just be green, unripe fruit .. I sometimes confuse the two) have receded somewhat but still present. Overall, while not my favorite KL this bottle ended up being perfectly drinkable on day two... mid-eighties score.
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2/24/2012 - King Cab wrote: 87 Points
Nose of cocoa infused black currant and clack raspberries. Palate shows an immediate purity and depth. This approaching more new Napa Cab style; it's plush and full bodied with a bruising quality that crosses over to.... too much; it's awkward, over extracted (enough to put the average AFWE into a coma, over 'defined' and slightly unbalanced with too much gobby fruit in the forefront that becomes a bit ponderous and tiring on a Friday night after a tough week. Let me stop there--and I've been 'kind'.
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2/14/2012 - kevinpatrick wrote: 89 Points
Nice marbley jammy nose. Ripe fruits and red cherries spill out the nose on this youthful wine. Very smooth on the palate with a nice grainy texture that reflects a well-crafted though more simple wine. A straight-forward Napa Cab with lively deep black cherries on the palate. The wine remains a wonderful full-bodied cabernet that delivers with incredible consistency. Was introduced to the wine by the legendary Ben Sherwin and I remain grateful for his generosity as this wine remains my personal favorite from regular bottling through the majestic To Kalon joys.
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1/22/2012 - KenYz wrote: 92 Points
- It's balanced with a full body. Narrow texture with a medium finish.
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12/31/2011 - S2 wrote: 88 Points
I expected a little more for this wine. Dusty red to red/black fruits on the nose. Mouth was monolithic with little complexity. Able to pull some blackberry, raspberry and a hint of mint on the taste. The finish was short with no perceptible alcohol. I do not see this getting better...drink up.
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7/30/2011 - King Cab wrote: 90 Points
1 hour decant. Nose of black currant and cola. Palate shows some nice purity. Good black fruits of currants and black cherries and blackberries with some cola. With some coaxing you get some additional depth and pizzazz. There is more than expected amount of sediment with this tonight. Balance is nice. This has some hidden elegance. I think this may be in a slightly dumb stage, (I lived through the 70s, so I know how it feels). Finish is longish with the fruits never really quitting. This is slightly two dimensional really just ‘correct’, not more, not less. I think worth the $40 I paid
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6/16/2011 - Rayburn wrote: 88 Points
This wine has changed in the last year and not in a good way. The nose has softened to muted black cherry and cassis. The vanilla has gone as has any leathery aromas. The palate has hollowed and flattened. Thee is still good fruit, but is has likewise muted. Deep slumber? Early slow death? We'll see next year.
I open this every year around our anniversary- as we were married in 2004. We bought a case and are watching it develop.
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4/21/2011 - bonedocnine wrote: 91 Points
This wine is ready to drink now. It is mature in a good way. No over the top tired flavors but instead the fruit is ripe and in no way over the top. No unripe bell pepper notes. Nice wine!
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2/18/2011 - Taylor56 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Nice purple color with medium texture in the glass. This wine was flat compared to same wine opened one year ago. Muted nose. Dark fruit in the mouth and tannins are still tightly wound. Pleasant but not exciting. Not sure where this one is going.
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11/21/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps not the best KL I've consumed but very tasty none the less. I decanted for an hour. Perhaps it was enough of a decant. This wine seems to need more time?
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10/24/2010 - winelovr2001 wrote: 90 Points
A great CS, big brawny tannins and nice extraction without being over the top. A bit angular keeping it from getting a higher score.
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10/17/2010 - CobraKahn wrote: 88 Points
Started off tanic and finished flat. I love Karl Lawrence but this one fell a little short. Maybe an isolated issue.
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8/21/2010 - olm2000 wrote: 93 Points
in a great place now IMO....very full and textured...classy juice
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7/10/2010 - jts_brown wrote: 91 Points
very similar notes to the last bottle. I had scored this bottle one point lower than the last bottle but very consistent.
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6/30/2010 - Rayburn wrote: 91 Points
Developing well. Strong nose of dark cherry, cassis and black currant. Palate is rounding out with softening tannin, black cherry, currant, a bit of leather and some oaky vanilla. Finish is moderate. Turning into a real winner.
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5/23/2010 - Margauxguy wrote: 90 Points
Still very tight and young. Didn't really open up in the 2 hours we had it. Good structure, went well with a grilled NY Strip
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5/21/2010 - tyvoodoo wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 4 hours before this note.
Popped the bottle and this was a tannic beast right out of the gate. After four hours of air this wine finally started to open up. Dark blue and black fruits on the nose, ripe blackberries and blueberries. Cool herbaceousness on the nose with fresh sage and mint leaves. Interesting sweet blood orange component coming through. Tons of interesting scents popping up after each swirl. Underneath all the fruit are layers of ground coffee beans, dark cocoa and a fresh creamy note. Palate is medium body, broad structure still showing and completely focused. Nutmeg, cedar box, black currants, plum and graphite. Throwing a bit of sediment as well.
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3/13/2010 - TheBusiness724 wrote:
Chelsea's Third Annual Birthday Wine Tasting (Lancaster, PA): From magnum. A ripe and delicious Cali cab served with dinner that was a nice change of pace to the old-world wines we drank during the tasting.
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2/21/2010 - Taylor56 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Very pretty dark garnet in the glass with purple undertones. Very nice nose of vanilla, dark fruits, and hints of leather. Medium to full mouth - dark fruit, oak in a slightly rustic in style. Needs a bit more time to develop and integrate the tannins. Hold.
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2/14/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Decanted for about an hour. Dark garnet with a nose of cedar, currant, and mint. Medium full bodied with rugged black currant fruit. Decided this was still tight so I left it overnight (back in the bottle) to try again. Day two it had not changed much. This still needs time, but I'm a little concerned it might dry out (lose fruit) before it softens up. As is, this is about an 87-89 for me.
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12/26/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened but not decanted approximately 1 hour. Decanted and consumed over another 2 hours. I'm hoping that this is shut down as it never evolved from the opening of the bottle to when it was finished. Quick notes: sharp, angular, chewy tanins with black fruit notes. This may need 1-2 more years of bottle age to show better. Good right now.
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12/19/2009 - Dave Amarone wrote: 88 Points
I was disappointed compared to when I last tasted it about 14 months ago. There was a distinct vegetal aroma that I had not noticed before.
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11/22/2009 - pinotwinelover wrote: 93 Points
this wine had maninly a dark fruit profile , but just on the edges this rich red cherry note that delicious. We enjoyed and would buy again.,
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11/18/2009 - brianb8851 wrote: 87 Points
This was the second bottle of this wine I have had and found it to be much less captivating. Maybe I had more time to think about it, but it was lacking some fruit and seemed off balance, with a distracting finish. When you really get into it and think about it, all the stuff was there (fruit, wood, bit of earth), but it just wasn't coming together this night.
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9/5/2009 - Colima74 wrote: 94 Points
Lush red fruit, hint of whole berry/stems. Balanced and showing some secondary characteristics, a very lovely Cab.
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7/23/2009 - brianb8851 wrote: 92 Points
Nose was very reserved when first opened, but it started to come around after an hour or so, dark cherry and spice. The palate was quite smooth with a moderately long finish. Overall a very good wine, but will benefit from some more time.
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7/10/2009 - jts_brown wrote: 92 Points
Blast of cherry and vanilla. My wife agreed it wasn't too oaked and the fruit certainly was the main focus. Smooth tannins. Very well put together but perhaps a bit too one dimensional to be truly extraordinary. They have done a good job holding prices steady the past few years and it is (after discount for long-term customers) almost certanly one of the best <$50 Napa cabs available.
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7/10/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Dark fruit on the nose and palate with dominate oak, showing tight tannins with sweet blackberry notes on a dry finish. Still shows some greeness. Needs air and / or bottle age. Good.
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7/1/2009 - craigi wrote: 94 Points
One of my last 375s. Huge, beautiful wine. Drinking even better than the 750 in the vertical last week (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and the 2004 was picked #1 by most of the SAS folks. :-) (Not me, though - 03 and 05 were my favs.)
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6/22/2009 - Rayburn wrote: 89 Points
I think this is beginning to shut down. The nose was lighter than the past few years and the palate seemed somewhat thinner and more muted. It still had the signature KL style and great fruit, but it was more muted. The finish was medium and soft. We'll see what the next one holds next year, as I open one of these a year on our anniversary.
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6/14/2009 - Squirreljam wrote:
What a fantastic nose on this wine - intoxicating is overused but in this case it applies - the nose on this bottle was outstanding, among the best I've ever smelled - the only quibble a touch of alcohol after at least 15 seconds of the schnoz in the glass. Unfortunately, the palate had not (at least as of yet) caught up. In the mouth, it was still a good wine but not equal to the nose. Still fairly tannic, it's a little one-dimensional, with a main fruit note of cranberry.
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3/14/2009 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
Definitely more restrained style - valley floor fruit. Well balanced - approachable now but has the stuffing to last at least another five years.
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2/22/2009 - Squirreljam wrote:
This drank nicely last night at a dinner; still young and fairly tannic, there was ample fruit. Not overly complex, but there was a nice layer of cedar and spice to go along with that fruit and tannin.
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1/12/2009 - Siggy wrote: 85 Points
Very dark color. Rich, ripe black fruit and milk chocolate flavors, with low acidity and fairly well balanced alcohol. Moderate structure; not much tannin. This is good, but not in the same league as the 2002.
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12/20/2008 - david-greenwald@comcast.net wrote: 90 Points
great color, nice mouth feel and finish. A bit strong on the first tastes but had greatness within as the night wore on... I'd say this one's got a good 4-5 years before being at it's peak. It's got all the elements of a cult wine built into its frame. Lets see if it stands the test of time...
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11/22/2008 - ChillyWino wrote:
Light purple/ ruby red around the edges. Cherry, chocolate, with a little bit of vanilla on the nose. Initially a bit tannic with some alcohol showing through. However after being opened half an hour it started to balance out. A nice feel, but surprisingly short finish and a bit tart on the end. Not ready yet.
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9/22/2008 - Asmo wrote: 90 Points
Light on the tannins as with other '04 napa cabs. drank with a beef stew dish and complemented it nicely with its rich dark cherry flavors. the length and finish was not a nice as '03. perhaps can evolve for a year or two but i'll designate this as a good BBQ wine along with my ridge zins.
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9/4/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 91 Points
Nothing new
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8/21/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Dark sweet fruit with a whiff of alcohol and greenery on the nose. Very young with a narrow and undeveloped middle and a dry and chewy finish. Fair to Good right now. Let sit for at least 2 more years.
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8/19/2008 - EPounds wrote:
This was my first taste of the '04 KL since it was released. This wine is more aggressive than I first remember it. It is definitely the most ripe and aggressive KL that I have tasted to date. Big fruit, good mid structure. Lacking a bit of structure on the finish, but I think this wine just needs a bit more time to settle down and integrate. Overall enjoyable right now, but I think it will improve. Tasted out of a 375.
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7/10/2008 - boxwine_in_hell wrote: 91 Points
Wine has evolved nicely since I first rated it last year. The fruit is coming through in full force. Garnet with ruby edge in the glass. Amazing nose on this wine, chocolate, vanilla, blackberry, cinnamon and mint. Palate follows the bouquet with some blueberry flavor. Velvet tannins. Beautiful wine. Smooth and long finish. Personally I'd like to see a little more nuances of the classic cigar box or earth but this is a very good wine.
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6/18/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Taste from Dan Cushin at WF OB.
Disappointing overall. Abrasive wine on the finish.
Nice nose. Aromas of blackberries, chocolate and cassis.
Yet the wine falls short on all other facets. The palate is out of balance now with overwhelming alcohol on the finish.
Would not recommend this wine...especially for over fifty dollars.
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6/18/2008 - Rayburn wrote: 91 Points
Opened this for our 4th anniversary. Out the gate the nose is dark, bittersweet chocolate, black cherry and eucalyuptus. Palate is black currant, cassis, blackberries with hints of the chocolate and eucalyuptus. Finish had some drying tannin that developed about an hour and a half after opening, but is medium-long. This is developing slowly and just needs time. Might not ever get to the point of the '03, but it's still a damn fine wine.
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6/15/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 91 Points
Still very tannic- would hold the 750s for awhile longer.
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6/8/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Karl Lawrence Vertical (wally's house, barrington IL): nose: really big and jammy with a good amount of oak and vanilla with big ripe cherry tones too. This is over the top and extracted and the nose isn't really doing it for me. This is the kind of nose that bothers me a bit with new world wines
taste: while fruity and upfront, this isn't anywhere near as jammy or extracted as the nose and gives me hope that this turns into some of the older ones. It posseses flavors of dark cherry, cranberry, raspberry, vanilla extract, and toasted oak
overall: ripe and very bold. This is bordering on over the top but its the palate feel and flavors that do more for me then the overtly ripe and jammy nose.
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4/20/2008 - pkwoods wrote: 85 Points
Disappointing. Nose of plum with undertones of caramel. Weak attack. Big hole in the mid-palate. Decent but short-ish finish. This didn't do much for either of us.
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4/10/2008 - Phin wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1-1/2 hours. Medium body. Very dark, black fruits up front with coffee and chocolate. The mid-palate and finish was short and watered down however. Good but not the complete package. Light on tannin.
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3/6/2008 - Tejano wrote: 90 Points
Nice rich purple color...decanted and on opening the nose was a little tight, opening in time to show a concentrated and firm dark berry, a hint of chocolate and earthy cedar. On first tasting this was tight, and only started to show after a few hours revealing a nice rounded and firm mid palate with a great fruit presance, nice tannic framework led to a lingering finish...I am glad I gave this some time to open up.
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2/23/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 90 Points
We loved it. Pleasantly tannic- great cab profile.
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2/22/2008 - pitt71 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, Big fruit foward wine with lots currant and cassis notes. Gripping tannins. Not overly complex but very enjoyable. Will be interesting to see how this one evolves. There are lots of tannins but I think they maybe enough fruit. Check back with this one in 4 or 5 years.
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1/27/2008 - GreatLibations wrote: 85 Points
Dark purple with aromas of currant and citrusy perfume. Full nectar with mild, drink me tonight tannins, on a bed of fresh squeezed blackcherry and caramel on a long finish. It's fruit forward and very simpleminded.
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1/14/2008 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Big wine with a lot of concentration and heavy on fine grained, tongue staining tannins. Lots of succulent cherry upfront, with a slightly tannic finish. Very good, but not memorable and the complexity wasn't enough to score higher.
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12/17/2007 - Elkiholic wrote: 87 Points
Pretty shy 1/2 bottle not giving up more than a light fruit aroma with balckberries and cassis on the palate. These need time.
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12/6/2007 - craigi wrote: 90 Points
90 now -- but I expect this to be a blockbuster 94+ starting 2 years or so from now. I just wanted to see how the wine is progressing in the bottle, and 375s seem to move more quickly. Intense purple color. 2 hours after decanting, still tight and tannic. Found more 2003 375s, so hopefully I can hold out another 6 months before opening another 2004. (Yeah, right.)
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11/24/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Howell Mountain Cabernet (One Particular House, Tustin, CA): Rich and intense, with notes of blue fruits, brown sugar, graphite, and wet soil. Finishes with a hint of tart red fruits. Young, of course, but holds a lot of promise.
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11/12/2007 - CMorris wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at home and decanted 1 hour. Good wine that should get better with time. Nice structure. Hold.
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11/10/2007 - winelovr2001 wrote: 90 Points
Really nice wine, but it is very closed right now. Best to cellar for a few more years at least.
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10/15/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 91 Points
Very nice nose of black cherries and chocolate. Full bodied and very tannic at first. After some air time noticed some mocha and red fruits as the tannins wore down. Has some heft to it but it was still delicious right now.
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9/1/2007 - jameswm13 wrote: 91 Points
Liked it. Wife thought it was too tannic right now.
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6/26/2007 - Sydthesquid wrote: 91 Points
I'm not seeing all the complaints. This neds to go away for a while and I think it will come around very nicely
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6/18/2007 - Rayburn wrote: 90 Points
Decanted about 2 hours prior to tasting. Color is deep, dark purple. Nose is very fruity with loads of currant and cassis. Plenty of oak. The palate is quite tannic at this stage in typical Napa fashion with cassis, blackberry, currant, leather and black cherry. Finish is medium long. While quite primary at this point, I believe it will develop well. Just give it some time in the cellar. Better than the first bottle I had.
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6/6/2007 - boxwine_in_hell wrote: 90 Points
Not up to par with the 1999, 2001 and 2003 Karl Lawrence but still a very good wine. Definately a little different style then past KL's, this one is more backwards and old world. A little more tannic and less of a fruit bomb then I remember in past KL's. Dark and inky. The nose has a nice blackberry, currant and metallic quality. A bit hot on the attack but after a long decant the fruit starts coming through nicely and you can tell the wine has good structure. Hold on to this one and try in a couple of years and I think it's score will raise with some bottle age. Tasted from a 375ml, I'll be saving my other bottles for a few years, I think this one will age gracefully.
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5/9/2007 - A&B wrote: 85 Points
Course tannins, not very good
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5/5/2007 - CMorris wrote: 87 Points
At dinner at a friend's house popped and poured. Very tannic and too young (hold 3-5 years) wne seems out of balance at this stage. None of the silkiness of previous years. Should improve with age.
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5/3/2007 - GreenDrazi wrote:
Decanted 3hr’s. Subdued nose of red currants and plum. Tight, tart and tannic with flavors of cassis, plum, blackberry, tar and graphite. This opened up only slightly after an additional 2 hr’s. Consistent on the palate with some acidity, but has significant tannins on the finish. At this point in its development, this is not nearly the quality of wine of its ‘01-‘03 siblings. Try again in a couple of years. NS
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4/22/2007 - Hillbilly wrote: 88 Points
I passed on the 04 mailer, but it should be noted that I am a KL fan in many vinatges. the 03 is a spectacular wine. I've had the wine twice now with consistent notes. This wine just did not deliver up to the KL standards. It is incredibly choppy and disjointed. Some red fruits mostly with black background, but nothing special. The acid seems odd and the tannin is significant and jarring. None of the KL lushness, palate fat, choco-coffee smoothness despite big scale I've come to expect is there. never a big believer in travel shock, who knows, but I am glad I did not buy it.
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4/19/2007 - pakabear wrote: 90 Points
Nosed is a bit closed off, but what is there is some bacon fat (interesting), dark currant and dark fruits. Very tannic this early, but seems in balance with the fruit. It should be a good wine in a few years.
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4/15/2007 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($45) Tight. Still very primary with solid black currant fruit. Not much changed day two. Hold.
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4/13/2007 - hiltondg wrote:
Don't bother trying for at least 6 months. This wine is a tannic monster. 5 hour decant and still tight as a drum. Mouth drying tannins. Built for the long haul. No rating at this point.
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