Karl Lawrence, Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon, Napa Valley

Naples FL wines (Toms Naples FL condo) : Pop and pour due to traveling, served slightly chilled and let it warm up quickly in Naples FL, drank about 1/3rd of the bottle over 2 hours. This was very compelling compared to when I had it in 2018. Yes, plenty of fruit here, and I also tasted a nice rocky minerality amongst the red to black fruit. Not a ton of additional complexity but great balance and drinking very well. This …

2005 vintage

Pretty much a wow, with lovely fruit and texture, a distinct savory quality, and meaty middle and finish. The cork sucked, but the wine persevered.

2005 vintage

I'm sure I am going to get crucified for this rating but it is important to note that I am absolutely a huge fan of Karl Lawrence wines. But, I need to call it like it is. I opened this bottle for my birthday and had such incredible expectations. The wine appears deep purple, but not inky black. A hint of crimson color on the edge without any evidence of bricking. The aromas are faint and flat which make it …

2005 vintage

Poured through a freshly punctured Pungo into a Riedel Bordeaux stem to give it some air. Right out of the gate the nose is vibrant with rich cherries and plums combined with a soft minerality. First taste 15 minutes in and the wine is shining brightly with a smooth deep classic To Kalon plushness. 45 minutes later it is silky smooth. This wine is a joy to drink. Not a “wow” wine but a true pleasure to savor and enjoy …

2005 vintage

Napa Cabs by Luis - Part II (Jason's House) : Slow O'd 3 hours. This was smooth and complex. There is a nice blueberry component. However, it is slightly alcoholic. Others at the tasting liked this more than me, and modern Napa cab fans would likely score it higher.

2005 vintage

Wonderful and worth the wait, but finish it up now.

2005 vintage

Opened up after 60 minutes, exhibiting more savory notes alongside soft Bell pepper notes.

2005 vintage

Anniversary Dinner with Bob & Kathy (32 years for both of us) (The Marine Room - La Jolla CA) : Really nice!! Dark blue fruits; a lot of depth to this wine; gorgeous mouthfeel! It is drinking beautifully right now, but I'm not sure it has the structure to go more than about 4 or 5 more years. This was the second wine of the evening. Damn was it good!

2005 vintage

On pnp a dark garnet to the rim. Complex nose of earth leather spice box and black currants. Medium bodied layered mouth feel. Still has noticeable tannins and fresh acidity. I'm guessing this is in its peak right now and has a few good years left. 92pts Revisited after resting open in bottle at 55 degrees for 3 hours. Less earth on the nose but still a pleasant touch. I'm getting some pine needles smoke and a real nice burst …

2005 vintage

Decanted two hours. Never really opened up. Could tell there is something real nice underlying, but came across shy. Will wait on other bottles.

2005 vintage

Pre Fathers Day Get Together With Friends (Winopops3 Residence) : Excellent balance, beautiful fruit. Finish a little short and missing a little complexity.

2005 vintage

Inky, deep purple. Berries and leather nose. Still an amazing amount of fruit with a solid tannic structure. I'll wait another year before I have my next bottle. Wish I had several more cases.

2005 vintage

I get hints of green pepper and mint. Tannins are light, even after three hours of decanting.

2005 vintage

Late Summer Afternoon Outside with Friends (Lake Forest IL) : Fat black fruit aromas with plenty of new oak spice. Black cherry flavors also on palate, also well spiced, very New World stlyed. Good balance start-to-finish.

2005 vintage

This is killer juice that is even better than the last bottle that I consumed some time ago. My only complaint is that I only have one bottle left. Put this in a blind lineup of cults and it would do very well. Still very young however and still should get better over time. Probably needs another 3-5 years to be in it's prime and then it should hold for at least another 5+ years.

2005 vintage

Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (Levain, Mpls) : Had a small pour of this, and it was the best showing of this wine yet. Had a signifcant decant, i believe about 4 hrs. Showing really well, round and lush on the palate with black fruits, but a nice amount of earth and minerality now.

2005 vintage

Tasted this wine over a couple days while contemplating the current reserve offer. Notes from memory. Mostly opaque dark garnet in the glass. Bordeaux-styled nose of old wood and tannin. Full bodied with a large amount of tannin that seems a few years from softening while the dark chewy fruit can't really balance it out. Needs time I suppose, but I was a disappointed.

2005 vintage

Tasted blind in a lineup of 10 To Kalon Cabs ranging from '02 to '07. All the wines were initially tasted in pairs. This one happened to be tasted alongside an '04 Realm and showed very well. It had been decanted an hour before being tasted and we continued to taste it with dinner. Most of the tasters thought this was somewhat Bordeaux like, inky with lots of blackberry and cassis with notes of spice, chocolate and blueberry. Noticeably young, …

2005 vintage

Minneapolis Wine Club Mixed Bag of $50 plus Reds (John's House) : Dark in color. 3 hours of decanting. Blueberries, chocolate and oak. A little heat on this wine which eventually blew off. Really young wine that needs some time. I hope it improves.

2005 vintage

Mini Offline with Bordeaux and Napa Wines featuring 1996 Poyferre & Mondavi (John's House) : Inky purple color. Nose is full of sweet black fruits, ripe blueberries and blackberries, glycerin, lots of spice, oak. The palate is concentrated with ripe black fruits, lush and young, a little tart, at times I sense the mid palate is a bit thin at times. There is significant glycerin, and the alcohol comes through somewhat, not really distracting. This is clearly a big fruit …

2005 vintage

Silky smooth, rich red fruit; firm tannic structure. This is still in its infancy with many years ahead of it. Would benefit from a 1 hour decant now. With Paul and Buckles at Charlie Palmer.

2005 vintage

I have enjoyed this wine everytime I've had it. This is a wine that I enjoy the nose so much I am content just sniffing. That is until I finally take that first taste. Coats the entire mouth with a silky luxury that gves way to a long finish that entices you enjoy another drink. Powdery tannis, dark fruits, pencil shavings, and subtle vanilla notes.

2005 vintage

Wow. Dark, brooding and delicious.

2005 vintage

Great dark fruit with cassis, currant and french vanilla on a soft and supple tannic frame leading to a lengthy finish. Will drink for years to come, but drinking well now after a good decant

2005 vintage

Rich, seamless and in a perfect drinking window for my palate. Super dark in color. Notes of chocolate, cassis and a touch of licorice - . Straight pour into a decanter, then into my glass and it was ready to go. Totally balanced and utterly delicious, with still a touch of baby fat that I like in a wine. The tannins, that I noticed the last time, have integrated. Definitely one of the best wines that I've had so far …

2005 vintage

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Karl Lawrence, Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon, Napa Valley

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