It’s really a shame that these guys stopped making wine. This bottle was very good. I had a 2002 a few weeks ago which was very nice too but I think I slightly prefer this 2001. It is a well balanced, elegant cab. Not a big, sappy fruit bomb. The nose is somewhat muted. It would be even better if it was a little more aromatic. It has some red fruit on the palate and some secondary characteristics like a hint of cedar. I also get the slightest hint of anise on the palate, it’s a taste I have come across in a few other cab based wines like Pichon Baron and Philip Togni with some age on them. I would drink up now because tannin is pretty fully integrated and finish is nice. It probably doesn’t get much better with any more time.
I only tried them for the first time a year or so ago, and I really liked what I tried. So I’ve cobbled together about 10 or so bottles of assorted vintages from auctions, CC and retail, that I can drink over the next several years. I’m looking forward to them.
Having recent experience with the 2001 and 2002, I wouldn’t be afraid to open either sometime soon. I haven’t tried any of the younger vintages lately.
Had an 98 last month that was surprisingly good and just got better as the evening went on. Was going to open an 08 Mag for thanksgiving but I am having second thoughts that maybe it needs a little more sleep.
Ian,
Single vineyard or regular? I have been drinking the regular.
Had a really good 2001 about 2 years ago. Perhaps the best value for middle-styled Napa cabernet. Not the long-aging structure of a Dunn but not the over the top milkshakiness of a Bryant Family. I liked the wines a lot.
Yes, from the couple I’ve had, it seems to chart a pretty good middle course between the most stern old-school styles and the super-extracted fruit-driven styles.
I think I have cobbled together 94, 97, 02, 06 and 10 vintages. Those 1990s vintages should be plenty good next time I have occasion to open one.
To me KL did a lot of things right over the years. Only made a reserve in the good years blending their reserve wine in with their regular wine in off years, gave a discount to long time buyers, had two mailing lists one for the regular wines and one for the reserve wines, prices were reasonable considering the high quality, had really good vineyard sources and made 1/2 bottles of their wine. What did they do wrong to go out of business? Beats me.
The '97 is a real beauty.
The 1998 I had was the regular bottling. I am pretty sure that was a year that had no reserve.