WTN: NewYear with good wines (Kalin, Talbot, Trimbach, etc)

Had two couples over to celebrate New Year’s Eve (but not staying up till midnight)
Hackleback caviar on blinis, foie gras medallions on toast, boquerones

2008 Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Brut Champagne
Last Champagne of the year, most boring (if not necessarily worst) Champagne of the year. Plodding white fruit, a touch of gingerbread, somewhat coarse mousse, short finish. Others seemed to like fine but I slipped into kitchen and refilled my glass with leftover Grongnet from previous night. C+

Lobster tails (usually I’m a full lobster guy, but this seemed easy way to serve)

2012 Mount Eden Chardonnay Reserve (Santa Cruz)
Pear, a little almond, subtle oak, bright, good finish. B+

Flannery ribeyes, baked potatoes with caramelized kimchi/sour cream/cheddar, green beans with mushrooms
1986 Ch. Talbot
Leathery Cordier funk, black currant and plum, some cigarbox, pretty classic. B+/A-

1987 Kalin Cabernet Sauvignon
I think the Talbot was group favorite red, this was mine. Black cherry and cassis, cedar chest, a little chipotle and green herbs. Bright, long, complex. A-


Betsy brought out her bag of party instruments (recorder, castanets, flute, tambourine) - as everyone else was a professional musician I let them do the real playing, I just tapped a drumstick and tried to stay out of the way - to celebrate New Years arriving in Cape Verde and then Sao Paulo.

Then lemon sponge and cheese course
1983 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile VT
Just yowsa. Great color, tangy acids, dry peach and apple. Pretty dry, incredibly long. A-/A

Fun way to end the year.

Southern boy, need to have my peas and greens on New Years Day. Betsy made hot honey chicken thighs over wilted collards, I made black eyed peas with country ham and salsa verde. Wine was the 2011 Coudert/ Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie. Lovely, black cherries and coffee- fragrant, long, great texture. B+/A-

Happy New Year All

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Is Kalin still making wine? Their semillon, bought from Party Source at David Scheldknicks ? recommendation was sublime.

[David M. Bueker]

Kalin is no more.

Terry Leighton died a couple of years ago. The story I heard (but have not officially seen) was that he passed the inventory to William Kelley. I think they stopped producing a while ago, but due to their (very) late release philosophy there are likely significant stocks. I believe the last release I saw was the 2001 Semillon (before Terry's passing I believe), I hope to see some others (Semillon, Chard, PN, SB). I don't think they made a Cab after the 80s. The SB was the only one that I thought suffered from the late release. '