The wines from Kalin has soft corks and should be opend with an Ahh-So, also notice that wines with 10 years or more of age is not reimbursed in case of fault.
2001 LIVERMORE VALLEY SEMILLON
The grape source is the Wente Estate Vineyard located near Livermore. The vines were planted in the 1880s from the original Chateau d'Yquem cuttings brought to this region by Charles Wetmore. The soil is thin, iron-rich clay, underlain by 20-30 feet of gravel subsoil.
Winemaking and Cellar Practices:
The grapes (80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc) were hand-picked and sorted, crushed and pressed. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels for ten months. The wine was racked, clarified by bentonite fining, and bottled without filtration in August 2002.
Characteristics:
The potential of Semillon to produce superior dry white wine has not been realized in California due to overproduction caused by heavy soil types found in many grape growing regions. The low yields due to deep gravel soil, ninety year old vines and a perfect climate for this variety, ensures that Wente Vineyards produces wines of depth, complexity and style. Our experience with Semillon suggests that this wine, like the best white Graves, will be capable of attaining great age and distinction. We believe that Semillon can produce wines which are fully comparable to the highest levels of quality realized in dry white wines regardless of the grape variety involved. Semillon is the perfect accompaniment to salmon and highly seasoned cuisines such as Southwest, Chinese, Thai, Nuevo Latino, etc.
"The 2001 Sémillon was produced from vines planted in the 1880s in the Livermore Valley. As it approaches its 17th birthday, the wine is still remarkably youthful, opening in the glass with aromas of lemon oil, beeswax and honeysuckle, subtly framed by new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, textural and bright, with impressive concentration and a vivid, chalky finish. This is quite a bit more reserved than the 2001 Sauvignon Blanc that Kalin Cellars released from the same Livermore Valley site a few years ago." - 94 Robert Parker