Any body surprised that the Neal Family cab was the winner? There was such a noticeable difference between the 18 hour decanted and the freshly opened bottle.

JoeWu even loved it. Joe, here's the link to signup http://www.nealvineyards.com/contact.cfm?join_mailing_list=true

Pretty unreal value for $45.

I thought that the decanted version would finish in 2nd or 3rd place (based on my impression and quite a bit of conversation that night). However, it looked like the 1st place votes were scattered and the Neal slid right up into first place with seven second place votes.

Thanks,
Rob

DS,

Maybe I should say that I was the last one to leave who had to drive home. A couple neighbors were still there and James Suckling, who arrived late was sleeping over.

VM

Otis,

Thanks so much for the terrific party, David and I both had a great time.

It was amazing to look at your cellar AFTER you pulled out all those bottles, Geez, I just got a 265 bottle unit in June and my collection looks sad compared to yours.

My WOTN was the 2001 Gamba RRV Zinfandel. I felt like Little Red Riding Hood - not too big, not too wimpy, just right!!

I voted for the 1990 Paitin Barbaresco Sori Paitin second place, and my vote for the 1997 Guenoc “Bella Vista Reserve” Cab Sauv as third place was somewhat arbitrary, it was tied with a few other cabs.

The spread was great too. Wow, I can't believe some were there till 3:30, we were well asleep by then!

Nancy

Otis,

Wish I could have made it. One of these days I will get up to Chi-town and we will have some fun.

IW

Life without wine?...... Yeah Right.<br /><br />I believe we have 2 lives; the life we learn with and the life we live with after that.

Seaquam,

I have seen your purple teeth and although you could give R2-D2 a run for his money, I'd bet that Nancy could take you down big boy.

VM

VM,

I almost rescinded that post shortly after I hit send in fear of getting whacked. Luckily most of the CWM was probably still drunk when they read it and let it slide. Cheers anyway to staying up to 3:30!!! I was in bed way before then and I drank that night too.

Kevin

"If you get confused just listen to the music play!"

I couldn't post before now...my head is still spinning from this event - Otis & Allison, thank you so very much! The wines, the spread, just amazing.

Amy now understands my excitement leading up to offlines.

It was wonderful meeting the PE's, thanks for the Tokaji, amazing stuff to say the least.

Thanks Frankie for guiding me in my first vintage port experience. The TF was truly a "wow" wine for me.

Thnaks everyone for making it a great night, it will certainly be impossible to duplicate such a wonderful event.

Bourbon Street was wild, wild, wild from all reports. A minimum of arrests too. I missed the party in Chicago and on Bourbon though. Worked until 12:45 and then crashed. It has been a long, tough stretch.
Glad golf season is upon me.

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.

AllRed:

glad you enjoyed it and very nice to meet you. too bad bman had to cancel, then we would have both been privy to the maestro himself. altho to sample port with tsunami would be the cat's meow without a doubt.

We made it home late but safe, 4:30 AM California time.

Tons of thanks to everyone. The Chicago Mafia is really amazing.

Thanks to R2-D2 for the great hockey tickets.

Grossie for putting together the limo and running the Randolph Event.

And Otisabdul and Mrs Otis, for a fantastic party.

A couple of strangers come into town, and get treated to center ice hockey tickets, a great Friday night get together and a fantastic Saturday night party with a limo. Really amazing group, please come and visit us and let Stef and I repay the favor.

Also thanks to Pinot Envy and Mr. Pinot for entertaining us in the Senator's Suite while we waited on the snow storm.

And finally, my tasting note of the night, just for Vino Me. Smell of burnt onion and wet feline. Processed Soy bean filler and mammal, likely from the rodent family, on the palate, with a finish that lasted well into the next day. My very first White Castle.

---------------
Santa Cruz Mountains Vintage Chart

Thank you to our Chi-town wine family, the reports of your hospitality are well founded.
Otis, like I told your wife, she is a brave soul!
My WOTN- I am truly a Pinot Girl, and Siduri is a personal favorite so
(Otis, I think you may have just given my husband a new alias; Pinto Envy!)

I still can't believe he said something witty, wow! A banner evening!

*********************************
"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou

Sounds like a blast! I'd love to join you all next year!

Otis and Allison,

Thank you very much for a wonderful evening.

Scott

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tlily:
And finally, my tasting note of the night, just for Vino Me. Smell of burnt onion and wet feline. Processed Soy bean filler and mammal, likely from the rodent family, on the palate, with a finish that lasted well into the next day. My very first White Castle.

Ouch! Say it ain't so!
The finish lasts much L-O-N-G-E-R than one day

PE - what did you think? And Mr. Pinto has uttered many an amusing quote .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://seattle.vinocellar.com

Calling White Castle's "hamburgers" is a bit of a stretch, it's more like some kind of meat pate...Chicago's Foie Gras?
and yes, Mr Pinto Envy can be witty, it's just so rare

*********************************
"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou

That was just the taste. And brushing didn't help. Repeaters is another good name, and I had exactly 3/4 of one of the little things.

---------------
Santa Cruz Mountains Vintage Chart

I think Pinto is quite witty. He and I had a few funny moments together.

I had 2 sliders, and the second one did hurt a little, although it wore off after about a hlaf hour. You Californians have no sense of culture. (or cultures as the case may be, as in bacterial cultures)

********
Yes, but I came here for an argument.

Oh! Oh! I'm sorry, this is abuse.

Mr. Pinot Envy is now Pinto. He definitely can be witty!

A huge thanks to Otis and Allison! It's always a blast to hang out with the CWM and I hope to do it more this next year!

You two are truly amazing, and I don't think any of us can repay you for your generosity.

And R2 was right...I was really impressed with the Neal Cab. Not quite up to "cult status" but for $45 freakin' dollars, what more do you want? It easily gets inserted in my yearly peri-$50 CA Cab to buy. Can't wait to try the singe vineyards, if I am offered.

As a side note...I think your neighbor picked up my coat...As I was leaving, I noticed a lot of my items were in a different pocket than where I keep them...Including my pocket pc! I'm just glad he returned it safe and sound. My life is on that thing!

Oh, and I made a New Year's Resolution whilest rummaging in your cellar...Knowing that the N. Rhone is an area of new found interest to many of the CWG, I will do my best to bring as many Cote Rotie and Hermitage wines to offlines in the future. Someone turned me on to the wonders that are Chave, Delas, Jamet, Ogier, Texier, and Jasmin...and so I will to you.

Thanks again, here's hoping to a wine filled 2004!

Joe
Grape Lakes Wine Appreciation Guild
www.grapelakes.com

Joe: Glad my neighbor had enough synapses firing to return with your coat! That was a heckuva a play on his part, in his condition.

BTW, please shoot me an email at m.boersma@comcast.net so that I can arrange to get your stems bnack to you. Thanks again for letting people borrow them!

IW/Seaq/KOH/futronic/bez/Dirty South/Slan: Would love to see you guys in Chi-town in 2004!

tlily: Sliders are never love at first bite. The body needs time to adjust to the toxins.

PE: Everyone in the Mafia has to have a nickname. "Pinto" even ends in a vowel. Perfect! He's a made man now.

Cheers,

Otis

otis,

My current plan is to visit Chi-town in August for a weekend. I'll start looking at dates in June - I'd really like to go to Wrigley for a game if I'm coming.

WOW! Where the hell have I been? Only just read this thread tonight for the first time. Otis, all I can say is u better expect a few more "crazy cannucks" next year.

Maybe i read it too fast but,.... what the hecks a slider???

...pure gastronomic delight...

That is, if you've ever been drunk and @ 2:00A and hungry as hell, and there's no place open except for....
.
.
.
.
.
.
....White Castle.

Actually, I prefer using the correct medical name - 'rectum-rocket' - but I think you get the picture.

Slan - you must be careful not to use the word "blast" in the same thread where White Castles are mentioned. Very, very bad.

"This wine should be eaten, it is too good to be drunk."
Jonathan Swift