A bit of an update with respect to the tasting:

Things are in good shape - DoktaP has made some excellent preparations for the tasting. We're not going to post the location of the tasting, because we don't want the LLBO/LCBO showing up and cancelling our fun - yes, yes: paranoia at its finest.

Anyway, here are the flights we'll be tasting:

Flight #1 - Bordeaux

1975 Chateau Brane-Cantenac
1982 Chateau Palmer
1994 Chateau L'Evangile
1996 Chateau D'Ardennes
1999 Chateau D'Armailhac
1999 Chateau Lynch-Bages

Flight #2 - Aussie Others

1995 Wolf Blass Black Label
1998 Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon
1998 Penfolds RWT
1998 Penley Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
1999 Elderton CSM
1999 Rosemount Mountain Blue
2000 Rosemount GSM

Flight #3 - Aussie Shiraz

1997 Penfolds Bin 28
1998 Merrivale Bin 338
1999 Leasingham Bin 61
1999 Penfolds St. Henri
2000 Pirramimma Reserve
2001 Elderton (January TAA! )
2002 Marquis-Philips

Unless someone changes their mind with their selection, this is what we'll be having. Great lineup in my opinion!

Tasting will be single-blind and top wines of the flight will be ranked 1-5. Lowest sum of scores at the table will be WOTF, etc.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone on the 24th!

Edit: Added the '98 Reynella Basket Pressed Cab to the Aussie Other flight.

[This message was edited by futronic on Jan 12, 2004 at 08:55 PM.]

I'm very much looking forward to this tasting as well, of course, as meeting many of you for the first time!

Futronic: Thanks for posting the flights. I think we're pretty much set unless anybody wants to contribute any more to their cirrhosis.

Slan: Sentiments are mutual. It will be nice attaching faces to names. I'm looking forward to meeting all participants.

Plans: We're getting down to the nitty gritty.
Everything should be organized by the end of this week. Just in the process of finalizing menu items etc... Looks like a veal dish with
a "medley" of veggies, some cheeses and fruit for dessert. We'll have plenty of bottled water,
breads, etc.... Hopefully, the stemware will be anything but those 4 oz samplers. Though I'm sure I will have forgotten something, we should have the bare essentials (corkscrew and wine).

The menu is set. Beef Tenderloin with roasted potatoes and veggie medley. The wines have already been posted by futronic and arranged in flights.
Stemware provided by the wine establishment.
The guest list is finalized and includes forumites: drthvader, carriedca, baird6869, futronic, slan, oakville_al, maverickdrinker, myself and 2 worthy friends.
TN's should be posted shortly after the event on the 24th and will include the TAA as well as notes on Marquis Philips.

Six more sleeps ... looking forward to it!

Can't wait!

I've stayed out of this thread up to now because it breaks my heart that you guys are finally doing an offline and I'm going to miss it! But I must say now that I'm very impressed that you're pulling it off, even more so than I'm impressed with the wines! Keeping the location secret is smart, the wine police probably have spies everywhere.

If we get to Toronto during March Break, perhaps another offline can be arranged.

Have fun!

snow sucks.......

You'll just have to attend the sequel. Perhaps we could muster up a few old ports for dessert.
Pending the outcome (and hopeful success), we would like to do this in conjunction with the classics releases. Any thoughts?

the excitement builds

We're looking pretty good for tomorrow.
Futronic has been exceptionally helpful with
his computer expertise and enthusiasm.
I can't think of any loose ends, but I'm sure things will come up tomorrow.
I suppose that this is all part of the learning curve and will give us room for improvement.
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Ditto.

Try to have those "bugs" ironed out by the time I manage to drag my tired old self to T.O., eh?

snow sucks.......