Jace PM'ed me that there has been a significant shift in his likelihood status! We are now:

Sarbuze (2)
Irwin (2)
klymkev (2)
Jace (2)
Lentini (1)
GF (1)
newsguy (1)
PH (1)
Cometspiders (2)

Festiva - ???
Sibster - out
DC crew...

Declared Wines:

Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma
Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Dolcetto D'Alba
newsguy - 2005 Valdez Family Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel
Lentini - 2005 Viña Doña Paula Malbec Seleccion de Bodega
Cometspider - 2003 Turley Hayne Zinfandel
Cometspider - TBD Catena single vineyard malbec

'Tis true, I could not miss the 'return of newsguy;' all good news I assume...

Bracketing the Seghesio theme and the Rockpile from Valdez:

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Lumetta (Rockpile)

and, (love the malbec crossover):

2004 Dolium Malbec Reserva

Should we be drumming up sides, ups, or downs?

i knew jace couldn't stay away with me bringing a bottle of the valdez. and it just arrived yesterday and is sitting in my wine fridge, enjoying the 55 degrees before it gets packed up and heads east with me.

Looks like my status has changed as well, only for the worse. Friends coming into town, gotta bail. I'm bummed, for once I have a lot of the themed wines. I've got Zins up the wazoo!

Anyway, enjoy casa cometspiders and the hearty reds that will be consumed.

Catch you all next month hopefully.

CS - if you have room for one more I could make it.

Chris

Chris, we'd love to have you over.

As the resident DC Crü member, I regret to say that I won't be able to make it.

I have to be in Philadelphia that weekend for family obligations.

What's the word on food, Cometspider?

May I sign up for an appetizer?

Lentini,

Thank you for the offer. Some help culinary help around the main dishes would be much appreciated. Speaking of main dishes, Mrs. CS and I will be providing our favorite BBQ chicken from down Chattanooga way and (hopefully) a beef brisket. I'll be running a test on the latter option this weekend. If it comes out tasting like an old tire we'll have to move to plan B. In summary, our aim is to have a fun, informal, but seriously tasty backyard BBQ.

I will bring a sparkling bottle as well as a bottle of Vincent Arroyo Zin 2005, since my next likely candidate would be the same as Irwin's. I will also bring an asparagus salad.

Chris

Sorry to have been offline for the past few weeks.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to make this one. I've got a bunch of stuff to do on Saturday that won't finish up until 8 or so. I may try to swing by after, if that's alright.

Thanks!

The brisket test run went well last weekend. We are a "go" on that front. Wow, does it ever take a long time to get to get the internal temp to 185 degrees.

Thank you Chris for adding to our feast. The asparagus salad sounds like a terrific addition.

Festiva, please feel free to join us whenever you can shake free.

We are:

Sarbuze (2)
Irwin (2)
Jace (2)
Lentini (1)
GF (1)
newsguy (1)
PH (1)
Cometspiders (2)
Festiva (1) nightcap

Declared Wines:

Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma
Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Dolcetto D'Alba
newsguy - 2005 Valdez Family Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel
Lentini - 2005 Viña Doña Paula Malbec Seleccion de Bodega
Cometspider - 2003 Turley Hayne Zinfandel
Cometspider - TBD Catena single vineyard malbec
Habu World Tour- 2005 Vincent Arroyo Zin
Habu World Tour- TBD sparkler

Declared Food

Cometspiders - beef brisket and BBQ chicken
Lentini - TBD appy
Habu World Tour - asparagus salad

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Lumetta (Rockpile)

2004 Dolium Malbec Reserva

What could you use in the way of a side, main, dessert, or salad?

Jace,

Thanks for your details. I very much enjoyed the fromage you brought to klymkev's off-line. Would you mind taking on that task again?

CS - I could switch my wine declarations to do more Catena comparison tasting, if you like.

If that sounds fun, I can bring the 2003 Catena Zapata Alta Lot 1 Altamira Vineyard Malbec and the 2003 Catena Zapata Alta Lot 9 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec. Or any SV from 2004.

Let a brother know!

Yur wish is me commmand, will do.

I regret to announce that Kim and I can't make this one after all. We look forward to pictures and notes!

the eagle has landed, so to speak. back on the job yesterday and still have a TON of unpacking to do. my wines are taking a chilly nap in the wine fridge, though. not going to be in a position to prepare any food items for this offline, unfortunately, but i can gladly pickup a side from whole foods if you need me to. let me know. and i'll need directions (from the D.C. Beltway). e-mail is keith r stclair at yahoo dot com.

p.s. you two will be missed, sarbuze. see you at the next one.

Well...it appears that we may be inside for our picnic, and I may be grilling in the garage. Regardless, we'll have fun.

Sarbuze, you will be missed!

Lentini, I'd vote for the Altamira over the Adrianna. For my taste the Adrianna is the most rustic of the box set and needs the most time.

Newsguy, don't worry about a food contribution. I'm prety sure GF is going to satisfy our collective sweet tooth. We'll see.


We are:

Irwin (2)
Jace (2)
Lentini (1)
GF (1)
newsguy (1)
PH (1)
Cometspiders (2)
Habu World Tour (1)
Festiva (1) nightcap

Declared Wines:

Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma
Irwin - 2006 Seghesio Dolcetto D'Alba
newsguy - 2005 Valdez Family Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel
Lentini - 2005 Viña Doña Paula Malbec Seleccion de Bodega
Cometspider - 2003 Turley Hayne Zinfandel
Cometspider - TBD Catena single vineyard malbec
Habu World Tour - 2005 Vincent Arroyo Zin
Habu World Tour - TBD sparkler
PH - 2002 Shafer Relentless
Jace - 2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Lumetta (Rockpile)
Jace - 2004 Dolium Malbec Reserva

Declared Food:

Cometspiders - beef brisket and BBQ chicken
Lentini - TBD appy
Habu World Tour - asparagus salad
Jace- fromage
PH- potato salad

mmmmmm, brisket!

Time to declare:

2005 Dominio del Plata BenMarco Expresivo Mendoza…

… and maybe something with cream cheese

Oh, Cometspider - I'll be checking to make sure the garage doors are fully open with adequate ventilation - no CO issues!

Thank you for the chuckle GF, and your generous contribution!

Just got back at midnight last night from Napa, Sonoma. (will post in detail later on this) Office is a disaster. Cheryl has a head cold, which I suspect she will shortly share with me.
I really hate to do this, but I fear we must scratch.
CS: Can I let you know for 100% certain tomorrow? I know it's late.
Irwin

CS,

What time are U 'specting us?

Change in the weather, eh Irwin? Please don't think twice about tending to the homefront.

Jace, we are starting at 5:00PM. The time was selected with dreams of relaxing in the yard/on the deck and watching the sunset on a warm, early fall evening. Hmmm, not likely.