Man you guys are anal. "Grip and rip" is my motto.

"pour until you hit the floor"

Okay, if this is going to happen a half hour outside the city, do any Chicago natives have ideas on a hotel. I would prefer to be downtown for ease of doing the tourist thing, but am not looking foward to a long cab ride back. Any ideas on the west side of town? As for what to drink, I think 1997's would be good. I have a mag of Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nouva to offer.

VT-

There's nowhere on the West Side of town that you want to stay. Of course, I don't know you, so maybe I'm wrong, however I assume that you value your life and would like clean sheets in a room that is not rented by the hour. If those assumptions are true look for downtown hotels, specifically you want proximity to the Magnificent Mile. The ride to Evanston from there is pretty straight-forward, up Lakeshore Drive.

If you search the usual places and are confused about hotels I'd be happy to answer whatever I can about specifics. There are probably 40-50 big hotels downtown.

Downtown for me!

As far as a theme is concerned, how about a 1999 horizontal? Or 1997. Or 2001 (probably too young, though). All were good years in Tuscany and Piedmont. Could also do 1995.

Here are some options from my cellar of "popular" wines that others in this group might also have:

BRUNELLO
Casanova Tenuta Nuova (1995)
Banfi (1995, 1997)
Altesino Montosoli (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo (1997)
Ciacci (1997, 1999)
Pian del Vigne (1997)
Siro Pacenti (1997)
Poggio Antico Riserva (1999)
Costanti (1999, 2001)
Fanti (1999)
La Poderina (1999)

SUPER TUSCANS
Ornellaia (1997)
Tignanello (1997, 1999)
Terrabianca Ceppate (1999)
Guado Al Tasso (1999)
Flaccianello (1999)
Sette Ponti Oreno (2001)
Fonatalloro (2001)

BAROLO
Marcarini Brunate (1997, 1999)
Scavino Carobric (1997)
Ceretto Bricco Rocche Brunate (1997)
Seghesio La Villa (1999)

I am willing to bring any of these.

Cheers,

Otis

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
The only football team that's important is Juventus (well, and the Azzurri, but that's different).

If Futronic thinks Juve is the best team, I don't want to sit next to him. It's Inter-Milan.

quote:

Originally posted by PURPLE:

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
The only football team that's important is Juventus (well, and the Azzurri, but that's different).

If Futronic thinks Juve is the best team, I don't want to sit next to him. It's Inter-Milan.

Let's see what happens today at 3pm in the Coppa Italia fixture. Although I'm not overly confident in Juve this week, since Buffon, Nedved, and Salihamidzic are out with injuries.

P.S. - I don't want to sit next to you, either.

So when exactly was the last time Inter or Juve been the champ of Europe. Fut, when Milan takes care of Atalanta this afternoon they will be ever closer to the top four. Making up some of they games in hand, in hand because they had to go to Japan to win the World Club Championship. As a Juve fan you wouldn't know about that.

quote:

Originally posted by grossie:
VT-

There's nowhere on the West Side of town that you want to stay. Of course, I don't know you, so maybe I'm wrong, however I assume that you value your life and would like clean sheets in a room that is not rented by the hour. If those assumptions are true look for downtown hotels, specifically you want proximity to the Magnificent Mile. The ride to Evanston from there is pretty straight-forward, up Lakeshore Drive.

If you search the usual places and are confused about hotels I'd be happy to answer whatever I can about specifics. There are probably 40-50 big hotels downtown.

Point taken. How about the Sofitel, every time I've stayed at one it was nice. Not 5 star, but I don't need that. The price looks quite reasonable for a big city hotel.

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:
So when exactly was the last time Inter or Juve been the champ of Europe. Fut, when Milan takes care of Atalanta this afternoon they will be ever closer to the top four. Making up some of they games in hand, in hand because they had to go to Japan to win the World Club Championship. As a Juve fan you wouldn't know about that.

Juve won Champions League in 1996, and has since lost in the 1997, 1998, and 2003 finals (the last one on penalties to Milan. )

How many CL titles has Milan won going back to 1996? One? In 2003? I thought so. How many finals (excluding 2003)? One? I thought so. Hmmm ... wasn't that in 2005 when they were leading 3-0 at the half then had Dida bleed goals only to lose in penalties? Thought so.

How many Scudetti for Juve all time? 28. Milan? 17. I'll be nice and only go back to 1990 and call it a 6-6 draw.

Happy?

That said ... Milan did just go ahead 1-0 against Atalanta. Gattuso got a lucky bounce off a defender.

Grossie is right. The cab ride is right up Lake Shore Drive. To put it in perspective I live about 7 minutes away from the restaurant. I'm on the north side of Chicago. When I go downtown, it is about a 15 minute trip (unless it's rush hour).

If people are planning to spend the weekend, it makes the most sense to spend it in a nice hotel downtown. However, for any really unadventurous sorts, there are a couple of cents hotels in downtown Evanston near Northwestern.

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:

quote:

Originally posted by grossie:
VT-

There's nowhere on the West Side of town that you want to stay. Of course, I don't know you, so maybe I'm wrong, however I assume that you value your life and would like clean sheets in a room that is not rented by the hour. If those assumptions are true look for downtown hotels, specifically you want proximity to the Magnificent Mile. The ride to Evanston from there is pretty straight-forward, up Lakeshore Drive.

If you search the usual places and are confused about hotels I'd be happy to answer whatever I can about specifics. There are probably 40-50 big hotels downtown.

Point taken. How about the Sofitel, every time I've stayed at one it was nice. Not 5 star, but I don't need that. The price looks quite reasonable for a big city hotel.

I am pretty sure KSC and Steve8 and maybe others stayed at the Sofitel for the CDP last summer - It looked nice and I think they were fine with it (at least I did not hear them complaining)

And yes, even though we can't come I am still following this thread with envy

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:
So when exactly was the last time Inter or Juve been the champ of Europe. Fut, when Milan takes care of Atalanta this afternoon they will be ever closer to the top four. Making up some of they games in hand, in hand because they had to go to Japan to win the World Club Championship. As a Juve fan you wouldn't know about that.

Juve won Champions League in 1996, and has since lost in the 1997, 1998, and 2003 finals (the last one on penalties to Milan. )

How many CL titles has Milan won going back to 1996? One? In 2003? I thought so. How many finals (excluding 2003)? One? I thought so. Hmmm ... wasn't that in 2005 when they were leading 3-0 at the half then had Dida bleed goals only to lose in penalties? Thought so.

How many Scudetti for Juve all time? 28. Milan? 17. I'll be nice and only go back to 1990 and call it a 6-6 draw.

Happy?

That said ... Milan did just go ahead 1-0 against Atalanta. Gattuso got a lucky bounce off a defender.

Fut, aren't you forgetting last year? Milan 2 - Liverpool 1. Man talk about short term memory problems.

There was no need to watch Champions League. Juve was force to play the season in Serie B (unjustly, I might add), while a certain other team whose former (and now current) president just happened to be the Prime Minister of the country were allowed to remain in the top flight.



I think we should continue this banter in another thread, otherwise it'll be 50 pages long by the time April rolls around.

That's just what we need, an official Serie A thread. By the way Atalanta just scored, damn it.

I concur! And ... woohoo!

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:

Point taken. How about the Sofitel, every time I've stayed at one it was nice. Not 5 star, but I don't need that. The price looks quite reasonable for a big city hotel.

I have actually stayed at the Sofitel in Chicago. It's a very nice hotel in a good location. It's not right on the Mag Mile, but it's pretty close. There's a pretty good breakfast diner just down the block from it (I can't remember the name right now) which would probably be perfect for Sunday morning.

We stayed at the Sofitel in Philly last year, and it worked well I thought.

My last trip to Chicago we staying at the Hilton on the Magnificent Mile which worked well also.

quote:

Originally posted by otisabdul:
Here are some options from my cellar of "popular" wines that others in this group might also have:

BRUNELLO
Casanova Tenuta Nuova (1995)
Have one to match

Banfi (1995, 1997)
Have multiple 1997s to match or trade.

Altesino Montosoli (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Have 1997, 1999 and 2001. Probalby all still too young....

Ciacci (1997, 1999)
Have 1997s.

Pian del Vigne (1997 + 1999))
Have a few each of these.

SUPER TUSCANS

Tignanello (1997, 1999)
Have 1997.


Sette Ponti Oreno (2001)
Have some, but based on last tasting, not recommended for a bit.

Fonatalloro (2001)
Ditto.

BAROLO
Marcarini Brunate (1997, 1999)
Can help with 1997

Scavino Carobric (1997)
Got some
.
I am willing to bring any of these.

Cheers,

Otis

Thanks for throwing up some suggestions, Otis. My possible matches are posted above.

Also some other possibilities from my cellar:

1997 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura
1997 Col d'Orcia (Cinzano) Olmaia Toscana IGT
1995 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino
1997 E. Fuligni (Cottimelli) Brunello di Montalcino
1997 Fattoria La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino Vigna gli Angeli
1995 or 1997 Fattoria di Sant'Angelo (Lisini) Brunello di Montalcino
1997 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero
1997 Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino

1997 Cascina Bongiovanni Barolo Pernanno
1996 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra
1997 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo
1996/1997 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Le Gramolere
1997 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Le Coste
1997 Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina
1996 Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto
2000 Moccagatta Barbaresco Basarin
1995-2000 Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin
1997 Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato
1996-1998 Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric
1996 Paulo Scavino Barolo
1996 Vigna Rionda - Massolino Barolo Parafada
1996 Vietti Barolo Rocche

PH

quote:

Originally posted by otisabdul:
As far as a theme is concerned, how about a 1999 horizontal? Or 1997. Or 2001 (probably too young, though). All were good years in Tuscany and Piedmont. Could also do 1995.

Here are some options from my cellar of "popular" wines that others in this group might also have:

BRUNELLO
Casanova Tenuta Nuova (1995)
Can match X 2
Banfi (1995, 1997)
Can match '97 & '99
Altesino Montosoli (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Can match '97 X 3 and '01 X 6
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo (1997)
Ciacci (1997, 1999)
Pian del Vigne (1997)
Can match '97 and '99
Siro Pacenti (1997)
Can match '97, '99, & '01
Poggio Antico Riserva (1999)
Costanti (1999, 2001)
Have '90 & '01
Fanti (1999)
Can match
La Poderina (1999)
Have '97 and '99

SUPER TUSCANS
Ornellaia (1997)
Tignanello (1997, 1999)
Terrabianca Ceppate (1999)
Guado Al Tasso (1999)
Flaccianello (1999)
Have '01 X 3
Sette Ponti Oreno (2001)
Can match
Fonatalloro (2001)

BAROLO
Marcarini Brunate (1997, 1999)
Scavino Carobric (1997)
Ceretto Bricco Rocche Brunate (1997)
Seghesio La Villa (1999)

I am willing to bring any of these.

Cheers,

Otis

I can also offer the following:

BdM

1995 Costanti Riserva
1999 Altesino Riserva
1997 Banfi Poggio All'Oro
1997 Il Poggione
1997 Lambardi
1997 Lisini Ugolaia
1997 Podere Salicutti
1999 Podere Salicutti
1999 Cerbaiona
2001 Baricci
2001 Cupano
2001 Pinino
2001 Fossacolle
2001 Le Macioche
2001 La Serena

Super Tuscans

2001 Falesco Montiano (actually Lazio)
2001 Solengo
2001 Col d'Orcia Olmaia
2001 Terrabianca Campaccio
2001 Solaia (though definitely not ready)

Baroli

2001 Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra
2001 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis
1997 Vietti Barolo Riserva Villero

I will bring any of these as well.

This looks like it will be confusing to try to match up without some groud rules. Let's pick a year first. Then if W&A is picking seating, how about when he lists it, each table is responsible for a type. One Barolo, one Brunello, one Super Tuscan.