I've got lots of wine that belongs to you guys, but I'm not available May 12th or 19th weekends. If I can't make a May offline, I'm sure I can at least get Kistler and Le Cadeau bottles to someone who will make it.

rob: any chance you & the mrs. might still be available this saturday night, 5/28, to do that neal vertical? i already have the '01 and '02 standing up. following saturday, 5/5 probably out for us as i'm likely in FLA that weekend. let me know.

other than the weekend of 5/5, may is pretty open for us as far as an offline. as always, saturday nights are our preference, and the closer to D.C., the better.

Email incoming!

I think I might be able to make an offline in May. Any thoughts on location and theme?

Some things to think of for the summer:

We really need to do a totally blind tasting soon. They're a lot of fun, very humbling and very educational.

We should get the VC ambassador (dinwiddie) working on a Summit Offline between the VC Cru and the WS group. We'd kicked around doing something at L'Academie de Cuisine here in Montgomery County. Any interest? dinwiddle, thoughts?

Tom Hudson, of Domaine Hudson has offered to host a 2nd Le Cadeau tasting at his home this summer. He's gotten a decent allocation of 2005 Le Cadeaus and Tom Mortimer would be coming out to host and head up the tasting. This is an absolute "no brainer," but would require a bit of advance planning to integrate with BHV and cuffthis's schedules. Depending on the size of the group, we might even be able to round up a complete lineup of 2002 through 2004's to go with the 2005's. Pinot orgy!!

OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

PH

I definitely like the idea of (near) total blind tasting... I say "near" because I figure you know the wine you brought. For double blind, wouldn't you have to feel around in your cellar with your eyes closed when picking? Or recruit an assistant.

Anyhow - For blind, are you thinking a theme, or do you want to entirely abandon a theme to make it really mysterious?

How about a "competitive" version -
1pt for getting varietal
1pt for getting country
1pt for getting vintage
1pt for getting producer

So you get four points if you pick out which wine was yours.

And penalties...
-2pts if someone guesses your wine exactly.
-5pts if your wine ends up being a flawed bottle.
-10pts if your varietal guess was the wrong color.

And bonuses...
+2pts if a lower rated wine was more expensive than your bottle
+5pts if your wine is group WOTN
+10pts if you can remember how to keep score


Okay, I'm just playing.

As blind as possible is my vote. To do this right, one participant would have to be the designated decanter/bagger/pourer so that none of the rest would have any clue as to what was what.

As far as "knowing" the wine you brought, I've seen people bring a wine and not be able to pick their own wine out blind. I'll admit that this has actually happened to me.

A little competetion would make it even more fun. Maybe we all pool a buck or two to buy a nice bottle or gadget to be awarded to the "blind guru." We can announce the winner, but would recommend keeping the rest of the results secret, so as to avoid embarassing me!

PH

quote:

Originally posted by Lentini:
-5pts if your wine ends up being a flawed bottle.

penalized for something you can't control?

PH,

Interesting to read about my currently unplanned visit to Dom Hudson this summer. It sounds fun... maybe we need to think about planning it? I hate the idea of flying all the way from Oregon to Wilmington for a wine dinner, so if we do it, we better make it good!

Here's a slightly different alternative (that cuffthis probably wouldn't like as well... but...), how about a multi-state / city off-line in Oregon? Otis and VinoMe talked about this a year or so ago. I think we could count on some Chicago folks to show-up.

Offlining in Oregon? Now there's an idea! Go West, young man!

I love Oregon. And, if Festiva is in, I'm there.

quote:

Originally posted by BHVineyard:
PH,

Interesting to read about my currently unplanned visit to Dom Hudson this summer. It sounds fun... maybe we need to think about planning it? I hate the idea of flying all the way from Oregon to Wilmington for a wine dinner, so if we do it, we better make it good!

Here's a slightly different alternative (that cuffthis probably wouldn't like as well... but...), how about a multi-state / city off-line in Oregon? Otis and VinoMe talked about this a year or so ago. I think we could count on some Chicago folks to show-up.

Sorry for the quick thread drift folks...

Tom,

PURPLE and myself will be in the Willamette area June 13th through the 20th, plus or minus a couple of days. Up for dinner?

quote:

Originally posted by BHVineyard:
PH,

Interesting to read about my currently unplanned visit to Dom Hudson this summer. It sounds fun... maybe we need to think about planning it?

Damn! I thought for sure cuffthis had mentioned that you were planning a visit. Apparently I misunderstood. I've been known to jump on a plane to drink good wine with good peeps, so a trip to Oregon is no problemo!!

PH

PH,

Well, cuffthis has been a huge supporter of Le Cadeau, and continues to be, so chances are we will be doing an event at some point in time. Plus, the last one we did was a heck-of-alot of fun, the food was great, and as always, cuffthis and Mrs. cuffthis were gracious hosts. We just haven't officially dialoged about it, and set any sort of a date... unless I've completely dropped the ball, which is always possible.

WIML,

Very regrettably, you are in OR the week before we arrive. We're heading out around 6/25, then driving down to SFO for Pinot Days. Back in OR around the 3rd or 4th.

If a few of you like the idea of an Oregon event-- perhaps a "veraison party" around August 20th? -- someone should fire-up a thread to see what sort of enthusiasm can be garnered. I'd be happy to substantially coordinate, arrange tours, help with logistics, etc. It could be a good time!

All I need is the wine and to pick a date. I talked to my distributor and the 2005 are on their way but I do not have a definate arrival date yet. I understand they should be to me within the next few weeks though.

Would an event immediately after Memorial Day be too late? I would be honored to host another event. With advance planning, we could even do it on a weekend night. I just need notice to block reservations for that night.

Would you like for the event to be limited to a WS OL or would you prefer it to be open for the entire 76 seats at our place? ie, Le Cadeau 2005 night at Domaine Hudson.

quote:

Originally posted by BHVineyard:
PH,

Well, cuffthis has been a huge supporter of Le Cadeau, and continues to be, so chances are we will be doing an event at some point in time. Plus, the last one we did was a heck-of-alot of fun, the food was great, and as always, cuffthis and Mrs. cuffthis were gracious hosts. We just haven't officially dialoged about it, and set any sort of a date... unless I've completely dropped the ball, which is always possible.

WIML,

Very regrettably, you are in OR the week before we arrive. We're heading out around 6/25, then driving down to SFO for Pinot Days. Back in OR around the 3rd or 4th.

If a few of you like the idea of an Oregon event-- perhaps a "veraison party" around August 20th? -- someone should fire-up a thread to see what sort of enthusiasm can be garnered. I'd be happy to substantially coordinate, arrange tours, help with logistics, etc. It could be a good time!

cuffthis,

I've got some serious calendar issues in the coming weeks, so we probably need to find some workable dates off-line and then come back to the group.

But in the context of a MD Offline and also meeting your clientele's desires, would it make sense to consider two sequential nights?: One would be a MD / PHL / DE Offline with a smaller group and an assortment of wines (potentially including Le Cadeau), the other would be a full Dom. Hudson event featuring a release of the new Le Cadeau 2005 vintage?

P.S. -- My schedule is "shot" in May and for sure up through the first week of June. So for your and others planning purposes, the only dates that might work for me would be mid-to-late June.

Okeydokie! Back on track. Are we drinking some wine in May?

PH

I may be able to work it into my schedule...

I think I can work it into my schedule as well!

Now that Li'l Festiva has finally arrived, I'll be solo for this one. I don't know what the theme is yet, but count me in for some Champagne. I'm in the mood to celebrate!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Festiva:
I think I can work it into my schedule as well!

Now that Li'l Festiva has finally arrived, I'll be solo for this one. I don't know what the theme is yet, but count me in for some Champagne. I'm in the mood to celebrate!!!

Congratulations Festiva!

Now please make sure your NEXT one does not interfere with next years pre-game and Brunello tasting.

Congrats again.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Congratulations Festiva!

What he said. Glad mom and baby are doing well!

PH

And let me add my congrats to Ms. Festiva, and also to Festiva as well.

Congrats, bud! Hope you're getting some sleep. Bring pictures next time we see you.

quote:

Congratulations Festiva!

Now please make sure your NEXT one does not interfere with next years pre-game and Brunello tasting.

Thanks much! Since his birth, he's been a great excuse to open some special bottles!

No next one! 3 is more than plenty! If I wind up having a NEXT one, I'll never have the opportunity to offline again. I'll have already fled to a country without an extradition treaty with the US!

I'll be happy to bore y'all with pictures at the next offline.