Mary,
I asked about the Sassicaia on the ebob's forums.
The answer is don't decant it in advance.
Maybe we can do it at the restaurant just to remove the sediment.

That was kind of my feeling, sounds great!
See everyone tonight!

Can't wait! I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

I decided to go with a 97 Brunello (Antinori Pian Delle Vigne).

Sorry to respond so late. I've been away. I'm flying solo, (don't get any ideas pyang ).

I think I'll bring a Saxum Bone Rock Syrah 2001.

See you all tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by Gigond Ass:
Sorry to respond so late. I've been away. I'm flying solo, (don't get any ideas pyang ).

I think I'll bring a Saxum Bone Rock Syrah 2001.

See you all tonight.

Nice finally meeting you GA
This wine was TOO MUCH for me, but I guess that's my ol' world palate

Last night was a delightful evening.
Off to work a little foggy right now. More comments on the evening's festivities later.

Great event last night, thanks to Deryl for arranging. The wines were all very good with no clear WOTN for me since they were all so different. The wines that I remember tasting:

'88 Sassicaia -- just absolutely lovely and appeared to be right at its prime
'90 Pio -- opened nicely after an hour or of decanting and had such beautiful flavors of violets and cherries
'97 Antinori Pian Dell Vigne -- stylistically almost New World and a wonderful Brunello. I think this one will really sing in a few more years.
'96 Ornellaia -- I think this one might have been a little corked.
'01 Saxum Bone Rock Syrah -- So different from the others that it was difficult to really evaluate. Very intense.
'01 Stuart ____ Sangiovese -- Don't remember the name of this Temecula winery, but I have to say its not what I would have expected. A very decent wine with lots of character.

The beginning champagne and the ending sauternes provided great bookends to a great night.

Nice meeting everyone, thanks again.

quote:

'88 Sassicaia -- just absolutely lovely and appeared to be right at its prime
'90 Pio -- opened nicely after an hour or of decanting and had such beautiful flavors of violets and cherries
'97 Antinori Pian Dell Vigne -- stylistically almost New World and a wonderful Brunello. I think this one will really sing in a few more years.

In no particular order--also the 3 that stood out for me!
Nice kick-off to the week, a mellow Monday night sipping great wine and meeting new people!
See you all again soon!

Sounds like a great time. I look forward to meeting everyone on my next trip. I'll be pouring at an event in Long Beach Wed July 27. If anyone is open the 26th or 28th, I'd love to get together.

July 27th is my birthday.....

It was great meeting everyone. Had a great time. My favorites in order:

88 Sassicaia
96 Ornellaia (I thought it had nice fruit and didn't detect any TCA, but I'll defer to Tom who may be more sensitive that I)
97 Antinori Brunello (which I brought but I think the rest of you liked it better than I did)
01 Saxum Bone Rock (which "wow"ed me at first but then seemed to fall apart for me after a few hours of air)

Deryl-

Here's the WS notes on the zinfandel I mentioned last night as having a similar flavor profile to the Bone Rock Syrah towards the end of the evening:

DOWNING Zinfandel Oakville Fly by Night 2001
Score: 87 Price: $30
Country: California

Region: Napa

Issue: Dec 15, 2003


Well-balanced, with a pretty core of ripe cherry and wild berry. Pretty toasty oak shadings give it added flavor dimension. Finishes with a complex aftertaste, showing off its fruit and oak. Drink now through 2008. 1,340 cases made. (JL)

Hope to see you all soon. Pyang, thanks for coming down!

David Rauch

quote:

Originally posted by Pinot Envy:
very touchy.....(Meow!)--

And what did you learn?..I hope you had a wonderful evening at Antonello's everyone.

Lori

Lori-

I, for one, learned several things.

First, this was a great group of people and we had some terrific wines. Though you most likely do not share my opinion that this is a great group, you have to understand that you appeared out of nowhere with what appeared to be nothing more than a commercial plug for yourself. Perhaps you would have received a wholly different response had you appeared in a less "spam-like" manner.

Second, I should thank you. After reading your posts in this thread, I had to see what your other (five) posts looked like -- to see if in fact you are nothing more than a spammer. In so doing, I found answers to a question which has been bugging me for some time -- how to insure my wine collection which my home insurer (USAA) does not cover. Now, thanks to following your posts, I know to contact Chubb.

Sorry you got off on the wrong foot with this group. Good luck in your adventures on the WS forums.

David Rauch

I am back in Napa, nice meeting all the new faces. Deryl, thank you for organizing the dinner.

Hope to see you all soon again.

quote:

Originally posted by Darkstar:
Lori-

I, for one, learned several things.

First, this was a great group of people and we had some terrific wines. Though you most likely do not share my opinion that this is a great group, you have to understand that you appeared out of nowhere with what appeared to be nothing more than a commercial plug for yourself. Perhaps you would have received a wholly different response had you appeared in a less "spam-like" manner.

Second, I should thank you. After reading your posts in this thread, I had to see what your other (five) posts looked like -- to see if in fact you are nothing more than a spammer. In so doing, I found answers to a question which has been bugging me for some time -- how to insure my wine collection which my home insurer (USAA) does not cover. Now, thanks to following your posts, I know to contact Chubb.

Sorry you got off on the wrong foot with this group. Good luck in your adventures on the WS forums.

David Rauch

Hi David,
Yes, I did jump into the conversation uninvited. I only recently discovered WS forum but have had a magazine subscription for 15 years.
I was excited to discover this forum.
In addition, I was also feeling like a "proud mom" when I saw mention of Antonello's. I personally think they are terrific!

Furthermore, since I had jumped into your conversation, I felt it was important to identify myself. Part of my who I am is what I do for a living. I did not intend to sound like a canned plug for my company. Since my services are free, most individuals are happy to hear about my offerings.

My husband is an Advanced Certified Sommelier, so of course we are both passionate about Food & Wine. Having worked with Jean Louis Paladin and Berry Larvin at the Napa Restaurant in Las Vegas among many other wonderful people in the restaurant/hospitality industry for over 20 years.

I won't go on, out of concern I could be mis-understood. My intent was only to say hello to everyone and encourage you to have a great time. My job is to say great things about restaurants, I am priviledged to earn a living doing what I love.

In closing, I am sorry for my "catty" response to you...I was on my third margarita, no excuse. But I do have a very dry sense of humor which alcohol does bring out the best in me

Glad I could help with some thoughts on insurance issue. Since I have only recently joined WS forum I have no pre-conceived thoughts on anyone or your group. Opinions are like belly-buttons, we all have one. That's what forums are for, free expression.
With warm regards,
Lori

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lori Lotko,

quote:

My husband is an Advanced Certified Sommelier

So he's a jerk too?

My WOTN's were the Pio and the Pian Dell Vigne, but they were all fabulous in their own rights. Thanks to everyone for their generous contributions.

The Stuart Cellars Sangivese from Temecula was the mystery lo-do high QPR I promised. About $20, and quite drinkable I thought.

Looking forward to another event soon.

Anyone else want to plan something for July 26 or 28?

I'd be up for another go around. Either date would work for me.

Shall we start a new thread?
Maybe we can get Flubis back on that Queen Mary program.

Queen Mary was a great idea just a pain in the ass to deal with setting it up with them. No waiving of any corkage or returning of emails.


I can get another Smokehouse offline going again. I can get us the room again and have them put the tables together or get rectagular tables rather than separate rounds. Who would be up to another round of orange bread and stuffed mushrooms ?

quote:

Originally posted by Flubis:
Queen Mary was a great idea just a pain in the ass to deal with setting it up with them. No waiving of any corkage or returning of emails.


I can get another Smokehouse offline going again. I can get us the room again and have them put the tables together or get rectagular tables rather than separate rounds. Who would be up to another round of orange bread and stuffed mushrooms ?

oh oh! mr kotter! pick me pick me!

IN!

smokehouse sounds fine to me

Im looking at July 23. I will call tomorrow and talk to who set us up last time.

Where is the Smokehouse?

Burbank, right by Warner Bros