Oh my broken heart: It's Pinot Noir time!

It is time for another Dallas offline and our varietal of choice this time is Pinot Noir . Yes, it is that most noble of grapes that makes you wax poetic one moment and curse the ground it was planted in the next. So let's get together and prove how well this wine really sings!

Our offline will be at Il Sole on January 16th starting at 7PM . We will be in the private Wine Room. We will work out more details later after we get a better feel for how many people will be attending but for the moment I would anticipate everybody will order from the menu and bring two bottles of the same wine due to the anticipated large crowd. But first things first, who's in?

WIML (2)

Joe

I'm in for two. I always look forward to these. Don't know yet what I'm bringing, so I'll post again when I know. See y'all there.

"All I want out of wines is to enjoy them." Ernest Hemingway

Just bring some La Tache out of your cellar BubbaP.

Update on the head count:

BubbaP (2)
bigred_seeker (1)
su vino (2)
THE291 (1+1)
WIML (2)
-----------------
8-9 Total

Joe

Add 2 for Sandy and I.

You got it my friend.

preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
bigred_seeker (1)
su vino (2)
THE291 (1+1)
WIML (2)
-----------------
10-11 Total

Joe

Add two for me. See y'all there!

"We are the people our parents warned us about"
-J. Buffett

Ask and ye shall receive...

Texaswineguy (2)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
bigred_seeker (1)
su vino (2)
THE291 (1+1)
WIML (2)
-----------------
12-13 Total

Joe

Now who is BubbaP bringing this time...

I don't know but I hope he brings extras...

Joe

I'm in. I think Linda will be in town with me, so there will likely be two of us.

Hard to know what to bring, but I'll dig something up. I want to taste a few things before I decide.

Crack open one of those big ol' burgs, partner!

I'll put you down for 1 + 1 right now Mike until you able to firm things up a bit.

Mike M (1+1)
Texaswineguy (2)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
bigred_seeker (1)
su vino (2)
THE291 (1+1)
WIML (2)
-----------------
13-15 Total

Joe

WDOT has officially tossed his hat in the ring. This will probably be the final tally unless DMF, vintage, ChrisC or an out of town guest sign on.

Mike M (1+1)
THE291 (1+1)
bigred_seeker (1)
WineDrinkerOfTexas (1)
Texaswineguy (2)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
su vino (2)
WIML (2)
-----------------
14-16 Total

Joe

We are at 14-16 definite. It is possible we'll hit 20 but more likely we'll come in around 15 with last minute changes. So let's move onto business:

We will be in the private Wine Room at Il Sole on Travis Street in downtown Dallas. Reservations are for 7PM. Due to the large size of the crowd I am requesting that every "couple" bring two bottles of the same Pinot Noir. If you are a single I will leave it up to you to either go ahead and bring two bottles of the same Pinot Noir, bring 1 bottle of a white wine for us to warm up on or you can email me what Pinot Noir you'd like to bring and I can broadcast that out to the group and see if anybody has a matching bottle they'd like to pair up to you with. I'd like everybody to declare the wines you will be bringing only to eliminate duplicates.

Two questions for everybody:

1. Do you want to taste single blind or just place the bottles on the table in "flights", get together and enjoy each others company?
2. Do you want to have the chef prepare a "Pris Fixe" menu to match Pinot Noir or do you want to order off the menu individually?

Majority rules here. No quorum required.

Joe

Joe, put me down for two, barring the greatly unforseen. Looks like Linda can make it.

On to the questions you posed, I have no strong feelings on how the wines are tasted.

As for food, I'd vote for a prix fixe tailored to Pinot. Il Sole is right around the corner from me and I've eaten there often. Good food. However, if we're only serving one variety (albeit a very versitile variety), I suspect that everyone might gravitate toward the same two or three entrees, etc.

I don't know how current the menus are on their website, but if anyone wants to look, they're at http://www.ilsole-dallas.com/

UPDATED 1/5/2004 10:20AM to add wine for bigred_seeker.

Attendees
THE291 (1+1)
bigred_seeker (1)
WineDrinkerOfTexas (1)
Mike M (2)
Texaswineguy (2)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
su vino (2)
WIML (2)
-----------------
15-16 Total

Wines
WIML - 2 x 1998 Domaine Drouhin Oregon PN
bigred_seeker - 1 x 2001 LWC Ontiveros Vineyard PN

Joe

[This message was edited by wineismylife on Jan 05, 2004 at 11:21 AM.]

[This message was edited by wineismylife on Jan 05, 2004 at 11:21 AM.]

Thought I'd be able to post what I was bringing this weekend. However, events have conspired to keep me here in Marshall and I wanted to rummage around in Dallas before I made a final selection.

Although I don't yet know which one, I'll almost certainly bring a good premier cru or grand cru Burgundy from one of the recent good vintages.

Mike, don't sweat it too much. I don't think we'll have that many Burg's so we're probably safe. If we end up with a duplicate, so be it.

Attendees
THE291 (1+1)
bigred_seeker (1)
WineDrinkerOfTexas (1)
Mike M (2)
Texaswineguy (2)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
su vino (2)
WIML (2)
-----------------
15-16 Total

Wines
WIML - 2 x 1998 Domaine Drouhin Oregon PN
bigred_seeker - 1 x 2001 LWC Ontiveros Vineyard PN
Mike M - two Burgs TBD.

Joe

Okay, a couple of notes...

1) My sweet bride will probably not be able to make it. She has to work at "Market" at the World Trade center that night
I will probably be flying solo.

2) What should I bring? I have a very small cellar, that unfortunately contains no Pinots. I do have access to some great bottles. What do people usually spend per bottle on these things? This is my first time with you offliners!

"We are the people our parents warned us about"
-J. Buffett

Texaswineguy, sorry to hear your wife can't make it.

Concerning the wine: we've brought bottles around $25.00 on the low end and $150.00 on the high end. I would say the bottles signed up so far are around $40.00 a bottle. Bring whatever you are comfortable with as long as you are certain it will impress us. Otherwise, we might have to tar and feather you, dweebie pledge.

Attendees
THE291 (1+1)
bigred_seeker (1)
WineDrinkerOfTexas (1)
Mike M (2)
Texaswineguy (1)
preferred (2)
BubbaP (2)
su vino (2)
WIML (2)
-----------------
14-14 Total

Wines
WIML - 2 x 1998 Domaine Drouhin Oregon PN
bigred_seeker - 1 x 2001 LWC Ontiveros Vineyard PN
Mike M - two Burgs TBD.

Joe

So I guess Pepperwood Grove is out of the question.
I will see what I can turn up.

"We are the people our parents warned us about"
-J. Buffett

TWG, if you can't find anything easily I noticed at Pogo's on Saturday some 01 Siduri Pisoni and Pisoni Vineyards along with a have dozen other interesting Pinot Noirs. The also have an very good Burgundy section. FWIW.

Joe

Where are we on food? Regular menu or prix fixe pinot?

The last I heard was Prix Fixe designed for Pinot Noir but we are waiting on the Chef to get back with us after he has a chance to shop and see what is fresh and avaialble.

Joe

Here is the Prix Fixe menu for Friday night:

Roasted eggplant soup with basil pesto swirl

Seared sea scallop on a bed of butternut squash puree with fried leeks and pancetta vinaigrette

Procuitto wrapped pork tenderloin with gorgonzola polenta and capontina melanzane

Caramelized apple brandy bread pudding

$50 per person plus tip

**** Everybody please declare your wines to prevent duplicates. Or not!

Joe

2-1999 Rochioli Estate Pinot Noirs.

Also, if any of us run short of wines, or want to try something different, Chateau Wine Market is directly below Il Sole. They offer a fairy good selection of Pinots, although Cabs are their strength. For example, Mueller, El Molino, Adrian Fog, Cuvaison, etc.
Their prices are fair as well.

Some of us may wish to adjourn to their back room (aka Bodega Bar) after our dinner.

If we are still standing.

****************************

"Texas is the place where there are the most cows and the least milk, the most rivers and the least water in them, and where you can look the farthest and see the least." H. L. Mencken

No place like home.