quote:

Originally posted by Een:
The dinner sounded very nice. I wish we would have been able to attend.

Although I met quite a few great people last night, I fear I missed out on just as many more.

Een,
The dinner was indeed very nice. Nice meeting you on Saturday. Perhaps our paths will cross again...

Cheers,
JP

Great wine, great food and great people. We couldn't ask for a better night. Thank you Otis and Allison!!!

Wow! What a line up: the wine, the people, the food! Many thanks to the gracious hosts who created a memorable evening. It was a pleasure to meet you (and to drink your wine!). It was so nice to finally meet so many of you including: Mr & Mrs Vino Me (thanks for the Riesling conversation and my first White Castle w/ Cheese); Steve8 (I'll take you up on one of those Cubans next time- just ran out of time this night); Indy Bob (hope that cabbie got you back in one piece); Stephania (mmm, good wine!); the Miami contingent (we should of known it didn't taste like a Zin); Zepplan (enjoy those Pinots); and so many others who made our very first off line very enjoyable. Mille grazie!

Go Bills!

quote:

A special thanks to VM and Mrs VM for the White Castles. This year I found them perfectly timed, hitting the spot so well. I haven't even suffered any consequences yet!

Today was just another regular day for me...

Otis, if there was a WS Forums Man of the Year award, you'd win it every year for this event alone. And Mrs. Otis would win Woman of the Year. You guys are amazing and mrs. bman and I truly appreciate it. Same goes for the CWM members who brought such great food.

I had several wines of the night, one of which was also the 91 Kathryn Kennedy. Also the 2005 Stefania Eagle Point shiraz (which I honestly thought I wouldn't like so much since I've liked so few CA shirazs), 2004 Roar Rosella's Vineyard pn and 2005 Dain American Beauty pn (ironically, which I tried thanks to advice to the contrary from Jcocksten and MLV - different strokes, etc.), and the 99 Balmoral (which I hadn't liked a few years ago when it was too young). Might have liked some Old World wines if I'd persevered in getting near the piano before they were drained. Next time!

Surprisingly, I didn't really like the 97 Don Melchor, which seemed well past its best. And the 99 Dead Arm was frankly, bland - maybe it's in one of those dumb periods I hear about, but don't really understand?

Finally, as with virtually every offline I've attended (and that's lots!), the company was even more fun than the wines. Meeting and getting to know new faces to go with familiar monikers is a real treat for me, and I hope to meet many more in the years to come.

Wow, another great party. Otis and A, you are indeed very generous hosts. And thanks to all of the CWM who brought food and set up the Friday night dinner. And Mona Lisa Vito for arranging the limo ride.

Good seeing everyone we already knew and meeting lots of new people too.

My wine of the night

1997 Siro Pacenti Brunello

Now I need to get out of town before I spend anymore money on wine.

Just getting back into the Detroit area tonight, I wanted to jot a quick note to thank you, Otis, for a phenominal gathering. It was a great pleasure to meet you finally. You're truly a man of great hospitality. Thank you.

The wine, the food and the friends. Many I've conversed with on the boards and, as yet, had not had the pleasure of meeting. A great group of people at the CDP last evening.

The wines... so many to choose from and unable to try as many as I would've like to. However, as good as VM's choice of red was, I can't resist stating that the '97 Siro Pacenti was singing. An absolute joy to taste (twice..sorry couldn't resist ) my personal WTN
(edited to correct an apparent typo)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KSC02,

Whew,

Kelly and I are back in Indy now, after a brief stop in Chicago for some shopping and deep dish.

Otis and Allison, thank you again so much!!! It was my first WS off-line, and what a way to start. The granddaddy of them all!

And, glad to have met some of the folks I've been learning from over the past several months (see, I'm not so bad, am I?) Great food/wine, great conversation, a perfect evening. Looking forward to building much more knowledge and palate before the next offline I attend.

My favorite red: 2001 Neal Family Cab. (arrived a bit late for the '97 Siro BdM and '91 KKennedy).
bman, agree about the Don Melchor, a bit oaky for my tastes.

White: 1999 JM Brocard Chablis. . .Vaudesir (tart and tasty!)
Sweet: 2001 Doisy-Daene

Cheers all!

quote:

And, glad to have met some of the folks I've been learning from over the past several months (see, I'm not so bad, am I?)

Oh worse, much worse! We look forward to seeing you and Kelly again.

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:


I can't resist stating that the '97 Siro Pacenti was singing. An absolute joy to taste

A very classy wine!

Thanks very much for all of the kind comments, folks. But please know it was a sincere pleasure to have such a fantastic group of old and new friends gather together in one spot. This was one of the best CDP's ever, with just a great positive and friendly vibe.

I want to thank everyone who came from out of town. I always feel honored when someone makes such an effort.

Thanks also to Mr. & Mrs. Vino Me, the AllReds, and Miser for helping with the setup. No way I woulda pulled it off without you guys!

The food spread was the best ever. Francis dialed it up to 11 by bringing seven different dishes. He must have been cooking for days. Big time thanks to Lady Vino Me (and Mrs. Blue Oval) for taking over as Kitchen Colonel. Awesome job!

Some random notes:

Favorite wine: 1991 Kathryn Kennedy (thanks All Red!)

Favorite Le Cadeau: I thought the 2005 Cote Est was one of the best wines at the CDP and the '05s in general seemed to be drinking a little better than their '04 counterparts. But all were very tasty!

Favorite Neal: 2001 seemed to rise above the '02, '03, and '04. Great wine.

CDP Road Warrior Award: Got to go to Paul & Stef who have now made it to the last three CDPs, a record for out-of-towners. Thanks so much for being there again and for bringing your fantastic wines. I am so excited for you guys and all of your success so far. Truly inspirational to see someone live their dreams!

Favorite overheard line: When someone complimented Francis on his food and he said "it was a way for him to release some sexual tension". Not sure if she finished her quesedilla after that comment...Classic!

Got to head to London for a couple days, I'll try and post more awards when I get back.....

Cheers,

Otis

I have to tell you all, that after following this thread for so long, I think that it is absolutely awesome the genorosity that Otis and his wife have to host such an awesome event! It's one thing to offer your home to a huge group of folks like this, but it is another to open your cellar to 100 plus bottles of awesome wine.

Otis, I think that you are a very generous man, and even have never attended one of your CDP's, I applaud you!

Absolutely awesome!

-mJ

Have a safe trip to London Otis and thanks again for everything!! That was great !
I'm really happy to have met so many people from the board (and also not from it!). It is so much better to be able to put a face in front of a username!

Thanks to Otis and Mrs Otis for their unparalleled generosity. Truly an incredible party and increbile that you open your home and cellar to all of us lunatics. After hearing about this for years, we were very excited to get to be there this year.

B-Man - I knew you would like the Dain

The 97 Siro Pacenti was the runaway WOTN for me as well -Tops at the old world table. I enjoyed the Le Cadeaus - Unlike everyone else, I liked the 04s better than the 05s with the Cote Est and DIversites standing out -

I did not get to the Kathryn Kennedy or really taste much in the cab area.

The Balmoral was probably my favorite from the Syrah/Zin area. We should definitely have known something was up with the Ridge - I only took a taste from Emilios glass and did not put the pieces together.

The Muller-Catoir was my favorite white wine.

It was great seeing some old friends and getting to put some faces together with the names. A couple more of these and I think we will meet just about everyone.

Once again, thanks to the Otises for a great night and thanks to everyone else who brought food, organized and/or did anything else.

Where are the 100 tasting notes from Vino Me?

Oh, I'm in the wrong section...

Thanks again for hosting, Oti.

I only ended up taking notes on 35 wines. I have to learn to ignore people and do more drinking.

I hope MLV is going to post the pictures she took. I'm interested in the picture of JC at the end of the night with all of the name tags.

VM

Boy, to think I was bumming about having to miss this one. I almost passed up the opportunity to drive through Michigan (with all of its wonderful construction) just to stay back for the CDP. However, after seeing that woeful list of wines and that nobody seemed to enjoy themselves, looks like I made the right call.

Actually, that's the story I had to convince myself of on Saturday night so that I didn't try to drive home.

Thanks to Otis and his family for opening up his house and a ridiculous number of wines for all of us. It was great meeting all of those who I did meet. And to those I didn't meet, maybe next year! Hopefully!!! Thanks again Otis!

This was really a great event. BIG FUN!!!

I really can't figure out how JC and i seemed to be the only 2 who liked the 04 Le Cadeaus (as a whole) better than the 05s. Whatever.

I will try to figure out how to post pictures soon (and get the one of JC off my phone)

Oh, and we are already looking forward to the next one!

Otis

Did I hear you correctly - going to London for a few days???? there are several great bottles of wine waiting to be co-tasted, so please give me a call. This is a great week for wine tasting (what week isn't?)

BirD

quote:

Originally posted by otisabdul:

Favorite overheard line: When someone complimented Francis on his food and he said "it was a way for him to release some sexual tension". Not sure if she finished her quesedilla after that comment...Classic!

LMAO.

I also agree the '05 Le Cadeau Cote Est is an excellent wine and my favourite of the 6 LC's on the fireplace. I need to send an e-mail to TM to get me some.

Just read over this thread in envy and awe... sounds like a killer party with extremely gracious and well-organized hosts. Way to go Mr and Mrs O! I applaud your courage and generosity, and look forward to reading more accounts of the bash in the future.