quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
I was planning on bringing a 1998 Allegrini Amarone. It might be a little too heavy for the season, but I've been wanting to try one for a while.

Thoughts?

With the weather we're having (heard that New Brunswick got 15 cm of snow yersterday), I don't think it's too warm for Amarone.

My thoughts on what wine to bring:

White - I can bring a chablis, but is there any interest in a dry, minerally riesling?

Red - I was thinking of Quinta do Vale, either the '03 Meao or Dona Maria. But your Allegrini suggestion made me think of an '01 Manara Amarone for comparison (if I can find it in my cellar). Any preferences?

Any of those red selections would work. Both Quinta do Vale wines are outstanding and the Manara would be interesting as well. Can't remember if it was the 2000 or the 2001 I had.

Hey guys... just caught this thread... am a friend of Jay's (futronic). Any chance I can get in on this dinner?... I talked with David last week at Sante, and the poor guy seemed to be looking forward to some time off... I'd love to go to Cafe Tuscany one more time.

I just found out that soccer season starts next Friday night (I coach my daughter's team). I will still be there, but will arrive later than the start time. (Unless it rains and the game's cancelled.)

I will bring a red blind and for dessert a bottle of 1993 Schloss Reinheartshausen Riesling Auslese.

darcy,

i am sure that we can make space for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Baird:
Updated list......

Baird +1 - Blind red
Duojet + possible guest Scott
Basecadet
On the Wine +1
Futronic - 1998 Allegrini Amarone
Maverick Drinker +1 - 1996 Feullatte Ay
Darcy Kelley

Updated list......

Baird +1 - Blind red
Duojet + possible guest Scott
Basecadet
On the Wine +1
Futronic - 1998 Allegrini Amarone
Maverick Drinker +1 - 1996 Feullatte Ay
Darcy Kelley

quote:

Originally posted by Darcy Kelley:
Hey guys... just caught this thread... am a friend of Jay's (futronic). Any chance I can get in on this dinner?... I talked with David last week at Sante, and the poor guy seemed to be looking forward to some time off... I'd love to go to Cafe Tuscany one more time.

Darcy,

Look forward to having you out on Friday.

Thanks -- everyone -- for the invite.

As there was discussion of a Riesling with minerality, I have some of the very nice Rabl Spielgel '03. I'd be happy to contribute that, as well as a bottle of Fattoria la Braccesca, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano '90. It's be quite hard to get any sense of the latter's potential... but I'm sure it's ready, and hopefully is not too much past it...

sorry for the last minute bailout. Can't get a babysitter for the evening.

Have a great time at the cafe.

Have a great offline tomorrow. Darcey, welcome to the TWC and I hope to share a glass (or more) with you in the near future. Don't forget to post TN's.

I'm planning to bring:

2003 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Blanc
2003 Quinta do Vale Dona Maria
2001 Wegeler Erben Spätlese Bernkasteler Doctor

I assume that we do not need to bring stems, etc?

Guys...

Dave just sent me the menu for tonight. Looks like we're having

Assorted appetizers
Baked Manicotti
Mixed Salad
Lemon Sorbet
Filet of Beef
Chocolate pecan tart & Gelato
Espresso and Cappuccino

The all in cost will be $90 per person. No stems are necessary.

Looking forward to tonight...

No need to bring stems. There are plenty at the restaurant.

YAY... Normal food my wife can actually eat!!!!!

See y'all tonight.

I will rummage through the cellar and see if I can find a good dessert wine or something red and interesting to bring on top of my Mailvoire Foch - I mean BLIND red.

quote:

Originally posted by Duojet:
Guys...

Dave just sent me the menu for tonight. Looks like we're having

Assorted appetizers
Baked Manicotti
Mixed Salad
Lemon Sorbet
Filet of Beef
Chocolate pecan tart & Gelato
Espresso and Cappuccino

The all in cost will be $90 per person. No stems are necessary.

Looking forward to tonight...

quote:

Originally posted by Baird:
I will rummage through the cellar and see if I can find a good dessert wine

The spatlese riesling I am bringing is in a 750ml bottle, so we already have some dessert wine covered. But more is always welcome.

How was dinner, boys? Let's see some TNs!

ditto on what Slanny said!

Ditto on what DoktaP said about Slan's post.

It was good night with lots of food.

Unfortunately, racing around as fast as I could, I still got there later than I expected. Almost as soon as I sat down, I broke a glass!

I'm sure that others who took notes will be able to provide better descriptions (and actualy know all of the wines that were poured!)

Of the two whites that were waiting when I arrive I preferred the Lazaret CNDP Blanc. It had a great floral nose, full body with tropical fruit on the palate. I tasted this "blind" and was surprised that it was a CNDP. (I've just looked up the blend and it's supposedly made up of 50 grenache blanc and no viognier!). On the Wine I disagreed about this one.

Of the reds, a couple stood out. I enjoyed the Allegrini. I'm not a fan of amarones typically. I usually find them too alcoholic and too raisiny. This was big but everything was in balance with lots of chocolate and dark cherries.

I liked the Gallo Cabernet as well. I didn't get the full name or the vineyard. It went very well with the beef as did the 98 Alion. I wish I could have had it opened sooner and given it more air time.

The flight of dessert whites stole the spotlight, IMO. The Loosen, Wegler and the 1993 Schloss Reinhartshausen Riesling Auslese were are very enjoyable. The had varying degrees of sweetness, but none were cloying. Anyone remember the year of the Loosen?

I learned another lesson.... Never kid around with the wine gods. I jokingly said "It's corked" after I asked Dave to open up my back-up bottle of 2001 Elderton Command Shiraz. As soon as poured, the funk came through. I was hoping that it blow away, it wasn't meant to be. Oh well. (I ended up exchanging it on Saturday for a Kistler chardonnay).

It was good meeting Darcy and Mr. & Mrs. On the Wine.

It's funny how comments about one offline starts WWIII, and another silence.

quote:

It was good night with lots of food.

I'll certainly second that. The food was good and I was impressed with how well they responded to Darcy's comment about being vegetarian. I was so impressed with his dinner, I wished I had converted.

The wine I liked best of all was the Quinta do Crasto Touriga National Douro (vintage?) that Baird brought. (It was the only one that was drunk blind.) I thought it was a couple of notches above the '03 Quinta do Vale Dona Maria.

Other reds that I liked were the Allion and the Allegrini Amerone. The Gallo Cab was Stefani Vineyard.

Among the whites, I definitely did not like the '03 Lazaret CdP Blanc - but I generally don't like whites with tropical fruit flavours. But the riesling (was it Brandl?) was nice and minerally - and more to my taste.

And like Duojet, I thought that the dessert wines as a group were the class act of the evening.