Wow, what a night! 17 ½ wine lovers descended on the Rutherford Grill last night to celebrate Freethegrapes visit with a local offline. As bottle after bottle after bottle started appearing on the table it became evident this wasn’t going to be just any offline, but an amazing wine experience. It was tremendous meeting new people, putting faces to the monikers, and sharing some simply incredible wines. Amazingly, of 21 wines there was not a single dog in the bunch, and not a single corked wine.

A big thank you to the management and staff at the Rutherford Grill who were absolutely fabulous and accommodating with seating, decanters, popping bottles, and providing tons of glasses - all with no corkage fee. Also a big thank you to Pyang for putting the whole thing together, it was quite a memorable evening.

On to the wines! Here are links to the notes in the appropriate forums - in no particular order. Notes and scores are mine, looking forward to other tasting notes and impressions:

2000 Dumol Chloe Vineyard Chardonnay

2000 Talbot Saint-Julien

2001 Siduri Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot

2001 Red Car, The Stranger Syrah

1989 Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

1982 Chasse-Spleen, Medoc

1994 Cafaro Cabernet

1999 Montelena Estate Cabernet

1998 & 1999 Screaming Eagle

1994 Jordan Cabernet

1997 Hanna Bismark Ranch Zinfandel

1996 Fife Reserve Cabernet

1995 & 1996 Signorello Cabernet

1998 Niebaum-Copolla Cabernet

1999 Etude Cabernet

1999 Hartwell Stags Leap Cabernet

1999 Plum Creek Ice Riesling (Colorado)

1977 Kopke Tawny Port

You guys have way too much fun. A great line-up!

when are you guys going to take that act on the road..."TO A TOWN NEAR ME"

Wow. Very nice. Who brought the Eagle?

LCC -

Actually, nobody brought the Screagle. 5 in the group purchased the two bottles from the wine list @ $450 each. Now, my wine budget will not allow such purchases, but one of those five insisted I taste, so...

$450.00 is not bad. I have seen it for much more than that around here (over $1,000.00 sometimes)...

Great line up. You guys definitely have WAY too much fun for your own good.

BTW, thanks for posting the TNs as links on this entry. I know how much extra work it is, but it is very cool and very much appreciated. Thanks dude.