We must have made some impression on Joe. One day after his first visit to our fair city, he sends me an email telling me he is returning!

So now, how to top the last one? The plans this time include two themes, champagne and petite sirah. Yes, it sounds weird, but...

Assuming the weather will be warm, a safe assumption for that time of year, we thought we would begin with some white wines, so we chose champagne.

Since this will not be a big sit-down dinner, more wine focused than last time, we chose to go with petite sirah, along with some burned cadavers and veggies on the grill.

So, anyone else up for a visit to Denver?

Mike

Denver offline! Denver offline! Denver offline! Trust me folks, it is worth the $200.00 airfare to visit Denver for the weekend. Not only do you get to attend an offline with a great group of people Denver has some really good bagains on wine you can haul home.

Looking forward to seeing everybody again. I have my Petite Sirah already picked out. Another surprise wine for Pat.

WIML - you are starting to enter Stemor's league in TWW (traveling with wine). Or better yet TTWE - traveling to wine events.

stemor is a wimp! I'll show him.

Here is my new travel ritual:

1. Got your airplane tickets?
2. Hotel & Car taken care of?
3. Any offlines I can attend?
4. Any wine I need to take with me?
5. Any wine I need to bring back?

i'll pass him up in no time.

WIML:

Add one more:

6) Am I going to a reciprocal state? If so, can I have any wine shipped to my hotel room and awaiting my arrival?

Mike

Yes, stemor rule no. 1 - the old hotel trick.

I almost sense a challenge here. And we were thinking of a Rocky Mountain visit/biking trip, too. Hmmm .... This could work just fine ...

Hey, WIML! Are YOU talkin' to ME?!?

We'll handle this in person. I hope.

I knew that would bring you out of the woodwork. See you in Denver, steeeemooooor.

Another tasting for the Denver Wine Group, this time hosted by MBansek and his lovely wife. Held on 06/06/2003 since WineIsMyLife could join us that evening.

We started the night with a tasting of Sparkling wine. Notes are posted here:Sparkling Wine Tasting Notes

Afterwards, we sat down to a dinner of shish kabobs (beef, chicken and bacon wrapped scallops with mushrooms, onions and peppers). All wines were tasted double-blind. Everyone voted for their top 3 wines. Here are the results, starting with the best of the evening.

#1 -1999 Stags Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah

#2 -2001 Mayo Family Winery Russian River Valley Tauria Vineyard Petite Sirah

#3 -1997 Stags Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah

#4 -2000 Seghesio San Lorenzo Alexander Valley PS

#5 and #6 -2001 Behrens & Hitchcock PS Spring Mountain Napa Valley

#7 -2000 Switchback Ridge Napa Valley PS Peterson Family Vineyard

Bonus Wines from MBansek's cellar - These were pulled out after the previous wines (and the Sparklers and other whites), so the notes are pretty scarce.

2001 Turley Pesenti Vineyard Zine – Ruby colored. Blackberry flavors with white-pepper on both the nose and palate.

1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia – This was tasted blind and billed as a "New Jersey" wine, to see if that would sway anyone. Everyone enjoyed, but we were a little past really taking notes or even making decent guesses about this wine.

I had a great time. Thank you all once again for your hospitality. Special thanks to the Banseks for their above and beyond hospitality.

I look forward to attending a Parsec Cup later this year. You guys are the best.

Ahem, I did somehow hazard a guess that the blind wine was a 1995 California cab blend. Off by a year.

But better than most this time.

Mike

I now remember you guessing '95 cal cab blend. But didn't you also know that it was from your cellar? Makes it a little easier to make a guess. I, of course, was in no shape to even hazard a guess. It tasted good, but at that point most wines would have tasted good...