Are we definite for Lavandou on the 9th?

T-Rep

Boy I hate this as I just got my KB allocation and I have some of the superior Russian River 2004-but I can't be there on the 9th-The last Wine Spec had a list of the top CA pinot producers- it might be fun to include any of those on the WS list of top ten and that would expand your opportunites as KB is really hard to get right now.

I can bring a bottle or two of KB - just use a styro shipper and throw it in my suitcase. Unfortunately, my '04 4-Barrel isn't scheduled to ship until the following week, so that one's out ...

Scott

A couple that Julie and know might also like to join us for this event (different couple than last time). Just had a nice dinner with them at Corduroy. how are we on numbers?

I brought an 04 RRV KB to the last dinner (dave you brought the 03 Santa Lucia right?), and i still have some more but if we do pinot again i was interested in doing the 03 Peay Peay vs 03 WS Peay.

Rhys/Alesia might be in by then, but it won't have much time to settle.

December is a tough month for me - have fun guys.

OK guys, I'm not a KB list guy. Are we going to do Lavandou on the 9th? If so, I don't know how much we want to have a lot of super fruity CA PN to go with country French. Perhaps we should try to be a little more varied. However, if we are staying with the KB/CA PN theme, I can bring either some Loring, Dain, R-C, A.P. Vin, or ROAR.

(However, I will never, ever turn down a chance to drink some more Kosta-Brown.)

Guys, I think it will be too hard to try to shoehorn a Kosta Browne "postcard" theme into this event. I will try to organize a Kosta Browne Postcard offline sometime early next year.

Just to plant a seed and to clear up some misconceptions, here is how it works (concept is taken from the SQN offlines):

1. Only members of the Kosta Browne mailing list are allowed to bring wine. Given that we have several members that are on the list we should be able to pull together quite a nice assortment.

2. If you are currently on the wait-list for Kosta Browne, then you attend and drink the wine. This tasting is primarily for you! You are not allowed to bring Kosta Brownes or any other wine. So there is no need to bring Lorings, no Peay/WS standoffs and no need to go out and try to source a bottle of Kosta Browne.

3. We only drink Kosta Browne wines (see points 1 & 2).

Newsguy, welcome to VinoCellar! I hope that you and your wife will be able to make it on the 9th.

One of these days I'd love to do a double-blind wine tasting with the DC Cru. That would be a lot of fun.

I think that all of our tastings should be single blind or double blind.

So, with a KB postcard event being put off until next year, anyone have a particular theme for Lavandou?

T-Rep

Scottj, what is your preference?

Since the restaurant is French Provencal, we should try to match wine that will go well with the food. Suggestions?

And who is signed up so far?

I plan to be there and I'm going to try to talk Karen into coming.
T-Rep and better half?
Dave
Scottj
AlexRed and Julie and friends?
TJ, Debbie?
newsguy
winoman and wife
raybanz and the better half
who else?

This is getting to potentially be a sizable gathering. Perhaps we will need to do some coordination to make sure there is enough of each wine for everyone to get a decent taste.

I have been to three different tasting there with widely different wines. All worked well. That is one advantage to ordering off of the menu. I haven't called to check on corkage.

I was thinking to bring something from the southern Rhone.

It looks like if all the folks in Dinwiddie's list attend, we're up to 15 people. Do we know if Lavandou can accommodate a party that large on a Saturday night? Anyone check yet?

Looking at the last few posts, it looks like we need to confirm the number of attendees and the location. I've never been to Lavandou, but it sounds great, if it can handle all of us with no (or perhaps a negotiated, fixed for the night) corkage.

15 people is a tough number, as that's too many for a single bottle. If we try to go to two bottles of each wine, we can probably handle a few more folk, but will have to make sure we can match the wines.

As far as a theme ... My first thought was a recently received wine you want to share, but that can be pretty random. I've got a pile stacked up waiting to taste, and my first thoughts were something like '02 SHS or '04 Kongsgaard chardonnay. If Lavandou works, I'd probably bring '03 Pegau or another young Chateauneuf du Pape, as long as it's not on the winelist. I don't own many Burgs, and my PC shipments likely won't have arrived yet, so I'm light on good French wines. I prefer to bring something on the young side, as I think it's less susceptible to travel shock.

Scott

thanks for the welcome, dave. we sure hope to make it 12/9.

if we're not doing cali PNs, then i'd likely have to go the aged bordeaux route. i have no burgs and no CDPs.

i'll keep watching.

We are "all in" as it were though don't knwo anything about the Restaurant (or where it is located or such). Any details available?

(Sticking with the French theme...and IMO we should) we could bring some Cotie Rotie (or other N Rhone...Hermitage, Crozes, etc I have lots...), CNdP (again lots...and if it is provincal...well how can we beat CNdP or S Rhone?), Right Bank Bordeaux...

Cotie Rotie - I have 1999 Tardui Laurent, Chapotier (various vinyards/bottlings, various years....even some 99 La Mordee & 99 La Meal...but don't think I will bring any of those..some of my most prized wines...), Guigal (I have a 99 mag of the Brune et Blond I've been thinking of cracking...also some Ampius...but only sinle bottles [left] of 98 & 99 and I may have some 97 Delas (forgot if it is CR or Hermitage but I think the former)...I also have a bunch of really nice 04 Crozes and such (that I've been very pleased with...but they are more cheapies).

CNdP - I have some Mags of 2000 Viuex Telegraph (think 98s are gone...weep...), 00 (I think) & 01 Viuex Donjon, lost of Beucastel & Pegau from many vintages and in many formats (but others often have these to bring as well...), Beaurenard Boisenard (01 & 03...later probably not quite ready yet...not even sure if the 01s are primed...but willing to see...), Janesse (various 98+ vintages...not always 2+ bottles per vintage however...), Charvin (a few), Clos des Papes (01) - and could be a good candidate - though rather young, P Usseglio (Mon Aieul) (various 98+ vintages...not always with 2 per vintage), Grand Venuer Les Origins (00, o1, 03) and just a lot more from all sorts of nice producers...I'm a big S Rhone ( & N Rhone) guy - big time

Right Bank Bordeaux - I have lots of 98s that might be drinking well...and other stuff of course...also (not right bank) but I have a 98 Smith Haut Lafite that I imagine is perfect for this event and drinking briliantly (my choice to bring if we are too Rhone heavy)...lots of others of course..right & left bank (lots of 98s likely ready to go...)

I am open to any suggestions/requests...

Scottj, I would encourage you to bring whatever you feel like carting all this way (Shafer HSS wouldn't be on my top 10 list - they must weigh 10 lbs per). I still owe you a debt of gratititude for bringing the KB last year. That was my favorite wine and it allowed me to get on the KB list just under the wire.

I will likely bring a California wine (Scholium Project?). If we end up with 15, I think that we should just get 2 tables which will allow 8 pours per bottle.