hi Dave,  Please put me down for three.  It's been a long wait.. thanks,  Patrick

Hello all,

Sorry to be so late in responding. The new site structure over here turned me off, and I haven't been on Vinocellar really since the switch. Maybe I'll come back more often.

Anyway, I'm going to pass on the Smackdown. Lots of folks on the waiting list, so I know my seat will make someone happy!

Best,

Jim (SFWine)

November 17th, 6PM. Lion & Compass, Sunnyvale, CA

Reception
Chef's Hors d'oevres

Soup and Salad
HOUSE GREENS SALAD Organic Lettuces, Orange Lavender Vinaigrette, Toasted Almonds, Blue Cheese
COMPASS CAESAR SALAD Romaine Hearts, Egg-less Dressing, Parmesan, Garlic Croutons
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

Entrees
They are dropping the smoked sturgeon because it wasn't popular last time.
PAN ROASTED FILET MIGNON, "au Poive Verte" Scallion Mashed Potatoes, Green Peppercorn Brandy Sauce, Asparagus Vegetables
HERB ROASTED RACK of LAMB Tomato Fennel Confit, Tuscan White Beans, Sauteed Kale, Rosemary Jus
VENISON STIR FRY in Japanese Plum Wine shiitake mushrooms, pearl onions, garlic sauteed chard, crispy risotto
GRILLED EGGPLANT & POLENTA ROULADES goat cheese, fresh basil, golden peppers, zucchini ratatoulle

Desserts
LAVIN'S CHOCOLATE TORTE
FRUIT SORBET & BERRIES
CHEESECAKE
COMPASS TIRAMISU
CREME BRULEE

Interested Parties
Dave_Tong (2)
Hudamang (2)
Saut (2)
tgenn (1)
Joe Barksy (2)
ScottJ (1)
Tanglenet (2)
Paul Soals (2)
RandyW (2)
David Sankaran (2)
DavidN (1)
LC17SMP (1 possibly 2)
Rob Conrad (2)
SCMguy (2)
GATC (2)
Patrick_L (3)

Waiting List
Winebrat
Kpak
Drew
PourQue
AlohaJ

Forumites with right of first refusal

Babnik
GChadwick
MarkNeal
PaulK
Skwid
Stevo

Thanks for your note, Dave, but I won't be able to make it.

Richard/WineGeek

Dave,

November 17th is Passport Day, so no way I can make it, but if anyone wants to come by before hand, we'll have the winery open that day.

Okay, from here on I'm revoking the "first refusal" clause. You had fair warning. Last year we had to guarantee a minimum of 30 for dinner. We typically end up somewhere in the 30-36 range, which means three bottles of each wine.November 17th, 6PM. Lion & Compass, Sunnyvale, CA

Reception
Chef's Hors d'oevres

Soup and Salad
HOUSE GREENS SALAD Organic Lettuces, Orange Lavender Vinaigrette, Toasted Almonds, Blue Cheese
COMPASS CAESAR SALAD Romaine Hearts, Egg-less Dressing, Parmesan, Garlic Croutons
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

Entrees
They are dropping the smoked sturgeon because it wasn't popular last time.
PAN ROASTED FILET MIGNON, "au Poive Verte" Scallion Mashed Potatoes, Green Peppercorn Brandy Sauce, Asparagus Vegetables
HERB ROASTED RACK of LAMB Tomato Fennel Confit, Tuscan White Beans, Sauteed Kale, Rosemary Jus
VENISON STIR FRY in Japanese Plum Wine shiitake mushrooms, pearl onions, garlic sauteed chard, crispy risotto
GRILLED EGGPLANT & POLENTA ROULADES goat cheese, fresh basil, golden peppers, zucchini ratatoulle

Desserts
LAVIN'S CHOCOLATE TORTE
FRUIT SORBET & BERRIES
CHEESECAKE
COMPASS TIRAMISU
CREME BRULEE

Interested Parties
Dave Tong (2)
Hudamang (2)
Saut (2)
tgenn (1)
Joe Barksy (2)
ScottJ (1)
Tanglenet (2)
Paul Soals (2)
RandyW (2)
David Sankaran (2)
DavidN (1)
LC17SMP (1 possibly 2)
Rob Conrad (2)
SCMguy (2)
GATC (2)
Patrick_L (3)
Winebrat
Kpak
Drew
PourQue
AlohaJ
Mark Neal (2)

This is going to be sooooo cool. It will be great to see you all again. When do we get to sign up for the wines? Will there be a Bordeaux ringer? I just need some advance notice to be able to locate (and allow to settle) whatever wines I'm bringing. I'm in for some Bressler Cab if that is needed.

Best,

Fred

You can start signing up now, or at least nominating. Personally I've not bought that many 03s; I believe my main purchases were Lewelling, Ridge and Neal. What 03s have people tried that they thought were particularly good?

Do we want to continue the VC Friends & Family flight? That would usually include Neal, Match, Bressler, Jones plus any additional nominations - last year we added Ladera.

For the main flight there's a few that I think we must have:

Insignia has been a regular every year and always shows well
The Pride Reserves are always very popular
Quilceda Creek was great last year and as I recall the 2003 is supposed to be top rate too
Ridge Monte Bello is always a staple, even though it's 10-20 years too young.

Any other nominations? Anyone you'd vote off the island?

I'm not sure that last year's Bordeaux was a "ringer" exactly. If there's sufficient interest we can do it again - any suggestions or opinions?

Realized I will probably bow out due to the fact that I don't actually have any wines (except Bressler-though I don't actually have it) from 2003. I stopped buying most of these about the 2001 vintage.

I wouldn't worry too much about that.  I have very few 03s as well. I'm sure you'll be able to find something at retail - the 03 Insignia should be readily available for starters - or figure out a trade with someone. And of course we will need some bubbles to start and stickies to finish too.

Dave,

The ringer was 03 Leoville Barton. Didn't show too well.

Some of the 03s I've enjoyed include the:

2003 Crocker n Starr

I know the Ridge is a staple but since it's so young, perhaps we should serve the 93 and not the 03

I would say this wine could stand up to the best.

Dave, put me down for a '03 Monte Bello. If you could provide one from your stash, I'll carry out a replacement for you. That way, we won't have to worry about travel shock, if you're concerned about that sort of thing.

I'd also be glad to bring a '93, or even an '83, although this one would be a Santa Cruz Mountains, as the MB was declassified in '83 and relabeled as SCM

Scott

I'll put in a second vote for Crocker & Starr to be added to the lineup. I'll even offer up two of the bottles.

I'd also like to see Lewelling get a shot too.

Dave:

I noticed that you have me down for (1), and I actually will be a party of (2).

There was some discussion earlier about whether or not the '03's are ready enough. Are we set on the '03 vintage? Personally, I think moving to the '03's would be fine, as I haven't really tried them. But I am open on the issue.

As to the wines, I thought the lineup each of the past two years was excellent - so using the previous list and tweaking it works for me. Adding Lewelling and Karl Lawrence sounds like a good idea.

I love these from last year's list and would be happy to see them stay if we can cover them: Having similar flights (friends and family, big guns, etc) also seems like a good idea.

Bressler
Insignia
Pride
Foley
Hourglass
Switchback
Ridge Monte Bello
Quilceda Creek
Peter Michael

Tom

I can bring a couple of Pride Reserves.  I'm looking forward to this!
    -Dave-

November 17th, 6PM. Lion & Compass, Sunnyvale, CA

Reception
Chef's Hors d'oevres

Soup and Salad
HOUSE GREENS SALAD Organic Lettuces, Orange Lavender Vinaigrette, Toasted Almonds, Blue Cheese
COMPASS CAESAR SALAD Romaine Hearts, Egg-less Dressing, Parmesan, Garlic Croutons
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

Entrees
They are dropping the smoked sturgeon because it wasn't popular last time.
PAN ROASTED FILET MIGNON, "au Poive Verte" Scallion Mashed Potatoes, Green Peppercorn Brandy Sauce, Asparagus Vegetables
HERB ROASTED RACK of LAMB Tomato Fennel Confit, Tuscan White Beans, Sauteed Kale, Rosemary Jus
VENISON STIR FRY in Japanese Plum Wine shiitake mushrooms, pearl onions, garlic sauteed chard, crispy risotto
GRILLED EGGPLANT & POLENTA ROULADES goat cheese, fresh basil, golden peppers, zucchini ratatoulle

Desserts
LAVIN'S CHOCOLATE TORTE
FRUIT SORBET & BERRIES
CHEESECAKE
COMPASS TIRAMISU
CREME BRULEE

Attendees
Dave Tong (2) Ridge Monte Bello, TBD
Hudamang (2)
Saut (2) Bressler, Bressler, Sauternes
tgenn (2)
Joe Barksy (2)
ScottJ (1) Ridge Monte Bello
Tanglenet (2)
Paul Soals (2)
RandyW (2) Foley Claret, Foley Claret
David Sankaran (2)
DavidN (1)
LC17SMP (1 possibly 2)
Rob Conrad (2)
SCMguy (2) Pride Reserve, Pride Reserve (which ones?)
GATC (2)
Patrick_L (3)
Winebrat
Kpak
Drew
PourQue
AlohaJ
Mark Neal (2)

Wines
This is just a suggested list. We may break this into 3 flights. Feel free to add nominations or to vote ones off the island

Friends And Family
Neal (Second Chance)
Jones Family
Bressler * *
Match

The Big Guns
Phelps Insignia
Pride Reserve (Claret and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) * *
Foley Claret * *
Hourglass
Switchback
Ridge Monte Bello * *
Quilceda Creek
Peter Michael Les Pavots

Other Nominations
Lewelling Wight
Crocker Starr
Pahlmeyer
Karl Lawrence (Dr Crane or To-Kalon)
Ladera (Lone Canyon)

Champagne

Stickies