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Subject: Fourth Annual Cab Smackdown

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Dave Tong

Santa Clara, CA

Barrel Filler
Posts:1334

05/05/2007 6:50 PM
It seems that the time limit for editing has been revoked, so now I can keep this first message up to date with the latest info. 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 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 Confirmed: 22. Unconfirmed: 4, possibly 5 Dave Tong (2) Ridge Monte Bello, Ridge Monte Bello Hudamang (2) Crocker Starr, Ladera Lone Canyon Saut (2) Bressler, Bressler, Sauternes tgenn (2) Bressler, Insignia Joe Barksy (2) Pride Reserve Claret, Pride Reserve Claret Paul Soals (2) Crocker Starr, Crocker Starr RandyW (2) Foley Claret, Foley Claret Rob Conrad (2) Ladera Lone Canyon, Ladera Lone Canyon SCMguy (2) Pride Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Pride Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon GATC (2) Pride Reserve Claret, Pride Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ScottJ (1) Ridge Monte Bello Drew(1) Foley Claret LC17SMP (1 possibly 2) TBD (TBD) Winebrat (1) TBD Mark Neal (2) TBD, TBD The Wines - need 3 bottles of each Bressler Saut, Saut, tgenn Match Randy Sloan X3 (kindly donated in absence) Ridge Monte Bello Dave Tong, Dave Tong, ScottJ Crocker Starr Stone Place hudamang, Paul Soals, Paul Soals Pride Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon SCMguy, SCMguy , GATC Pride Reserve Claret Joe Barksy, Joe Barksy, GATC Foley Claret RandyW, RandyW, Drew Ladera Lone Canyon Rob Conrad, Rob Conrad, hudamang Phelps Insignia tgenn, NEED 2 Quilceda Creek NEED 3 Other suggestions: Neal (Second Chance) Jones Family Hourglass Switchback Ridge Peter Michael Les Pavots Lewelling Wight Pahlmeyer Karl Lawrence (Dr Crane or To-Kalon) Champagne ? Stickies Saut

http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog. http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley

hudamang

CALI

Grape Sorter
Posts:212

05/05/2007 9:38 PM
Dave, you did an amazing job last yr and I think it's great you are starting it again this year! Is this 03 Vintage? I would like to see Crocker and Starr and Lewelling Wight added this yr as I have enjoyed both of their 03 wines and others have commented that they are better than 03 Insignia. Should be a fun time! Put me down for 2!

saut

Grape Fermenter
Posts:523

05/06/2007 2:13 AM
This was a blast, and I can't wait! If we are alive, put us in for 2 Can someone remind me of the theme? Are we looking for non-cult wines to show up the big bucks? Hudamang is right, Dave did an exceptional job and it is great to have him starting this thread. Three cheers! As to the vintage, there has been a lot of talk, and I'm seeing wines that normally would be gone still hanging around, like Dalle Valle, and Bryant Family. Oh, and Grace Family too....crazy. Was the vintage really that tough?

Dave Tong

Santa Clara, CA

Barrel Filler
Posts:1334

05/06/2007 1:16 PM
Cheers for the props, guys. Yes, it's the 2003 Vintage this time round. Not the vintage of the century; let's see what the best producers came up with in a tricky year. We'll probably follow the format of last year - friends and family followed by the big guns. Last year I tried to structure it as a regional match-off; we had Napa, Sonoma, SCM, Central Coast, Washington and Bordeaux. Did that work? All wines must have been available at release, one way or another, for under $125. I'm all in favour of including Lewelling Wight - let's see what other nominations we get. How about Karl Lawrence? Previous Friends and Family Neal SVDs Match Bressler Ladera Jones The Big Guys Insignia Pride Foley Hourglass Switchback Ridge Monte Bello Quilceda Creek Justin Isosceles Reserve Peter Michael

http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog. http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley

tgenn

Pleasanton, Ca.

Grape Stomper
Posts:175

05/06/2007 6:45 PM
I would be all for adding Karl Lawrence Reserve and Lewelling Wight. If I had to bounce one from last year's list, it would be Justin Isosceles..

hudamang

CALI

Grape Sorter
Posts:212

05/07/2007 7:52 PM
IIRC, I thought the Justin Isosceles Reserve performed pretty well last year. To me, the Ridge Monte Bello was way too young, similar to the Leoville Barton we had. Are we having another ringer thrown in?

Bob Bressler User is Offline

Napa Valley

Wine Lover
Posts:4862

05/08/2007 2:59 PM
Posted By saut on 05/06/2007 2:13 AM As to the vintage, there has been a lot of talk, and I'm seeing wines that normally would be gone still hanging around, like Dalle Valle, and Bryant Family. Oh, and Grace Family too....crazy. Was the vintage really that tough? I vaguely remember discussing this somewhere else, but most of the other vintners I have spoken with who have a high percentages of direct sales tell me the same story. Higher turnover on the mailing list than normal. In most cases that was before anyone had tried or reviewed the wines. We call it the Wine Spectator effect. My observation is that the 03s will take longer than the 02s to achieve their full potential but are likely to be extremely good. IIRC, I had a discussion with RandyW when this event first started - I was urging him NOT to choose the current vintage, that even a one year offset would make a big difference. Oh, well.

Dave Tong

Santa Clara, CA

Barrel Filler
Posts:1334

05/08/2007 9:14 PM
If there's sufficient interest we can always revisit the 2002 vintage. Or make that a separate event. (Uh-oh. What did I just volunteer for?)

http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog. http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley

Joe Barsky User is Offline

Grape Stomper
Posts:166

05/10/2007 9:06 AM
David, You great last year and please count us in depending on the date. Thank you. Joe and Gail

scottj

Houston, TX

Grape Fermenter
Posts:559

05/10/2007 10:55 AM
Dave, Thanks for stepping up and organizing this event again ! My preferences for dates are: October 27 November 3 November 17 I may be able to make it on another date, but these are clearly open for me now. Also, I assume the latter dates are better for the vintners among us - weather and harvest permitting, of course ? I have no problem with revisiting the '02s, as I find they're still doing very well. On the other hand, while I've had some mediocre '03s, I've had some stunners, too, like the '03 Araujo Altagracia. I'm sure we can adjust the lineup and put together an outstanding tasting of the '03s Scott

tanglenet

Oakland, California

Wine Bottler
Posts:3214

05/10/2007 1:05 PM
We're in for 2. As far as I know, our calendar is free for any of the dates. I would like to second Bob's suggestion of giving more time to the wines. And I realize this makes things a whole lot more complex for you!

TN posted on Cellartracker "I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais www.tanglenet.com

Paul Soals User is Offline

Grape Stomper
Posts:104

05/10/2007 5:23 PM
Count the wife and I in for two again, we had a blast last time... (formerly S2K_Racer) And let me 2nd (or 3rd) votes to include Lewelling and Crocker & Starr wines. The early October dates don't work are as well for us.

Randy Wigginton User is Offline

Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5510

05/12/2007 9:48 AM
Things here are more stable now, so its likely I'll be attending this on most any of those dates.

David Sankaran User is Offline

Grape Truck Driver
Posts:39

05/13/2007 12:29 AM
Wouldn't miss this years' event. Count me in for two as in years past. The only dates that do not work (at this point) are Oct 20 and Nov 10.

Dave Tong

Santa Clara, CA

Barrel Filler
Posts:1334

05/15/2007 1:56 PM
The three preferred days are highlighted based on the feedback so far (Paul, David and Scott) October 6 October 13 October 20 October 27 November 3 November 10 November 17 Interested Parties Dave_Tong Hudamang Saut tgenn (TomG) Joe Barksy (JBWines) ScottJ Tanglenet Paul Soals (S2Kracer) RandyW David Sankaran (OrindaDave) Waiting List Winebrat Kpak Drew Forumites with right of first refusal Babnik Dave_Spriggs DavidN GATC GChadwick Gratification LC17SMP MarkNeal Patrick_L Paul_H PaulK SFWine Skwid Stevo Tanglenet WineGeek Winetex

http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog. http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley

winebrat

Sacramento, Ca.

Barrel Sampler
Posts:2326

05/17/2007 3:54 PM
I am in for 2

"Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS

kpak

Alaska

Wine Thief
Posts:2968

05/18/2007 6:37 PM
I'd like to be on the wait list...if the date works out to be earliest or latest.

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits... ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon.

Drew

Sammamish, WA

Wine Bottler
Posts:3195

05/19/2007 7:47 AM
Would love to be on the wait list... I'm back on the west coast and have a paycheck once again :-D

Randy Wigginton User is Offline

Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5510

05/22/2007 11:20 PM
Drew, your signature says NC still... where are you landing?

Randy Wigginton User is Offline

Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5510

05/22/2007 11:25 PM
Bob - we started this with the 2000 vintage... where one year would have made a negative difference. Also, it is only by the time of the smackdown that all 2003's are available; many wineries have started offering 2004/2005. Question is... when should we do a cult smackdown, and this time we should do 2001? Araujo, Abreu, Harlan, Shafer, Screaming Eagle, etc...

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