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Fourth Annual Cab Smackdown Last Post 10-29-2007 02:56 PM by Dave Tong. 123 Replies. | Sort: |
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Dave Tong  
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1335
 | | 05-05-2007 06:50 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| It seems that the time limit for editing has been revoked, so now I can keep this first message up to date with the latest info.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
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hudamang
CALI
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 401
| | 05-05-2007 09:38 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
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1033
| | 05-06-2007 02:13 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?
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| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1335
| | 05-06-2007 01:16 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
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| tgenn 
Pleasanton, Ca.
Grape Sorter
Posts: 373
| | 05-06-2007 06:45 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 Fermenter
Posts: 401
| | 05-07-2007 07:52 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
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts: 4895
| | 05-08-2007 02:59 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: 1335
| | 05-08-2007 09:14 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
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| Joe Barsky
Grape Stomper
Posts: 169
| | 05-10-2007 09:06 AM |
| | David, You great last year and please count us in depending on the date. Thank you. Joe and Gail | | | |
| scottj
Houston, TX
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1097
| | 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
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| tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3267
| | 05-10-2007 01:05 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 | |
| Paul Soals
Grape Stomper
Posts: 104
| | 05-10-2007 05:23 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
Master of Wine
Posts: 10813
| | 05-12-2007 09:48 AM |
| | Things here are more stable now, so its likely I'll be attending this on most any of those dates. | | | |
| David Sankaran
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: 1335
| | 05-15-2007 01:56 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
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| winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2326
| | 05-17-2007 03:54 PM |
| | I am in for 2 | | | "Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
| kpak
Alaska
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3034
| | 05-18-2007 06:37 PM |
| I'd like to be on the wait list...if the date works out to be earliest or latest. | | | In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is
.ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
| Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3244
| | 05-19-2007 07:47 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
Master of Wine
Posts: 10813
| | 05-22-2007 11:20 PM |
| Drew, your signature says NC still... where are you landing? | | | |
| Randy Wigginton
Master of Wine
Posts: 10813
| | 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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