Due to a shipping mishap, I have a 5 liter bottle of 1990 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet that needs to be opened. The bottle is currently resting in Los Gatos, and I have no reasonable way to get it back to Houston. I propose to get together with all who are interested and drink this baby. I'll be in the south bay/San Jose area for the CA Cab smackdown, and suggest we get together Thursday evening, November 2nd.

Anyone want to help ?

Any suggestions for restaurants ?

I wouldn't mind paying corkage on this one - as long as it's just a single bottle charge

Scott

What bottle?

I will help you Scott. I'll even help you pour.

I will help you Scott. I'll even help you poor.

Ahh. I would love to even see someone open a bottle that big and see how you pour from it but alas, it's my anniversary that night and I got reservations for M.M.

DavidN, I look forward to hearing your report on it when you go in the next couple of weeks.

I think the etched Dunn HM 5 liters are perhaps the most beautiful bottles of wine I've seen. Each of my four boys has one from his birth year. The 1990 should be perfect drinking, the 1991 is more tannic and would need time, 1990 cabs are merlot-like. Save the bottle afterwards!!!!!!!!!! Before the event, wrap the bottle in cellophane so that the paper label does not get stained, and tape the cellophane to seal it (unless your shipping mishap already screwed that up). Sorry to hear about it but you will be making some great lemonade from this lemon.

As for pouring from anything bigger than a magnum, use a very sturdy waiter's corkscrew and decant. Do not pour from the bottle. Not even when it gets less heavy. The wine comes out with tremendous force and will splash all over. I'd recommend pouring all the wine you intend to drink at the beginning of the evening, into several decanters if needed, so that no one is handling the big bottle after they have been drinking.

I'm going to the smackdown. I'd LOVE to try this wine but I have no idea yet if I could make a Nov. 2 dinner. I live in Los Gatos.

Also, what a great opportunity to try some OLDER cabs before the smackdown.

Wow. Sounds great, but I can't help you that night. You sure you don't want to open it for the Cali Cult Smackdown and leave the Monte Bellos' at home? It's the perfect venue for this size bottle...

So far, it looks like two of us are confirmed and three are tentative ...

I've had the opportunity to drink with Winetex several times, and while she's very good, I think a 5 liter will challenge the two of us davidn, skwid and gchadwick get us to a liter per person, which seems more doable, but I think there's room for several other folks, especially since one can't live by Cabernet alone.

Saving this for Saturday night at the Smackdown may be a possibility. However, that cuts out davidn and skwid, who aren't able to attend. Also, Winetex and I need something to drink Thursday night. Let's see if any others can join us on Thursday - if not, I'll check with Dave Tong and get his thoughts about bringing this on Saturday.

Scott

And while Scott's cab should be oh so very good I don't think I can do a litre of it. I'll bring an alternative if Scott has to open this Saturday because we should still plan on Thursday.

If you want we can do it here at my place.

I know that's a ways for most of you so if you want to do it somewhere else I understand. Also we would have to take-out if we wanted to eat here (i.e. the place would have to be clean when you left because we get up early the next morning to catch a plane). Pizza is my second-favorite food with Cab anyway.

At any rate... I'm making the offer and it would be our pleasure.

I would love to attend, would be glad to bring along an appetizer or two.

Thanks!

Oh, sure: we arrive in the bay area on the 3rd.

Well, at least you didn;t try to carry it on the plane and were forced to share it with a whole crowd of strangers at the airport because they wouldn't allow you to bring it along!

Is there a plan?

Anything's fine with me. All I want is to have a clean house and keep my date with a pillow at 10:00pm. I've got to be packed and ready to fly to Newport beach in the morning and I have to make sure my arms are in good shape.

We can BBQ steaks at my place. I've always wanted to do a BYOS. Maybe someone could pick up some muchrooms for our vegetable .

If you want to go to Forbes Mill let me know what time and how many. I think my bud the mgr. is in France right now but I've still got a couple of other connections there.

BYOS sounds great. I've wanted to see The Cellar for a while....

If you will allow me, I'll take care of the side dishes - stuff we can heat on the grill - simple prep, no clean up.

I agree with Gratification ... BYOS sounds great !

Question - I assume there are some good meat markets (you know what I mean) in the south bay. Do any of you locals have any suggestions ? Do we want to try a variety of steaks from different sources ? There's time to order from Lobels and/or Allen Bros if we want to try them - or do we just want to pick up some nice slabs of beef and drink lots of good wine ?

Scott

Suggestions for a meat market would be great. I would say let's pick up something locally.

I'll be ready to help clean David's casa so he can make his target ETA with his mattress. Especially the cellar (ha ha ha ... jk).