Finally received the wine list from our party at FTG's house last night. Twelve people attended, all locals. All wines were provided by FTG for this extravaganza, except where noted. After a 35 mile, 90 minute drive through the snow, we had:

Beaujolais course for pre-tasting:

1. 2003 Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
2. 2003 Picard Beaujolais Nouveau
3. 2001 Vernay Beaujolais Villages

Next flight of pre-tasting wines:
4. 2003 Woop Woop Verdelho
5. 2002 Prum Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese Riesling (thanks, Benthewineberg!)
6. 2001 Seghesio Arneis
7. 1999 Merryvale Carneros Syrah (OK, this really went inTheTWood's reduction sauce)
8. 2000 Arrowood Cote de Lune

Double blind tasting put together by FTG from his cellar. VERY educational to taste the Del Dotto Connoiseur Pack from 1999, to see the differences the different oak treatments ascribe to the wines:

9. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Blend
10. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Nevers French Oak
11. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Colbert French Oak
12. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Troncais French Oak
13. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Allier French Oak
14. 1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Marsannay French Oak

And no, nobody guessed this. Most people thought the wines were cabs and/or cab blends, but nobody guessed they were all the same wine with the different oak treatments.

After the dinner, main course provided by thetwood and everyone else contributing the side dishes, desserts, etc.:

15. 1997 Dow's LBV Port
16. 1995 Binger Scharlachberg Beerenauslese Riesling (thanks Benthewineberg!)
17. Yalumba Muscat Museum Reserve (thanks Benthewineberg!)

At this point, FTG took us down to his basement, where he brought in his karaoke machine and we all made fools of ourselves. During the foolishness, FTG also opened another mystery wine double blind, which turned out to be:

18. 1997 Cain 5.

All of us had a great time, thanks to the generosity of FTG. We all enjoyed getting to visit their new home, and the eclectic selection of wines he generously provided. And thanks to all attending, who willingly suffered the embarassment of bringing in pictures of themselves that look nothing like they do now! Of course, I think I was the most embarassed, garnering the most laughs with my picture from junior year of high school with the floral print silk shirt, navy blue cotton weave tie, and long hair.

To make it worse, we figured out that when my picture was taken, thetwood was only one year old, and mrs. thetwood and mrs. FTG had not even been born yet. So there are multiple reasons I feel old tonight.

And a special thanks to FTG and wife, for allowing us to bring Blake and stay overnight due to the weather.

Mike