I’ll be in Chicago the night of 12/15, looking to pull some folks together! The two themes being bandied are:
•Pre-2000 La La’s
•Top Cali Cults, head to head 2001 vs 2002. This would work if we narrow the list to a few that were considered exceptional in both years and are able to taste from both vintages.
Wow. This sounds like it will be impressive. Would love to participate but the subject matter is a little out of my league as a newbie. But, I am excited to see pictures and read notes.
I am still interested. Perhaps open the theme up a bit more broadly. A few folks were interested but felt that several themes were a bit to pricy and difficult for sourcing.
I might be interested. My only issue is that the last two times I’ve said I’d go to an offline, I’ve had a last minute work-related commitment come up.
I’ve never been to an offline so I’m curious.
Ultimately I’m happy doing whatever–I’ll be in town in any case. I will PM a few guys as well. Alejandra, in the off chance that this could become your first offline…what’s your interest in pouring?
To get ball rolling, here are some bottles I would be interested in bringing for the betterment of mankind
Upper end (but not cult) CA Cabs from the 1990’s ('97 Fisher Wedding, Dunn Howell any year from mid-90’s, '96 Dalla Valle, etc.)
Northen or Southern Rhones from classic vintages in the '70s, '80s and '90s ('89 Jaboulet La Chapelle, '90 Mont Olivet CdP Cuvee Papet, '98 Dom Mordoree CdP Reine des Bois)
Various Italian ('98 Giacosa Falletto, '02 Dal Forno Valpollicella, Il Carnasciale Caberlot)
Various Spanish (Alion or Valbuena from early 2000s)
Come on folks, toss out some ideas and let’s see what we can come up with…
I am heading out to Knightsbridge on Sunday for the Hospices tasting and will see if I can find something appropriate there. If any other Chicago people will be at the tasting shoot be a PM so I can introduce myself.
I am looking to source something. I should know better tomorrow. Cant say for sure it will be Hermitage. But, I should have a few options for 80s and 90s Rhones.
Acquitane: corkage is $15 per bottle, but they would likely agree to a cap/deal, nice atmosphere, good food. Middle of Lincoln Park, so not that easy from O’Hare area. URL: http://www.aquitainerestaurant.com/
Kiki’s Bistro: several of us went there the previous year for Burgundy offline. Food would pair well with the theme. Located in Gold Coast and close to Highway or subway. Excellent service and reasonable corkage. URL: http://kikisbistro.com/
Brown Trout: located in North Center-Lincoln Square, fairly easy to access from O’Hare. No corkage on wines > 10 yr. Good food and fairly good to match with theme. URL: http://www.browntroutchicago.com/Menu.html
Goosefoot: new, Chris Nugent (former head chef of Les Nomades). Only option is $90 prix fixe, but would likely go well with Rhone wines. It is relatively east to access from O’Hare. Completely BYO.URL: http://www.goosefoot.net/