Wow, we are so very fortunate that the weather looks excellent for this Saturday, with the temps not like today thankfully (supposed to be high 80s here the next 2 days, which would be a disaster for the upstairs wine stations!). This absence of rain means we can avoid tenting the backyard, use the BBQ as normal and then cater in the Mexican food for the afterparty. Huge relief.
Yeah! Trip-Tips marinated and prepared for the trip! 
Cheers!
Marshall ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
Side note…I just was reminded about those traveling westbound on Saturday. Probably not many but in case, avoid the 91 Freeway.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission’s 91 Steer Clear closure will take place this Friday (Feb. 19) at 9 pm to Monday (Feb. 22) at 4 am and includes:
• Full closure of the 91 Freeway in both directions between State Route 71 and Interstate 15.
• Closure of the connector from the northbound 241 Toll Road to the eastbound 91 Freeway.
• Northbound 241 Toll Road drivers will have access to the westbound 91 Freeway.
Any advice from veteran attendees about the best kinds of food to bring?
Sean, any and all works. You will see everything, and this year, it will be a wall of food!
For those of you who are afraid of my link and don’t want to climb through my Excel file, I figured I would simply post the 135 wines we will be pouring. Please, please, these are the wineries that will create the fuel for this year’s event so please support them. For their generosity, I am really thankful.
YEAR WINERY DESIGNATION TYPE AVA
2013 AGNITIO Walala Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2013 AGNITIO Sun Chase Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2013 AGNITIO Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
2012 ATTUNE Pinot Noir Sonoma County
2013 ATTUNE Chardonnay Sonoma County
2014 ATTUNE Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma County
2014 AUGUST WEST Graham Family Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2014 AUGUST WEST Rosella’s Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 AUGUST WEST Peterson Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 AUGUST WEST Sierra Mar Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 AUGUST WEST Rosella’s Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2013 BETWIXT Helluva Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 BETWIXT Boer Grenache Chalone
2014 BETWIXT Lester Family Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2014 BETWIXT Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2013 BIG BASIN Coastview Chardonnay Monterey County
2013 BIG BASIN Lester Family Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2013 BIG BASIN Alfaro Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2013 BIG BASIN Gabilan Mountain GSM Blend Monterey County
2013 BIG BASIN Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains
2012 CABOT Kimberly’s Syrah Humboldt County
2012 CABOT Marier Zinfandel Humboldt County
2013 CABOT Marier “whole cluster” Syrah Humboldt County
2013 CABOT Zinfandel Humboldt County
2013 CABOT Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 CABOT Nash Mill Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 CAMPESINO CELLARS Baybos GSM Sonoma Valley
2014 CAMPESINO CELLARS La Prenda “Alina” Marsanne/Rousanne Sonoma Valley
2014 CARLISLE Montafi Ranch Zinfandel Russian River Valley
2013 COPAIN Hawks Butte Syrah Yorkville Highlands
2013 COPAIN Kiser En Haut Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2014 COPAIN Dupratt Chardonnay Mendocino County
2013 DUNSTAN Durell Chardonnay Sonoma County
2013 DUNSTAN Durell Pinot Noir Sonoma County
2011 EMH VINEYARDS Black Cat Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2013 FOGLINE Sun Chase Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2013 FOGLINE Hillside Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2013 FOGLINE Floodgate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2013 FOGLINE Fogline Neighbors Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2013 FOGLINE Grist Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley
2014 FOGLINE Zephyr’s Block Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2013 FOURSIGHT Charles–Clone 05 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 FOURSIGHT Charles–Zero Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 FOURSIGHT Charles Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 FOURSIGHT Charles Semillon Anderson Valley
2014 HALCON VINEYARDS Wentzel Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2014 HALCON VINEYARDS Oppenlander Pinot Noir Mendocino County
2014 HALCON VINEYARDS Theopolis Petite Sirah Yorkville Highlands
2014 HALCON VINEYARDS Alturas Syrah Yorkville Highlands
2014 I. BRAND and FAMILY WINES Brosseau Grenache Chalone
2015 I. BRAND and FAMILY WINES Le P’Tit Paysan Rose (GSM) Central Coast
2015 I. BRAND and FAMILY WINES Kristy Albarino Monterey County
2013 J. WILKES WINES Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley
2013 J. WILKES WINES Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
2014 J. WILKES WINES Pinot Blanc Santa Maria Valley
2013 JEMROSE Cardiac Hill Syrah Bennett Valley
2013 JEMROSE Foggy Knoll Grenache Bennett Valley
2014 JEMROSE Egret Pond Viognier Bennett Valley
2012 KENDRIC Reserve Pinot Noir Marin County
2014 KENDRIC Viognier Marin County
2014 KUTCH Bohan Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 KUTCH McDougall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 KUTCH Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 KUTCH Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2015 KUTCH Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2011 LADD CELLARS Cuvee Abigail Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2012 LADD CELLARS Moore Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2012 LADD CELLARS Nash Mill Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 LADD CELLARS Pratt Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2013 LADD CELLARS Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2013 LIQUID FARM Golden Slope Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
2013 LIQUID FARM Four Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
2014 LIQUID FARM White Hill Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
2014 LIQUID FARM La Hermana Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley
2014 LIQUID FARM Bien Bien Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley
2015 LIQUID FARM Rose
2009 LORING WINE COMPANY Rosé - Late Disgorge Sparkling California
2012 LORING WINE COMPANY Blanc de Blancs Sparkling California
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Sierra Mar Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Rosella’s Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Durell Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Graham Family Pinot Noir Russian River
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Durell Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Rosella’s Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Garys’ Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Russell Family Pinot Noir Paso Robles
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Aubaine Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo County
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Clos Pepe Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Kessler-Haak Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2014 LORING WINE COMPANY Rancho La Vina Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2013 LUCIA Garys’ Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands
2013 LUCIA Garys’ Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2013 LUCIA Susan’s Hill Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands
2012 MATTHIASSION Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2013 MATTHIASSION White Wine 5 Bdx varietals Napa Valley
2014 RASI WINE COMPANY Three Barrels Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
2013 RHYS Family Farm Pinot Noir San Mateo County
2013 RHYS Horseshoe Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains
2013 RHYS Bearwallow Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
2013 RIVERAIN Cardiac Hill Syrah Bennett Valley
2013 RIVERAIN Tench Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
2014 RIVERS-MARIE Occidental Ridge Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 RIVERS-MARIE Silver Eagle Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 RIVERS-MARIE Thieriot Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2014 RIVERS-MARIE Joy Road Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2014 SANDLER Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 SANDLER Peterson Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2014 SANDLER Boer Pinot Noir Chalone
2014 SANDLER Bien Nacido Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley
2014 SANDLER Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2014 SANDLER Heintz Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley
2013 SOJOURN CELLARS Beckstoffer Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
2013 SOJOURN CELLARS Home Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
2014 SOJOURN CELLARS Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2014 SOJOURN CELLARS Sangiacomo Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 SOJOURN CELLARS Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2014 SOJOURN CELLARS Rodgers Creek Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2010 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Petite Sirah Napa Valley
2012 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2012 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Merlot Napa Valley
2013 TABLAS CREEK Esprit de Tablas Blanc Rhone Blend Paso Robles
2013 TABLAS CREEK Syrah Paso Robles
2013 TABLAS CREEK Esprit de Tablas Rouge Rhone Blend Paso Robles
2014 TABLAS CREEK Clairette Blanche Paso Robles
2010 TERCERO The Climb Syrah/Petite Sirah Santa Barbara County
2011 TERCERO Larner Grenache Ballard Canyon
2011 TERCERO Camp 4 Grenache Santa Ynez Valley
2011 TERCERO Verbiage Rouge Rhone Blend Santa Barbara County
2014 TERCERO Vogelzang Mourvedre Rose Happy Canyon
2014 TERCERO The Outlier Gewurztraminer Santa Barbara County
2014 TERCERO C5 Albarino Santa Ynez Valley
2015 TERCERO Aberration–Camp 4 Cinsault/Grenache/Mourvedre Los Olivos District
2009 TURCHI Malbec Santa Barbara Highlands
2010 TURCHI Hallauer Sangiovese Santa Ynez Valley
Have a great time everyone. Sorry we couldn’t make it. I will have to suffer through the Matter of Taste shindig in New York. Maybe next year. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Like drink red wine under 14.5% abv?
I kid. I kid. You and I share an affinity for Rubenesque wines.
There will be plenty of grilled meats including tri tip, tenderloin and sausages. Sides, appetizers and dessert items are all good.
Bring some meat if you want to join the grill masters!
This is what I’m bringing for my meat. A 20lb smoked brisket that I will be smoking overnight on Friday after dinner 
And it begins… ![[thankyou.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/d/df165fe9c1593d19166ae7e1ffe5e272089cc07b.gif "thankyou"){kind=small}
yo bryan’s brisket is bomb. you guys will enjoy
Looks like a Costco prime brisket. I did two for our holiday party and didn’t even smoke them. Just went lazy and seared on the grill then did low in the over. They still turned out very well. A true smoke would be great.
Btw, I agree with Nancy’s take on the food. There is always a lot of meat. There isn’t a dearth of anything, but there is less in the arena of appetizers and sides.
Rubenesque. Good term. I use “generous.”
I drink wine under 14.5% ABV. But in New York, we call it beer.
Thanks Charlie!
Well, thank god today is Thursday and not Friday or Saturday. The picture below tells the story, shot a few mins ago from my front door. Great little rain…for a Thursday!
We shall see about the brisket. I have tasted the fabled Hack brisket and it stands on a very high pedestal. Certainly happy that (I hope!) the above-pictured weather will be moving off.
See everyone in a bit. Going to pick out my sweater…
Mike
We will just have to have a brisket smack down, but far be it for me to mention that I don’t see a three day rub cure in the photo AND I would never smoke it on Friday to serve on Saturday because that does not give the flavors time to fully integrate after smoking it. The one I made for the Lettie Teague Tailgate, which had a five day cure with a home made rub, was outstanding - half way between a no nitrate corned beef and an unrubbed smoked brisket.
No brisket smack down for me 
…I have done the 3 day rub cure along with many other methods. I follow more of a franklin’s approach (minus the Worcestershire sauce) to smoked brisket and let the meat speak for itself. Salt and pepper is all that is needed IMHO.
Do we have an approximate cost for the after party so we can bring the appropriate cash?
$100 should do. 