This is a Saxum free for all. You can bring whatever you want. I suggest that you focus on James Berry Vineyard for mostly Grenache flights, Broken Stones for mostly Syrah flights and Saxum White for starters and apps. BUT if you want to bring one of the other cuvees, go ahead and do that. I am disposed to organize based upon grapes and do verticals by grapes, but horizontals by year also works depending on what people bring. I plan to bring some oldies but goodies - nothing after 2010 - which leaves plenty of room for the rest of you to bring later vintages if you want. If I still have the 2008 JBV Mag (CT says that I do but I think we drank it), I will bring that.
List of Attendees Updated 11-5-25 noon)
NOTE: We have a full vertical of Saxum Jaes Berry Vineyard red from 2005 through 2017, except for the 2006. I am searching for the 2006 in my cellar because CT says that I have two, but I am not optimistic.
Stan Sandberg - 2010 JBV, 2011 JBV, 2010 Broken Stones
Aaron R. - 2015 G2.
Juan Soto (No, not that guy) - 2005 and 2014 Saxum James Berry Vineyard
Rachel Cox: 2015 Broken Stones
Sacha Garzarella - 2016 Broken Stones
Jay Hack - 2009/2016/2017 JBV to tighten up the vertical
Rebecca Schenk - 2008 JBV and Saxum white
Mike Brooks - 2012 and 2015 JBV
I Sanchez - 2012 Broken Stones and/or 2013 JBV
Jesse W - 17 James Berry Rocket Block. Sparkler to go with apps.
T Melloni - 2007 Saxum JBV
Details:
When: Friday, November 7, 2025. We will assemble starting at 6 pm just for fun and maybe start apps at 6:30, but if you can’t make it until 7 pm, that’s OK. Date is FIRM because it works for the restaurant and works for me.
Where: Bobby Van’s (131 E 54th St, New York City). Not the one at 230 Park Avenue! You won’t be the first who went to the wrong place). We will have one of the back rooms, depending on the number of people. They can handle up to about 20 in the larger room.
Glassware: If you absolutely, positively need to drink from Zaltos, you can bring stems, but their glasses are just fine.
Cost: $150 to $170 all in, including tax and gratuity.
Menu:
The menu is subject to minor begging and pleading in advance by the attendees, but must be firm by the previous day because we are trying to be fair to the restaurant and not dump a bunch of last minute changes on them. Also, we have done this menu before with similar Cali wines and it works well.
Appetizers:
Thick cut bacon
Assorted roast veggies
Fried calamari (marinara or sweet chili or both if there are a lot of people)
Watermelon Cube (it’s weird but good)
Intermezzo:
A lamb lollipop
Main meal:
Porterhouse (we usually get Porterhouse for four or six for 8-10 people and scale up from there)
Mashed potatoes (We will vote between mashed and fries. I prefer fries but I always lose)
Veggie sides - subject to what’s good, creamed spinach, asparagus, Brussel sprouts
We will get some the Mediterranean salads and other stuff for the vegetarians if we have any (Julie?)
Dessert
We will ask people whether they have room for dessert, If so, we will probably go with chocolate cake and creme brulee.
Exceptions
BUT I do not have any Saxum, can I come to try them? My standard answer:
Start with a no because it doesn’t work. There will be too many people asking for exceptions and that makes it a pain in the ass for the organizer - that’s me. Julie Chen has a standard exception IF she brings a really good Tete de Cuvee champagne as a starter, which she has done once or twice with a Salon and a Krug.
In my old age, I am becoming a softie, SO, if you commit to bring a vintage Salon or a Krug Clos du Mesnil or a Selosse, you can avoid the Saxum requirement because I will just bring an extra Saxum. No, one of those druggie champagnes (Cristal) or a 2008 Comtes will not cut it even though they are excellent. Why? Because otherwise I will have to spend the next month negotiating exceptions.
My other standing offer, which has not yet been taken up, is that if you really want to bring a DRC, I have never had one, and I will bring an extra Saxum within theme in exchange for you bringing a DRC to open AT the beginning, because after the Saxum, it might not show well. I used to include Petrus as an exception, but I have had a few of those since the offer started, so it is off the table. It is also over-rated, IMNSHO.
If you are interested, with all the caveats about it depends work and clients and all that stuff, please post below. Please indicate whether your commitment is firm, or soft, so that I can manage the restaurant and the space. Please also list the wine(s) you will bring so I can figure out what holes I need to fill.
