BWE SF dinner - Sat 13 Nov 2021

[tim]

I'm headed to the East Coast to raid my cellar. Me and my guest will likely bring two bordeaux and a cali cab. If there will be a theme, we should decide quickly. I do have at least one GPL in my stash.

[Michael-P]

Old? Young? Sauternes?

[SF Ed]

I'm planning on bringing some old stuff. I've got a few 1964s waiting to be opened.

SF Ed

[Michael-P]

SF Ed: OK, I’ll bring a 64. Not sure what else yet but I plan on bringing only Bordeaux.

[Cabfan]

I'll bring a couple of older Bordeaux also and will throw in another older bottle, maybe a cab. If nobody is bringing a dessert wine I'll also bring an older Sauterne also.

[JoelD]

Sadly it's looking like I won't be able to swing the logistics of this dinner with other commitments during each week on the east coast. I wish I could. Sorry for the late cancel, I was really hoping I could pull it off.

Hope you all have fun and enjoy the 64's. I'll have to be out in the bay area and Napa sometime in January or February. Hopefully I can see some of you then.

[William P]

If Joel can't make it, that opens a spot for Victoria.

[tim]

So looks like we are bringing a couple of Gruaud Larose and also a risky 64 (it's leaking so I need to open it). Will keep you posted.

[AKR]

in the batters circle

2001 Grand Puy Lacoste, en magnum. I've had this since release, acquired from Zachys.

1990 Valoux, a Pessac Leognan I know nothing about, but it comes with a tangential BWE story. Back during Obama 1, I had tried to meet up with timmc in Paris, but our schedules could never align. However he suggested I check out Maison de Millesimes, a BDX specialist in the 6e. The shop was like Shangri-La! I asked the owner Tom to suggest a bottle that I would be unable to find in the US, and he said this AFWE, almost anti Parker red Graves might fit the bill. (He did warn that it was old school) Anyways, I hand carried it back, squirreled it away, and now get to inflict it on timmc and others in our elite cadre.

[SF Ed]

I've been in communication with cabfan and he knows that Victoria can now come since JoelD dropped out.

Lisa has confirmed with Piperade that we will be 14 people.

I look forward to seeing folks this Saturday!

SF Ed

[Michael-P]

Earlier this year we went to a nice restaurant in Napa that allows BYO with a guest visiting from India. I brought a mag that I had opened at home, decanted for an hour, put back in the bottle, jammed the cork in half way, before we brought it to the restaurant. When the service staff saw it was previously opened, they said we could not drink that wine, regardless of whether they collected a corkage fee (2x for mag). We left with our wine and went to a better restaurant that didn't blink an eye about the previously opened bottle.

SF Ed: Do we know what Piperade might do in this regard? I was thinking my wines could use some air before we drink them.

Michael-P

[SF Ed]

Piperade will not care if we open wines in advance.

SF Ed

[AKR]

Earlier this year we went to a nice restaurant in Napa that allows BYO with a guest visiting from India. I brought a mag that I had opened at home, decanted for an hour, put back in the bottle, jammed the cork in half way, before we brought it to the restaurant. When the service staff saw it was previously opened, they said we could not drink that wine, regardless of whether they collected a corkage fee (2x for mag). We left with our wine and went to a better restaurant that didn't blink an eye about the previously opened bottle.

SF Ed: Do we know what Piperade might do in this regard? I was thinking my wines could use some air before we drink them.

Michael-P

Weirdly enough, WilliamP and I once had this happen to us. Only time in my life, and I can't understand the reasoning, especially for a place with a full liquor license - if the concern might be that someone smuggles in vodka into a venue that is only permitted for beer & wine.

My suggestion would be to use an Ah So, and then after decanting fully reinsert cork, possibly removing capsule so that nothing looks odd, and its just a capsuleless bottle

[Cabfan]

I am bringing:

1959 Suduiraut (sticky)
1955 Leoville Las Cases
1966 Haut Brion
And to start things off with a bubbly, a magnum of 1996 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque

[Nicklasss]

Ok, I'm looking if i can find a Saturday flight for SF... As much as i would like to go to handle with you in SF, tomorrow I'm going with MC to see one of our favorite songwriter... will be a blast.

Wish you a great time in SF.

[Cabfan]

I grew up listening to Gordon Lightfoot, maybe the greatest Canadian songwriter ever? Or at least one of the greats.

[Michael-P]

Looking forward to a fun dinner. CabFan's list makes me realize that my two wines (blind of course), plus a back-up, will probably all "need" to be opened.

Michael-P

[William P]

I'll bring a 78 Leoville Las Cases and 1996 Pontet Canet.

Bill

[tim]

I'm thinking of adding either bubbles or a sticky. Any preference?

Edited to add: decided to go with bubbles since it's a bottle most people probably haven't tasted before.

[Michael-P]

Opened my 3 aged red Bordeaux at 1p. Blind labeled: Larry, Moe and Curley. Should be interesting. On our way to SF now. Will be great to see everyone again.

[mamenama]

Thank you all so much for planning and hosting - it was an amazing night and loved meeting all of you and talking about the amazing wines! Arv - thanks for inviting me. I look forward to more adventures in wine!

[JimHow]

Welcome mamenana, looking forward to the reports!