Brisbane Offline - Wednesday 15 April

[Michael McNally]

Dear SEQ Forumites

Two of our regular out of towners, gpk and Luke, are in town on 14 April. I think we have been tardy in getting our first offline of the year organised.

Happy to be guided by the group on venue and theme.

Perhaps a "Great Vintage" theme (90, 91, 96, 98?) Or "Neither Shiraz nor Cabernet"?

Revisit an old haunt: Deer Duck, used to be Brents, 2Small Rooms, Sprout (eating MF)? Try somewhere new: BYO decent Italian Graceville, Jamie's new restaurant (over my dead body), that Asian place Cesar was talking about near no one?

I don't know. I just post the first post

This 2007 Elizabeth is good gear. Many of you will not know that I had the 96 as one of my wines at my BYO wedding in 99.

Cheers

Michael

[rens]

I thought I'd be back from Holidays, but I just checked and I'll still be up on the Sunny Coast and not returning till 15th.
Unless the venue was up the coast, or Gerry's place (not suggesting it should be and Luke is probably in Brisbane for a reason) I may need to miss this one.

[Luke W]

Hi guys
Currently in bed with a badly sprained ankle - complete tear in one ligament. My trip to Sydney via Brisbane will be dependent on what the specialist says to me on Wednesday. If I get the OK I'd be available on either the Tuesday or Wednesday in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast.
Like the idea of wines from great vintages - but also happy to bring one of the wonderful champagnes purchased the other day.

[ticklenow1]

Sounds good to me. 14th/15th of April I'm off so I'm in. I'll go with the flow on theme and venue, though either of Michael's theme suggestions are excellent ideas.

Cheers
Ian

[Cesar]

Sounds great! I'm in.

My mate who owned the restaurant in Sunnybank has sold it and bought a new place in the Valley, remember where Siana used to be a cross the road from the FV Police station? We would get a private room Vinum Xls decanters etc so if anyone else is keen I can make a call. The food is killer too.

As far as the theme I'm 1+ for great vintages!

[gpk]

Nicole and myself have not made an offline for a long time and are definitely in on either date. Theme sounds great.

Cheers Gerry

[rens]

Hope the ankle is OK Luke.
How are Michael and Cesar placed for the 15th? If we can do it that day I could also attend, but understand if you are not available..
If I'm a starter, great vintages sound good.
Do not mind where we eat.

[Cesar]

I'm sweet for the 14 or 15th, looking forward to seeing everyone.

[Michael McNally]

Hope the ankle is OK Luke.
How are Michael and Cesar placed for the 15th? If we can do it that day I could also attend, but understand if you are not available..
If I'm a starter, great vintages sound good.
Do not mind where we eat.

The Roar play on the 15th in the first of the two games against Melbourne Victory. I assumed you would be at that.

I guess I could make the ultimate sacrifice.........

Particularly if Luke can make it with his champers!!

Cheers

Michael

[Luke W]

Does the 15th suit Gerry tho'?
Let u know what I'm able to do on Wednesday but am more than happy to bring the 04 Taittinger or the 00 Ed Carr..

[Michael McNally]

Hi Luke

Gerry was originally available for that date. I asked about the Tuesday as you had offered Luke, and I noticed the rescheduled Roar game was on the 15th (I had left a meeting early in Melbourne to fly home for that match and the bloody thing was postponed due to a cyclone, I mean really )

Happy with whatever you choose to bring Luke. Just hope the ankle is up to it.

Cheers

Michael

[rens]

Michael, Brisbane have had so many matches moved, postponed, dates changed and now abandoned that I forgot about the Victory game. I'll sacrifice the game for a few wines, good company and some nice food.
Although we have not decided, put me down for a Rioja and a half bottle of noble one (I'm sure I can fit those into most themes).

[gpk]

I'm keen on the great vintage theme. Would bring along a 91 Wynns John Riddoch and a 1996 Mount Elizabeth Lovedale Semilon or another red from 96 if the group prefers. Since we have missed a lot of recent offlines will bring along an extra bottle of frog's bubbles to pay homage. cheers Gerry

[Willard]

Hi Michael and All,

I'd love to come along if there is room for a newcomer.

I'd be happy to be led on venue (have had great meals at places mentioned over at Auchenflower/Toowong, and are local to me) and the theme. Could do either the 14th or 15th.

Will

[rens]

Hi Michael and All,

I'd love to come along if there is room for a newcomer.

I'd be happy to be led on venue (have had great meals at places mentioned over at Auchenflower/Toowong, and are local to me) and the theme. Could do either the 14th or 15th.

Will

Welcome Will. Happy for you to join us.

[ticklenow1]

Are we locked in for the 15th then? What's the consensus on where to go? I not bothered by where we eat as long as it's close to some hotels/accommodation as I'll have to book something.

As for what to bring, I could bring a 2002 Bin 389 and a 2004 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz or a 2004 Cirillo 1850's Grenache for something different.

Cheers
Ian

[Michael McNally]

Are we locked in for the 15th then? What's the consensus on where to go? I not bothered by where we eat as long as it's close to some hotels/accommodation as I'll have to book something.

As for what to bring, I could bring a 2002 Bin 389 and a 2004 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz or a 2004 Cirillo 1850's Grenache for something different.

Cheers
Ian

Thanks Ian

Locked in Eddie. I have changed the title. Haven't booked anywhere for dinner yet. further discussion required.

I have a 98 Bin 389 so we could contrast and compare. I was looking at the Langtons vintage chart for this offline and was amazed to see how well 2002 rated across the country!

That 2004 Kalleske is excellent. I have not had the 2004 Cirillo, but have a 2008 if comparisons are required (not sure you could call 08 a Great Vintage in SA though)

Cheers

Michael

[rens]

I can do a 2004 389. If we want to compare 389's (I have a dozen of them). But I can still do Rioja for something different. Let me know Michael.
As far as venue goes I'm happy with Brents, sprout etc. Although the Italian at Granville may be a nice change and would go well with the mostly red line up.
Rens

[gpk]

I can bring along an 96 389 as another red to build the line up a bit. cheers Gerry

[rens]

Just had a look at the Granville Italian. It is pretty well rated on most review sites and the stemware looked OK looking at one of the Photos.

[ticklenow1]

Looks like it is turning into a Bin 389 theme, which should be interesting! I'll bring the '02 and either the Kalleske or the Cirillo. Italian sounds great.

Cheers
Ian

[rens]

Looks like it is turning into a Bin 389 theme, which should be interesting! I'll bring the '02 and either the Kalleske or the Cirillo. Italian sounds great.

Cheers
Ian

I know it is getting a bit close to infanticide, but if that is the case, I can also bring the 2006 to round off a decade of even vintages.

[Rednick]

Hi Guys,

Glad I still lurk occasionally - been too long, 15th is good for me, happy to fit in with any theme

Era were doing BYO Monday to Thursday so may be worth checking out - http://erabistro.com.au/menus/ or perhaps the new Brent's?

Cheers - Nick

[Luke W]

I'm right to go. Let me know what u want me to bring. Ian do u want me to bring down the Astralis (not to share unless Ian is feeling ultra generous)!
I have lots of old Penfolds if u don't particularly care for Champagne. An 18 year old RWT that's just come of age but older 389s. Happy to eat anywhere as long as it's fairly central.
Cheers

Luke

[gpk]

Looks like the numbers are coming together. Its been a long time since Nicole and myself made an offline and can't wait to catch up. Any decision on venue yet?

cheers Gerry

[Michael McNally]

Sorry Gerry

Been busy. Will sort a venue and do a roll call/winelist this week.

Anyone out there who hasn't been to one of these before feel free to put your hand up. If you haven't got anything older from a Great Vintage, bring something else! Plenty of Great Vintages recently (2010 and 2012). Not a judgemental lot the Brisbane crew.

Cheers

Michael

[Michael McNally]

My mate who owned the restaurant in Sunnybank has sold it and bought a new place in the Valley, remember where Siana used to be a cross the road from the FV Police station? We would get a private room Vinum Xls decanters etc so if anyone else is keen I can make a call. The food is killer too.

Hi Cesar

Looking at venues

I do not want to be dismissive, but is yum cha the sort of food to match the wines people suggest they are bringing? (genuine question - they might be, I don't know). I would have thought Euro food (as opposed to Eurotrash or Eurovision) would be more appropriate.

Happy to hear others' thoughts.

Cheers

Michael

[Michael McNally]

Just had a look at the Granville Italian. It is pretty well rated on most review sites and the stemware looked OK looking at one of the Photos.

Do you mean Graceville? That's where I was talking about - Il Viale.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Michael

[rens]

Just had a look at the Granville Italian. It is pretty well rated on most review sites and the stemware looked OK looking at one of the Photos.

Do you mean Graceville? That's where I was talking about - Il Viale.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael
That's the one (Bloody Autocorrect). All the reviews are good. Not too far form civilisation.
I'm a bit like you Michael, not sure if yum cha would match the wines people are considering. My experience suggests Asian foods are best with unoaked whites or a rosé. Aussie or if I go Spanish with oodles of oak and tannins will kill the food and vice versa.
Happy to do Brents if people prefer the more Frenchie side of that particular border.

[Cesar]

I am easy with the venue, i suggested that place because of the wines we would be drinking as they have riedels for different varietals etc... We also wouldn't be eating yum cha, if we get a wine list he would put a menu together to match what we are bringing. Also a private room would be a benefit. But really, italian, french it doesn't matter. Whatever people are keen on doing I am happy