Adelaide Offline with griff 2/1/10 at the Alehouse: BOOKINGS

[Wayno]

Just a side note- I had the beef with the trout and chive mash at a recent function there and it's odd as in ' doesn't quite work' odd. That said the food there is otherwise good.

Interesting - they said they've always had rave reactions to this dish, but did say they could substitute one of the other sides if we wanted (like the potato mash with gorgonzola butter). Do you think it's worth asking for the change when I confirm the final numbers tomorrow?

also, I assume it's a 7pm start?

Yes, 7pm start.

Updated list of what people are taking:

griff +1 - International white, Aussie red, Tassie sticky
n4sir (maybe +1) - late 90s white Burgundy, 91 Haselgrove Futures shiraz or a pinot noir
ck - 05 Seppelts Jaluka chardonay or 03 Portree pinot, and a 01 St Peters shiraz or 07 Clonakilla O'Riada shiraz
Paul & Jas (+2) - 2006 JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz, 05 Pierro Chardonnay
Justin - Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo (I hope it's not the stinky 2007 )
Steve
David & Pam +1
Craig D - Penfolds Bin 389 cabernet shiraz
Scanlon +1 - 83 Chateau Coutet Sauternes
Wayno (maybe +1) - 05 Rockford BP or 99 Orlando Lawsons
Josh - most probably a french white and some sort of red

Cheers,
Ian

Ian - of course tastes are personal but it did seem to be slightly odd at the time and I wasn't alone in this assessment. There was something a bit misplaced in matching up a fishy potato mash with an otherwise excellent piece of meat and not even in a playful gastro-sense. I'd ask for the gorgonzola butter mash to play it safe but only if there's no objection from others.

[PaulG]

Can I just say hats off to the Ale house - Sasha has been an excellent example of how service should be. She was thoughtful, courteous and accommodating - can't speak highly enough of how she handled Jasmine and my dietary requirements!

[ck]

Updating my wines for the night, I couldn't get any info on the Portree Pinot,so going for the Jaluka chardonay -which was developing nicely 9 months ago, and the St. Peters because I think it will go well with the beef fillet. Would love to taste the 06 Clonakilla if its still coming along. cheers chris

[griff]

Would love to taste the 06 Clonakilla if its still coming along. cheers chris

Have locked it in.

cheers

Carl

[burgster]

I just wanted to say you people have done a brilliant job at putting together what looks like a great evening with a minimum of fuss. I'm sure you will all have a great night and I look forward to hearing how it all goes.

[Wayno]

Assume no +1 now for me at this stage.

[n4sir]

I've now finalised the booking for 19 people, and the gorgonzola butter mash has been substituted in for the smoked trout & chive mash to match the poached beef main.

The new updated list of who's going & what they're taking:

griff +1 - late 90's german riesling, Clonakilla 2006 shiraz/viognier, Tassie sticky
n4sir +1 - late 90's white Burgundy, magnum of 91 Haselgrove Futures shiraz or a pinot noir
ck - 05 Seppelts Jaluka chardonnay, and a 01 St Peters shiraz
Paul & Jas (+2) - 2006 JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz, 05 Pierro Chardonnay
Justin - Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo
Steve
David & Pam +1
Craig D - Penfolds Bin 389 cabernet shiraz
Scanlon +1 - 83 Chateau Coutet Sauternes, Clover Hill sparkling, an Albarino
Wayno - 05 Rockford BP or 99 Orlando Lawsons
Josh - most probably a french white and some sort of red


Cheers,
Ian

[n4sir]

I've just had three more people ask if they can go, so we may be up to 22 if I can get the OK from the Alehouse tomorrow.

I've still got the majority of a 500ml bottle of 1959 Saltram Rare Tawny left (of which a little goes a long way), so I'll take that along too.

Cheers,
Ian

[Wayno]

That's probably not such a bad thing Ian as I'm sorry to say I will have to cancel- some unfortunate circumstances. Have a good night, and again, my apologies.

[n4sir]

That's probably not such a bad thing Ian as I'm sorry to say I will have to cancel- some unfortunate circumstances. Have a good night, and again, my apologies.

No problem Wayno. The Alehouse has given the green light for the two extras so we're now up to 21 people. Is anyone taking a pinot noir?

griff (+1) - late 90's german riesling, Clonakilla 2006 shiraz/viognier, Tassie sticky
n4sir (+2) - 1998 Prieur-Brunet 1er Clos Rossseau, 1991 Haselgrove Futures shiraz magnum, 1959 Saltram rare tawny
ck - 05 Seppelts Jaluka chardonnay, and a 01 St Peters shiraz
Paul & Jas (+2) - 2006 JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz, 05 Pierro Chardonnay
Justin - Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo
Steve - 96 Penfolds Bin 389 (maybe a riesling or semillon)
David & Pam (+1) - 2003 Lehmann Wigan riesling, 2006 Winter Creek Saint Urban, 1999 Mountadam Patriarch shiraz
Craig D - Penfolds Bin 389 cabernet shiraz
Scanlon (+1) - 1983 Chateau Coutet Sauternes, Clover Hill sparkling, an Albarino
Josh - 1993 Marc Bredif Vouvray, 1998 Leasingham Classic Clare cabernet sauvignon
Lagare Lout (+1)


Cheers,
Ian

[monghead]

Looks like another big night for the Adelaide crew...

Happy New Year and have a great one guys.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[PaulG]

I'll also bring along a mostly-full couple of bottles of fortifieds

[Steve]

So... I thought I'd replied to this thread with what I'm taking. I guess I hadn't!

Having raided both my cellar and the cellar of a certain wine shop I've got a 96 Bin 389 in the decanter and if that's no good I've an 04 Tappanappa Whalebone cabernet/shiraz as backup.

Regarding whites... I've got a few Clare rieslings dating back back about five years and I might have a few older semillons buried somewhere, but probably nothing that most people haven't seen before. Any takers?

[David]

So... I thought I'd replied to this thread with what I'm taking. I guess I hadn't!

Having raided both my cellar and the cellar of a certain wine shop I've got a 96 Bin 389 in the decanter and if that's no good I've an 04 Tappanappa Whalebone cabernet/shiraz as backup.

Regarding whites... I've got a few Clare rieslings dating back back about five years and I might have a few older semillons buried somewhere, but probably nothing that most people haven't seen before. Any takers?

I guess I'm as slack as Steve. If I am going to be slack I may as well be slack in good company.

We will be taking the Lehmann 2003 Wigan Riesling, 2006 Winter Creek Saint Urban Shiraz and the 1999 Mountadam Patriarch Shiraz.

[n4sir]

So... I thought I'd replied to this thread with what I'm taking. I guess I hadn't!

Having raided both my cellar and the cellar of a certain wine shop I've got a 96 Bin 389 in the decanter and if that's no good I've an 04 Tappanappa Whalebone cabernet/shiraz as backup.

Regarding whites... I've got a few Clare rieslings dating back back about five years and I might have a few older semillons buried somewhere, but probably nothing that most people haven't seen before. Any takers?

Hopefully the 96 Bin 389 is good - should be an interesting comparison to Craig's (whatever vintage that is).

My vote of the whites would be for the riesling - it would make for a good grouping with the other rieslings to compare to. I also suspect the semillon may (unfairly) look the odd one out - that said, really just the Bin 389 is enough to bring. By my calculations we're already going to have more than 20 table wines, plus stickies and fortifieds.

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. For those who haven't been upstairs to the private rooms at the Alehouse, the narrow staircase is located at the back of the room on the left side of the Pulteney Street entrance.

[Steve]

The 389 isn't looking good at all

I've rummaged around and found a 2004 Jeannaret riesling, and it will come with the Tappanappa.

Edit: The 389 mustn't be too bad - I just went to the decanter to find Dad had poured a glass and reckons it's alright! That one will be a bit short filled tonight

[griff]

OK. I think I shall swap the tassie sticky for a light red ( no, not pinot) as there is no way a half-bottle is going to get around so many people

Erm, at what time were we supposed to turn up again? 7pm?

cheers

Carl

[n4sir]

I think you'd better bring the sticky Carl in case Sarah's Coutet is cactus. I figure the Haselgrove will do the job of a light red... Turn up sometime before 7pm.

I'm just about out the door. See you there guys.

[JustinB]

Justin - Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo (I hope it's not the stinky 2007 )

Not a chance - I've tried the 2007. I've got the 2008, which I think is quite a bit better.

See you all in 30 minutes.

[PaulG]

Thank you Ian for a wonderful night. It was a great venue (although I think the Sauce is still my favourite in terms of food), and the wine and company were superb.

WOTN: Haselgrove Futures Shiraz and Seppelt St Peters Shiraz.

[n4sir]

The final count was 30 wines - no sign of slowing down in 2010 it seems.

Thanks everyone. The food was perfect and it was a great night, albeit with a couple of minor glitches:

The Airwick freshener that had to be removed because it made everything smell like lemon myrtle...

The black mould topped cork that dropped into the Vouvray and took five minutes to fish out with skewers...

We got charged for an extra person too - I realised afterward they charged us for 21 even though I said to them Matt had dropped out at the last second. The whole thing was a little confused because Josh paid for his directly to them and the bill showed 20 people although it really should have been for 19 taking into account what he paid - it was late and I just didn't catch on what happened, although I really should have since I had everyone marked off as being paid. I'll take it up with them on Monday and see if I can get a refund, or whether it was a case of the cancellation being too late which is why we got stung...


Cheers,
Ian

Ps. I seem to have accidentally collected an additional Ah-So corkscrew - if someone lost one on the night, it's been found.

[griff]

Thanks for a great night and so much wine. The wines were just about all showing well with only a couple of disappointments. I think my favourite wine was the first actually. The 2000 Sir James Tumbarumba sparkling. Excellent wine that.

Oh and that is my opener!

cheers

Carl

[n4sir]

Thanks for a great night and so much wine. The wines were just about all showing well with only a couple of disappointments. I think my favourite wine was the first actually. The 2000 Sir James Tumbarumba sparkling. Excellent wine that.

Oh and that is my opener!

cheers

Carl

Thought it might be - you'll get it back soon enough.

I've got some glasses for you and Rebecca to use tonight too. See you in about an hour.

Cheers,
Ian

[n4sir]

We got charged for an extra person too - I realised afterward they charged us for 21 even though I said to them Matt had dropped out at the last second. The whole thing was a little confused because Josh paid for his directly to them and the bill showed 20 people although it really should have been for 19 taking into account what he paid - it was late and I just didn't catch on what happened, although I really should have since I had everyone marked off as being paid. I'll take it up with them on Monday and see if I can get a refund, or whether it was a case of the cancellation being too late which is why we got stung...

I can confirm we were charged for 21 people because Matt dropped out without sufficient notice.

In future when we set a cut off date for venues like this I think we'll have to stick to it - absolutely no additions/dropping out unless it's a case of a reserve coming in to replace someone who has absolutely no choice.

Cheers,
Ian

[PaulG]

A shame to hear that. Ian, it's not fair that, after putting in all the effort, you are having to fork out extra for this. I'll chip in a few dollars to help cover it if necessary.

[Steve]

That's a shame... it was the only downer of the night

Otherwise, what a night it was! Thanks Ian for sorting everything out, and thanks to everyone for some good wine and good company.

(PS. The capital of Guinea is Conakry )

[n4sir]

A shame to hear that. Ian, it's not fair that, after putting in all the effort, you are having to fork out extra for this. I'll chip in a few dollars to help cover it if necessary.

Thanks for the offer Paul. Sarah had already offered to pay what I covered Matt for, although I feel it doesn't seem fair they have to pay for something he didn't attend either (especially since they're saving up to travel again soon).

Duane & Bec left a $10 tip on the night that went towards covering it - I figure if there are no objections I'll split the rest between everyone at the next offline I do (ie. I won't pay the first $45 of whatever it costs with that to be split by everyone else, or something along that line).

Cheers,
Ian

[n4sir]

(PS. The capital of Guinea is Conakry )

But what's the capital of Ghana? (or was that Guyana)

[Steve]

(PS. The capital of Guinea is Conakry )

But what's the capital of Ghana? (or was that Guyana)

Haha, there was mention of Guinea, Guyana, Ghana, Georgetown, and it's time to get out of here!

Conarkry, Georgetown, Accra, is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang (and where I'll be soon!).

What a night!