Brisbane Offline December 2010

[Luke W]

Hi guys

Thought we should start a new topic. How many of us are interested in an offline having the new Langtons classification as a theme on the 18th December (at Brents if it is available?).

I reckon we should go for broke and see if we can bring an Exceptional wine each. I'll volunteer to bring a 2004 Wendouree Shiraz.

Could be quite a Xmas party!

cheers

Luke

[gpk]

Sounds like a great idea, I am in. Should be me +1 cheers Gerry

[rens]

Yes Kellee and I will be in.
I got dibs on a 2003 Run Rig and a 2005 Cullens DM
I have a couple from outstanding and excellent too.

[ticklenow1]

I am interested in my first offline (oh and a +1!). The 18th works for me. I could bring on 02 Basket Press. I have some later vintages of Basket Press as well. Apart from a couple of young Granges, that is all I have of the Exceptional Classification. I have several of the next rung though, perhaps a '99 Vat 1 Semillon etc.?

[gpk]

opp's forgot to suggest wine...I have a some 96 grange which I was fortunate to get in UK at a very good price, and it would be great to share this with the Brissy offline group. so count me in for a 96 grange. Also can bring along a 2002 Grosset polish hill riesling or another white from the classification depending what others want to to bring. We have lots of choices

Luke are you going to book the venue?..we might want to get in quick as the numbers look like they are coming together.

cheers Gerry

[tim1210]

count me in. the last one sounded like a wonderful night. I'm suffering from having a rather young cellar, but could dig something 'exceptional' out happily. probably me +1-3.

[Luke W]

Rens

Are u or Michael/Craig or Nick able to book Brents - I'm on camp with a bunch of kids this week out in the bush and haven't a hope of booking anything?

Luke

[Rednick]

I'm happy to give Brent's a bell, I can bring an 04 Clonakilla or if we need a white an 05 Art Series Chard - I expect it will just be me this time.

I'll report back on Brent's - 7pm again?

[rens]

Thanks Nick. 7pm sounds good to me.

[Rednick]

Brent's is booked for 7:30pm (the earliest they could manage) on the 18th December - I've told them around a dozen but will confirm a week or so out.

A great start to Christmas.

Cheers - Nick

[gpk]

Great news Nick, cannot think of a better kick off for Xmas.....really looking forward to it.
cheers

Gerry

[Michael McNally]

I am a bit like Tim, but I don't have any of these wines. I can get a 2004,2005,2006, or 2007 Moss Wood Cab Sav. Tony might have a BP but probably a young one. Could obviously do one or two of the whites current or recent vintage. If you are all bringing reds maybe some white is a good option? Let me know what you think honestly.

I think +1 at this stage for me thanks Nick.

Cheers

Michael

Roll on Xmas!

[Rednick]

Out of the Moss Woods I would have thought the 06 & 07 would be the most approachable, given we are looking at blockbuster reds how about we ditch the whites and get Brents to give us a four course menu suitable for these beasts.

Perhaps start with a light meat, then perhaps lamb, then steak and finish with cheeses for the Grange? Just a suggestion - thoughts anyone?

Nick

[Michael McNally]

Hi Nick

Like the idea, but some attendees (in particular some of the +1s) might want a white - sorry to stereotype the girls but this is observation, not prejudice.

Thanks for the tip on the Moss Wood. I thought 07 was listed as being a great vintage for MR.

What do others think of the "reds only" plan?

Cheers

Michael

[gpk]

The red theme is great for me. But it is xmas after all, so no reason why we can't treat ourselves and kick in with at least one white, besides the mandatory frog bubbles. Sticking with the classification it would be great to have a look at Leeuwin and Giaconda together. Nick mentioned he had a 05 Leeuwin chardonnay, I can bring along a 05 Giaconda if everyone is keen.

Cheers

Gerry

[ticklenow1]

I am easy either way (Reds only or reds and whites). I do like the idea of looking at the Leeuwin and the Giaconda though. Like I said earlier, I can bring say an 02 or 05 Basket Press (or both) or a Vat 1 as a white. Or if anyone is interested (I know it is not on the Langtons Chart), I could bring a Rockford Black Shiraz for something different, and I know the ladies love this wine. I am like many others, not too many from the top rung but many from the lower catagories. Being my first offline I will bring whatever suits the group (as long as I have it of course).

[chillwrx]

I will do the Kays Block 6 theme and some frog bubbles.

I will also bring an old Para................ blended from 1933 to 1973.

[tim1210]

I love the idea of comparing the leeuwin v giaconda and would be happy to look at other whites as well (especially given the likely heat of the evening at that time of year), but am a red drinker at heart so won't mind if we spend the entire night on magnificent red wines.

Unfortunately (being on a student budget for the time being) all I have in the cellar from exceptional is
- Cullen DM 03/05
- Clonakilla SV 09
but I'd be more than happy to go out and buy a current release, or bring a couple of 'outstanding's (dead arm, 389, st henri). The other alternative is that I could bring some french bubbles?
let me know what you think. I'd like to contribute something meaningful!

Tim

[tim1210]

Just thought it might be good to have an older St Henri/389 to taste the 96 Grange against in order to get some perspective... I can get my hands on St Henri 98/99 or a 1995/97/2000 Bin 389. Thoughts?

[rens]

Hi Tim
It may be nice to compare the 03 DM against my 05 DM.
Rens

[Rednick]

No worries, I'll bring the 05 Leeuwin chardy - I've never tried the Giaconda so be great to see them side by side.

For the Moss Wood I've tried the 06 and it is an excellent wine for the vintage, but don't think it will have the legs of better years. For the 07 I'm only going on others tasting notes (inlcuding JO) and they seem to suggest a more fruit forward and approachable wine than normal (but still very good obviously).

Can't think of a better way to start the hols!

[tim1210]

Easy. I'll bring 03 DM and a 99 St Henri or something

[daz]

It's great to see some Brisbanites getting some offlines happening! Wish I could be there for this one.

Cheers

daz

[Luke W]

Nick

The restaurant rang me on the way to Emerald on Monday morning and I tentatively booked for 18 - after reading your reply I called them and they did have 2 bookings. I've left it for 18 max at this stage but mentioned that it could be less (although I think with a 96 grange on offer the numbers will come). Maybe in order to try the wines properly we need to cap the numbers?

I'm not sure whether all the potential participants will know which the exceptional wines are so I'll list them (although I really don't know whether we should be too hard and fast - maybe Gerry should set the rules if he's bringing the Grange as his investment is the largest)?

Penfolds Grange, Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz, Chris Ringland Shiraz, Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz, Clonakilla Shiraz Viogner, Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Giaconda Chardonnay, Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Henshke Hill of Grace, Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Mary Quintet, Penfolds 707, Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, Torbreck Run Rig, Wendouree Shiraz

I think it would be a great idea if whites were included as well - wouldn't it be something if we could get one of each of all the wines!

What do we do with partners in terms of wine? Do we bring another exceptional or do we do something else? I would suggest that those who are bringing very expensive exceptionals (Grange/Hill of Grace/Chris Ringland) could do what they like!

Let us know what you think team

Salivatingly yours

Luke

[rens]

I've included Kellee as bringing an exceptional. If we decide not to do an exceptional for the partner I'm still happy to bring two. At this stage I'm down for the 2003 Run Rig and the 2005 Cullen DM. However if we need some flexibility to get all the 'exceptionals' I can exchange either of my two for a 2001 bin 707 or a 1987 Grange Hermitage.

[Michael McNally]

Speaking personally, I think there should be a cap on numbers. I would have thought 10 or maybe 12 tops? 1/18th of a bottle isn't much of a taste.

I think each participant should be accompanied by one exceptional wine. Though there probably shouldn't be hard and fast rules. Each way bet.

I am not sure we should be basing anything on who has invested how much in what bottle - this way lies madness - and I am not saying this as I am bringing one of the "lesser lights" from the category.

My thoughts

Michael

[Luke W]

Dear Brisbane team

If we're capping this shindig we need to do it pretty soon - by my reckoning there are already 14-16 who have expressed an interest in coming:

Luke (Wendouree 04)
Gerry + 1 (Grange 96, Giaconda Chardonay 05 or a Grosset PH Riesling)
Rens and Kellee (03 Runrig, 05 Cullen DM)
Ticklenow1 + 1 (02 Rockford BP + St Henri 99 - not exceptional but does it matter?)
Tim + 1- 3 (Clonakilla SV 09, Cullen DM 03 - please advise about other attendees and their wines - my advice would be if you haven't invited them, don't, so we could limit the group to 14 and try more of each wine)
Nick (05 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay or a Moss Wood Cab Sav 06/07)
Michael + 1 (Moss Wood Cab Sav yr?/Rockford BP yr?)
Craig + 1 (Kays Block, old Para and frog bubbles, - again not exceptional but does it matter?)

cheers

Luke

[ticklenow1]

Luke,

I will deffo bring an 02 BP and as my second wine I could bring an 05, 06 or 07 BP as well. The other wine I thought of was not a 99 St Henri but a 99 Tyrells Vat 1 Semilon. Instead of the younger BP or the Vat 1, I suggested I could bring a Rockford Black Shiraz. I am at the groups mercy. Just let me know.

I am really looking forward to meeting you all at my first offline. It will be a great night!!

Ian

[chillwrx]

The St Henri 1999 is definitely an exceptional wine!

[Rednick]

Yup I agree - the absolute max we can do is 14 an ensure everyone gets a taste - can I suggest we limit this to +1

That would then give us 14 - Personally I'm pretty easy with allowing a few outstandings to slip in to give us a little more variety, they are certainly a few wines in the outstanding class that will certainly move up in the next classification

Great to see these happening regularly now - as far as the menu goes, what are peoples thoughts on doing the tasting menu - we'll have too many for a la carte, we can firm this up a week or two out as it may well change between now and then.

In the words of Big Kev - I'm excited!

Dear Brisbane team

If we're capping this shindig we need to do it pretty soon - by my reckoning there are already 14-16 who have expressed an interest in coming:

Luke (Wendouree 04)
Gerry + 1 (Grange 96, Giaconda Chardonay 05 or a Grosset PH Riesling)
Rens and Kellee (03 Runrig, 05 Cullen DM)
Ticklenow1 + 1 (02 Rockford BP + St Henri 99 - not exceptional but does it matter?)
Tim + 1- 3 (Clonakilla SV 09, Cullen DM 03 - please advise about other attendees and their wines - my advice would be if you haven't invited them, don't, so we could limit the group to 14 and try more of each wine)
Nick (05 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay or a Moss Wood Cab Sav 06/07)
Michael + 1 (Moss Wood Cab Sav yr?/Rockford BP yr?)
Craig + 1 (Kays Block, old Para and frog bubbles, - again not exceptional but does it matter?)

cheers

Luke