Pinot Offline - Sydney

[pc79]

Sydney Pinot Noir Night - Thursday 16th April - Venue Vamps Bistro 6:30-7pm http://www.vampsbistro.com

Attendees:

Polymer - 2012 Bannockburn De La Terre + ?
deejay81+1 - 2008 Domaine A Pinot & 2011 Mt Pleasant Mothervine
MichaelR -
TiggerK -
Red Smurf -
catchnrelease - 2013 Thousand Candles
9redpens -
Krusty - 2006 Louis Jadot Charmes-Chambertin
davevino - 2011 Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc, 2013 Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir
maybs - 2004 Bass Phillip Premium & 2006 DM Dujac Morey St Denis
Bobthebuilder -

Reserves:
wizlb
Dingozegan

[Polymer]

Oh man..this can get dangerous...

[deejay81]

Sounds good!

I have a few interesting new world pinot's and would love to try some old world ones

So date/location pending I could be up for this (first timer).

[Michael R]

I'd be interested.

Oh man..this can get dangerous...

Hopefully

[TiggerK]

Count me in for sure!! How about mid April, just after Easter perhaps?

[Red Smurf]

I would be interested in this as well if mid late April.

[pc79]

Shall we pencil in the 16th? Could do blind, or otherwise.
Hopefully it does get dangerous.

[catchnrelease]

Count me in! I have some Napa Valley Pinot I can bring along.

[pc79]

How about one of the chinese places in Ashfield - duck pancakes, duck in handmande noodles, duck carcass + many other chinese delights.

[ufo]

I am interested too, depending on the date.

[Hacker]

I'm keen too. Would be good to construct some old vs. new world flights just to see if this Burgundy rubbish can carry off its high and mighty reputation!

[Krusty]

In !!!

[TiggerK]

So if pc79 wants to stick with 10 people max, looks like we're full already! Popular Pinot!

Assume usual rules though, pc79 suggested it, he's in charge of venue and decision on final numbers, I'm just summarising!

Thurs 16th April is good for me! Happy with Chinese... but they need to be able to handle the madness that is an AusWine offline. i.e BYO wines lined up everywhere, ensure that not all the food arrives at once, half will supply their own glassware, bit of space around us, not too noisy so we can discuss, and we might stay fairly late! Been burnt before with places not used to wine offlines, so just saying.....

pc79
Polymer
deejay81
MichaelR
TiggerK
Red Smurf
catchnrelease
ufo
Hacker
Krusty

[pc79]

Yeah, I think 10 is a good amount of attendants. It gives eveyrone a reasonable enough pour and will usually see a small amount left over if anyone wants to go back to anything.

http://www.vampsbistro.com/Vamps_Groups.html could be a good shout - private room $75pp incl everything.

[TiggerK]

Looks good, anyone been before??

Touch out of the way for the train commuters, but I'll happily grab a bus or taxi up that way, mmmm French cuisine with Pinot... getting hungry!

[pc79]

Hey Tim,
you're probably right about the location being in a bit of limbo land in relation to ease of public transport access. Will see what the punters want to do. We can always hit up somewhere more convenient.

[Krusty]

I have been to Vamps before with another, albeit smaller, wine group.
Classic bistro fare, they understand and are prepared for wine nerds, decanters available, etc. stemware not the best from memory but the menu would work very well with a pinot night.
Agreed not ideal for the train folk but should be a $10 shared taxi back to a major station at 11 or 12 bells on a Thurs when stumps are finally pulled.

[mjs]

Can't go, will be in Tassie with Maralinga Wine Society on the T1 tour, in search of pinots and other southern goodies

[TiggerK]

Happy with Vamps if others are! A short taxi is no dramas at all.

Dave vino will likely be first reserve if anyone drops out....

[maybs]

Wow, that teaches me, don't get to check the forum for a day and look what happens!!

I have dibs on second reserve!

[catchnrelease]

Happy with whatever, just tell me where and when.

[ufo]

Would Friday & Rocket be considered?

[pc79]

Hey UFO,
I think Vamps is the go - French fare with burgundy'esque wines in a private room - sounds good to me.
Rocket as a back up.

[deejay81]

Hope you guys don't mind me bringing my wife along?
She doesn't/wont drink much so probably negligible relating to any shortages of wine (can bring a couple of bottles and also a dessert wine if need be)

[pc79]

Hey all,
I have booked a private room for 12 people at Vamps Bistro, Paddington on the 16th Apr 6:30-7pm.
maybs/davevino - you're in. Deejay, I reckon we can accommodate your mrs if she's keen on spending time with 12 other boofheads. Will alter the booking if we have the natural last minute cancellations.
Should be a cracking night.
What are you going to bring?

[maybs]

Wicked, thanks mate.

I am getting back from a week in Tassie a few days before that so I may bring something from down there, otherwise will forage for something worthy/interesting and keep you posted.

[Polymer]

I've been thinking about how to say this without it coming across as being too direct but I figure I'll say it anyways in case it saves everyone from a rather uncomfortable setting down the line.

Please don't take this as I'm speaking about your wife because I have no idea what the situation will be...I'm speaking more in general so you're aware of the situation...

A lot of times when there are guests at offlines, they're definitely not used to how these offlines work and really, to be fair, how would they be?..most people, are used to the idea of drinking wine and drinking what they like. So the examples of this are: We had some guests at one of the offlines but just naturally they poured themselves full glasses from a 500ml bottle which basically meant the 4 people ahead of them had a chance to try it but everyone else behind them didn't....In one case, there was a situation where one guest didn't want to drink most of the other wines but only a few particular bottles..of which she poured a very full glass thinking that was the only thing she was going to drink so it works out as "fair"...

I'm not blaming any of the guests because really, in a normal dinner setting, you're going to pour yourself a glass of wine. You're only going to drink the wine you want to drink...but in these particular settings, it definitely is not going to go over well. Not sure if anyone will say anything at the time (I've seen this happen a few time and no one ever says anything) but I figure I'd mention this anyways..for this offline or for any other offline....and for whatever reason, Pinot ones tend to have a bit more seriousness about them.....

[pc79]

Hi Kevin, surely common sense/manners would be observed? 10people = 75mL pours. 7 people = 100mL etc. I would consider it awfully rude if anyone helped themselves to any of the wines, be it a $6 cleany or a $400 burgundy and would be mortified if they were my 'guest'. An eternal red card would need to issued.
TBH I was quite surprised that there was still plenty left over after the bottles went around the table for nine attendants on my debut appearance. I would have thought that the bottles may have been spread a bit thin, but the courteousness of everyone was great and we were able to go back to those that we liked for a second try if we so desired.

[Bobthebuilder]

geez you gotta be quick around here!

[deejay81]

Polymer,

Don't worry about being direct, I like direct instead of beating around the bush and appreciate that you have said what you said. Also don't worry I don't get offended too easily
And as it is my first offline, any advice is good advice.

As mentioned before my wife is not a big drinker so i'm not too concerned about her taking big pours (i'll probably be pouring hers anyway).

With that, I look forward to having a really great night out!

I'm thinking of bringing a 2008 Domaine A Pinot & a 2011 Mount Pleasant Mothervine.

Cheers,
Dave