Pittsburgh BYOB gathering - Round 6

Round 6 has been named "Cab-in Fever" - a chance to get out of the house during the dreary days of February for some great company and wine.

Several great ideas of been proposed, but for the first round of blind Cabernet tasting, I think we should keep it simple. We can repeat the Pinot event with any Cab from anywhere in play, or limit it to new world or Cali Cabs. We could play new world against old world, or play Napa against Somona, or...

Thoughts??

I am good either February 19 or February 26. And the place I am considering is down by Meadow Lands. More information about the venue once I talk to the owner.

dontime

We haven't heard the results of round 5 yet. I was sorry you didn't pick the 29th as I was going to be in Greensberg.

Best,

Mike

dontime, thanks for heading up what will be round 6. Hmmm... a cab tasting. Someone's really going to have to twist bigred's and J2K's arm on this one 

At the moment, I think either date will work for me, but will follow-up. As for the ideas, simpler is fine with me. A sampling of California regions to compare/contrast might be fun. Did I mention I like cab??

Mike - top article on the home page provides the results of round 5.
dontime

I'm good for either date. Count me in for two.

I'd prefer 2/26 but can make 2/19.

Don, in lieu of Bordeaux what's your thought on Cal Bordeaux style Cabs? Should we explore Cab heavy blends or stick to straight up Cabs?

Price variance on this could be really interesting. Lots of $10-$15 Cal Cabs out there to taste against the '02 Caymus Select bigred is bringing (we all assume)

Either date would probably be OK for me. My only request would be to maybe start at 7 rather than 6:30 to give some of us a chance to get down there.

I'd also prefer 2/26 but probabaly could make it 2/19.

My 2 cents....I kind of like the format of cabs (cab/blends) from all over the world- Left bank Bordeaux, Italy-Super Tuscan, Cali, Washington, Chile, Argentina.

Okay - coming together.

Date - February 26, 2010
Time - 7:00 pm
Location -
Palazzo Ristorante
1445 Washington Road
Washington, PA 15301

The owner will sit us in a private room upstairs in this historical house. Corkage fee will be waved. I need to confirm attendance before hand, so that the appropriate room is reserved. With a private room, we should not face early eviction. Depending on the size of our group, they are willing to do an appetizer buffet if we want.

Let's go with the broad stoke Cab blind tasting. Any cab or cab blend from anywhere. Bordeaux, Super Tuscan or Meritage - whatever works for you. Once we confirm that the best Cabs come from Napa, we can focus in on them in a future tasting.

Looking forward to getting together again, and bigred's Special Select Caymus...

dontime

I had a post up that I would be in California on that weekend. I changed the trip to the weekend before, so I will be there. Rosalie (the better half) will still be in Japan, so put me down for 1. I will be bringing a California Cab, but I am considering a Sonoma Cab (A. Rafanelli) in lieu of the sacred Napa.

I still will be in the Central Coast area the weekend before, and may be able to bring back a bottle or two (Turley, Eberle, etc.), so let me know if you have any requests.

tonypoli

Confirming Feb 26 is good; confirming for 2 (the wife plans to attend again); not confirming the Special Select Caymus :) , however, plan to bring a nice bottle - just need to decide now...

Should we go into this one completely blind and not announce what we're bringing? The overwhelming amount of cabs/blends and different vintages available at the PA wine stores now and over the years would probably preclude us from doubling up at this tasting again, right? Then again, we announced last time and we still ended up (thanks in part to me) with a duplicate on the only two unannounced bottles...

I'm in for two.

Agree re: the unlikelihood of having two of the same, but how about we declare if we're planning to bring a current Chairman's Selection...don't say what it is, just that you're going to bring one...then if someone else is planning to as well one person can say what it is to try to prevent a duplicate.

I'm in for one for sure, need to see about my wife...

Just wanted to move this back to the front page. With all the talk about Cali Cabs, our next get together should be much fun!

Confirm me for at least 2. Me and my nephew Dan. He really enjoyed the last event. Maybe a second nephew who also lives in PGH.

We are at 10-11 at this point. Have not heard from Ecola - others??? I will need to give the restaurant at somewhat firm head count by late next week. Any preferences as to food? Dinner, just appetizers, both?

Confirming for one only.

I vote for appetizers + dinner, personally I prefer substantial food to go with Cab. An appetizer buffet sounds nice but we may want to keep it small to avoid spending >$80 just on that again!

I'm planning to bring a no-longer-available CS.

Confirming one also. I'd prefer to share Mark's substantial meal. Do they have filet mignon appetizers?

That's two votes for dinner. Bringing a non-CS Cal blend

"I prefer substantial food to go with Cab". bigred prefers cab to go with his cab :)

Ha, OK – the full dinner is fine with me.
I will be bringing a non-PA cab (God forbid), and likely one non-CS offering. 2 attending.

dontime sometimes needs a cab after his cab....

Taking notes on who coming and bringing what - will provide a summary as we approach the date.

Count me in for two. I'm still undecided on what two cabs I'll bring.

So now everyone refers to themselves in the 3rd person?? Mark thinks this is getting rather strange...

Mark - you created this monster...

My wife & I just came across this site today.. we have been looking for something like this. Athough we can't make round 6, we will watch for details on the March tasting if new members are welcome.

All are welcome! Just keep watching the Forum for details.

Look forward to seeing you.

I am new to the site as well. Is it a requirement that the wine be purchased and/or available at the state store, or can we bring any wine?

joet,

Any wine is fine. For this event we are doing a blind tasting of a cabernet or cabernet blend from anywhere. In order to try to avoid duplicates, some individuals are indicating whether they are bringing a current Chairman's selection or not. If a couple of individuals say they are we may try to further ensure that they are not the same.

For our blind tasting everyone brings a bottle or two in a brown paper bag. We turn them over to the wait staff who open them up. We then label the bags "A", "B", "C", etc. and start to taste. Tasting sheets are usually provided so you can take notes and at the end of the night we review the most liked. We don't get into putting them in order, but try to identify the top 3-4 favorites.

I need to give the restaurant a head count this Friday, so if you plan to come, please let us know how many to plan for.

With that in mind - group - still need to confirm. Ecola? Others? I will provide a summary of what is confirmed when I am back in town on Friday. I am spending a couple of days in Houston where there is actually sunshine...

I'm coming Han Solo this time, just me for Cab-in Fever.

I'm in, it is next friday right? Might be two , I'll post tomorrow with my final count.

I can not make it this Friday but have a group that tastes/drinks regularly and will keep a lookout for a convenient time. Thanks.