Pittsburgh BYOB Gathering - Round 8

I'm currently looking into two different places (I haven't been to either of them so I'd like to get some feedback): Cafe Zinho in Shadyside, or La Cucina Dolce in Monroeville. Cafe Zinho would charge us around $15 dollars for the entire party corkage, and La Cucina Dolce charges $4/bottle. As always, we could order from the menu at regular prices. Or, we could do it at La Tavola on Mt. Washington, as I really enjoy this restaurant and I know everyone really enjoyed the previous tasting there.

Also, I threw around the idea of a premium vertical tasting on this site a couple weeks ago. After receiving some feedback, it seems everyone is into it, but common wines and successive years may be a slight problem. Therefore, I think I want to steer this wine tasting in a different direction. I'm considering either a Piedmont or Bordeaux based tasting. I wanted to do an age progressive order from young to old. We could do exposed or blind, whatever works with everyone.

Restaurants all sound great.
I'm fine with either Piedmont or Bordeaux, and a age progressive tasting would be very interesting.

jonradus, I have not been to these restaurants, but they sound fine to me. The Shadyside loc is a little more centrally located, but either would work. As far as the theme, I echo Hawk's comments in that I'd be up for either.
Any idea on dates?

Let's plan on doing the tasting on Saturday, April 24th with Bordeaux. I was kind of leaning towards La Cucina Dolce. I've seen some bad reviews of Cafe Zinho, but I've never been there so I could go either way. I may also be able to score us a table at Edgewood Country Club, but I don't have any confirmation yet. Let me know if you can make it and how many will come within the next couple of weeks so I can get a reservation.

I'm good for two on April 24, but will generally have a conflict with another wine event that happens the 3rd Saturday of each month. No preference on place or theme.

Cool, I should be okay for April 24th. SInce we're looking at premium wines, are we setting a criteria? 1st thru 5th growth classification? price range? vintage?

That's a great idea. Let's limit the tasting to 1st through 5th Growths. Plenty of these wines are available at the PA stores. Wikipedia has a good page that lists the growths/makers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bordeaux_Wine_Official_Classification_of_1855

We can go with any vintage, but we should try to get a pretty broad range. This should be a pretty fun tasting.

OK so I thought I knew a little something about Bordeaux in general but that Wiki article is good and I learned quite a bit, thanks for posting the link.

Just some thoughts...

1. So this will be a red wine only tasting, with the single exception of Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc if anyone wants to bring it?

2. There will be no St. Emilion (not my personal favorite anyway, but just asking) since while they are Bordeaux they are classified separately?

3. Has anyone checked to see how much the least expensive 4th or 5th growth that's currently available from the PLCB is?

Mark (who is disappointed to be going out of town the weekend of April 23-25)

I spent some time searching last night and came with with these that are available locally or on the web site.

CH. TALBOT ST.JULIEN 05 19350 64.49 Online
CH. BEYCHEVELLE ST.JULIEN 05 19345 64.49 Online
CH. CANTEMERLE HAUT MEDOC 05 20215 38.49 Robinson
CH. HAUT BATAILLEY PAUILLAC 05 19842 48.99 Oxford
CH. BRANAIRE DUCRU ST.JULIEN 05 20104 79.99 Online

Problem is, CT tasting notes, as well as the professional reviews, all indicate these are best after 2012-2013. If nothing that is in its prime is available to purchase, I may have to pass on this tasting, as I have no Bordeaux in my cellar.

The lack of drinkable Bordeaux has been my concern as well - I am probably a pass as well. I tasted a couple of '05 first growth at the '08 Wine festival & it was nothing I'd want to repeat (at least not for another 10 years or so). Unfortunately the PLCB system seems to flush all its Bordeaux well before its drinking prime. Anybody going to a Costco in OH or VA in the next couple of weeks who can take some orders?

Alright. Maybe we should switch it up to Napa cabs to boost interest and attendance. Many missed the last cab tasting (including myself) so this would be a great chance at redemption. Thoughts?

Just Napa cabs or any cabs, bordeaux, Chile..etc...??

I hate to see a good idea derailed. How about those who don't have drinkable Bordeaux in the cellar bring one of the Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot/Malbec blends from another region? That way we can compare a Cinq cepages with Mark's Petrus to judge the difference in winemaking with the same raw materials

Sorry but Petrus is 100% Merlot!

A "bordeaux-style blend" tasting is more or less what we did during "Cab(in) Fever" in February. Granted there were no French wines present then but several of the "Cabs" were blends. Not that I would be opposed to doing it again of course...

Let's do just Napa cabs, with a limit on blending amounts at approximately 90% cabernet. With both of these restrictions, it won't turn into an exact repeat of Cab(in) Fever and will likely be pretty interesting.

Sold - Napa cabs is fine with me, especially for those of us who missed cab-in fever. I suspect we won't have a problem pulling together a different mix of wineries/vintages than those offered at the previous tasting.
I am good for 1 (wife out of town) for Sat the 24th.

I'd like to get a head count by mid next week to place a reservation. So if you plan on coming let me know, along with how many you're bringing. Remember, it's a blind Napa cab tasting on Sat, April 24th. Bring your wine in a bag with the foil completely removed. I'll let everyone know the time and place by next weekend.

Still good for two.

Just wanted to move this back to the front page.

Hopefully we can get some other confirmations. I'll probably book for 10 people on Thursday and we'll go from there once people solidify their plans. I'm planning on La Cucina Dolce in Monroeville (I've read some bad things about Cafe Zinho). Right now I have:

2 - dontime
2 - jonradus
1 - bigred
1 - J2K
3 - Hawk

Am I missing anyone so far?

Sorry no I will be away the weekend of Apr 23-25.

Probably in for three. I'll confirm next week.

Right now just one for me. Possibly more, I'll let you know.

For now, I'll book La Cucina Dolce 10 on Saturday, April 24th. I'll also verify that they don't want to turn the table over. If others want to come just let me know and I'll adjust accordingly.

We're booked for Sat. April 24th at 6:30 pm at La Cucina Dolce in Monroeville. Bring a Napa cab in a bag with the foil completely removed. I'm assuming we have 9 right now so I booked for 10. I may bring a couple more folks also, but it's not confirmed yet. See you there.

I have no idea what their stemware is like, so you may want to bring your own if you're picky.

http://www.lacucinadolce.com/

Bumping this back to the top one more time in case a "newbie" wants to join us. Looking forward to it.
dontime

Still trying to decide what to bring. It will NOT be a Chairmans Selection.

I will also be bringing a non-CS selection -see you guys Sat

Alright. We're good for 9-10 tomorrow night at 6:30 pm. It looks like we only have nine (if Hawk does have 3). If we have less than 9, I would like to let them know tonight.

I'm down to two, so the group is down to 8. See you tonight.