Pittsburgh BYOB gathering #10

Unless someone else wants to step up, I'll be happy to arrange #10.

In group in attendance at #9 indicated that July 26 (Saturday) would work for them. Anyone else want to chime in on the date?

Palazzo's is anxious to host again - without the snow this time. Same deal as before, two rooms upstairs for the night and no corkage fees. I still need to verify availability on July 26. Comments?

Again, the group in attendance at #9 suggested some sort of Shiraz/Syrah theme with at least two of the group volunteering to bring the Two Hand Ares. Do we want to do new world only or include old world Syrah? Blends allowed?

Another idea might be a "Down Under" night with Aussie Shiraz and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Again - comments, suggestions, or alternatives?

As planning begins on the next gathering, I'd just like to make sure everyone reading this understands they are welcome to attend, even if (especially if) they never have before. We've been averaging 10-12 people for these BYOB get togethers but there's no reason there couldn't be more. It's always a lot of fun and the wine is great!

I thought we decided on New World Shiraz (Australia and U.S.A.) since we recently had a Rhone wines tasting.

Dontime,
Are you getting kickbacks too? ;-)

J2K - I'll use my kickbacks to cover the cheese plate again :-)

jlburg - let's try to make sure Tony P knows about this one.

dontime, thanks for offering to take the lead on this one.

Per J2K's comment, I think we were leaning towards new world (Aussie, US). And yes, although I have not sampled it yet, I'd be willing to contribute an Ares.

It would be Sat July 24 (26th incorrect) and that date looks good for me (and the wife)

My bad - Saturday July 24.

Just trying to understand the ground rules...

Two Hands Ares (100% Shiraz) -- OK
Parson's Flat (70% Shiraz) -- ?
Yellow Tail Shiraz Cabernet (60% Shiraz) -- ?
Target Wine Cube (50% Shiraz) -- ?
Viansa Sempre Avanti '08 (16% Syrah) -- ?

I don't want to over complicate this...

How about new world Shiraz - with the requirement that a bottle be at least 70% Shiraz?

Open to other ideas, but as Mark suggests, there probably should be at least a ground rule on what constitutes a "Shiraz".

Spoke to the owner of Palazzo's last night. We are confirmed for July 24 (Saturday) for two rooms upstairs as before. I had to guarantee a head count north of 12 and if we have less than that we will probably have to go with one room.

New world Shiraz (defined as at least 70% Shiraz). I assume the preference is to do it blind.

Please let me know whether you can make it and how many so we can firm things up at Palzazzo's.

dontime

dontime, still good for 2. Hopefully we can pull together a full house again - jonradus, hawk, jlburd, ecola, others?

I'm definitely in for 1 and maybe 2. I planned on bringing an '05 Mollydooker Enchanted Path. However, it's a 50-50 blend of cab/shiraz. I don't want to break the rules though. Dontime, any flexibility? I do have some other tricks up my sleeve if need be.

Jonradus - doesn't make any difference to me. We can go at least 50% shiraz unless someone disagrees.

That being said do we want to do this one blind or not? I vote for non blind, but again, it's up to the majority.

I vote for non-blind.

This one sounds like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, Rosalie (who is finally back from Japan) and I are leaving for the beach that morning. Our son and grandson, who live in California and we rarely see them, are joining us there, or we might have delayed our departure for this. Really - what better way to begin a vacation than a PAWine Talk tasting... See you guys next time.

I'm in but Ohio Jim can't make it. He's on call. Still might bring a couple members of the entourage.

I'm tentatively in for 2 but definitely do a recheck later.

jonradus has been waxing eloquent about the Enchanted Path for a while so I'd vote for giving that an exemption (I also want to taste what the fuss is all about) but if it's new world shiraz/syrah let's stick with the 75% rule. If some winery blends 73% I wouldn't quibble but let's give the syrah the headline.

I vote non-blind

Don't get your hopes up too much. I've been dissapointed with the last 2 bottles of it I've had. It was much better 3 years ago. I think age is not treating it so well. Maybe we'll get lucky though...

Do we want to move it to Friday, July 23 so that Tonypoli can attend?

Either date is fine with me. This puts pressure on Tony to commit or die

I'm good for either date. I have some terrific Aussie Shiraz & still trynig to decide what to bring.

"I have some terrific Aussie Shiraz"
Big talk by Hawk - I like it... I believe either date works for me also

Friday night is better for Palazzo's also. No pressure on the number of attendees. J2K, jonrandus, mark, ecoli - what say you? I'm happy to switch nights. jlburd - get tony to commit!!
dontime

I'm good for either night.

Hawk,
Bring all of them, we'd like to confirm which ones are terrific!!

Don,
Do you get a bigger kickback for Friday night? :-)

J2K - it's a complicated formula, but if everything goes as planned...

Sounds like a challenge. I may have to go deep into the cellar!

Hawk - if we change to Friday, can Jim from Ohio make it?

Buckeye Jim cannot make it either day because he's on call.

Still trying to confirm that we'll be in town that weekend. If so then either Friday or Saturday would be fine, no preference.

Bumping this back to the top.

Spoke to Palazzo's tonight and switched our reservation to Friday night, July 23. Less pressure on numbers as they typically do not have to open the upstairs on Friday.

With the exception of jonradus' Enchanted Path, we are doing new world Shiraz with a minimum (give or take) of 70% Shiraz. Non blind event. I've asked Palazzo's to have extra rib eyes for the evening...