|
|
|
|
|
Storyline:
Larry Meehan
We adjourned to the hotel lounge (which the hotel staff graciously allowed us to "occupy" for the bulk of the weekend) where we began to arrange the night's featured libations -- a complete run of Flowers pinots (94-8) with a few chards and zins thrown in for good measure. Between pulling corks and arranging bottles, it was nice to see Jim and Kristen Shimeck, Pam Patt and Jeff Gillikin, and Jeff Faunce and Amy McClellan as they made their arrivals. We commenced to sip through the Flowers wines with some mixed results -- some found them "too much", while others "not quite enough". For me, it was indeed a mixed bag as the early models seemed to have some problems...the 96's were drinking beautifully...the 97's and 98's seemed to be in need of time, but have a good sense of balance. That night we supped on East of Chicago pizza, mesculan salad, a myriad of fine cheeses and an impressive array of spreads and dips prepared by the Canadian Zinfan (Alan Kerr).
|
|
Flowers Vineyard
Ridge Vineyard
Odd Year Cabernets
|
For
the second year running, the lovely Mary and I (right) pointed our car
west and headed for the "Glass City" -- Toledo, to join with
friends from places like Cincinnati, Day-twah, Indy, Chicagoland, Milwaukee
and Cleveland...not to mention travelers from far off Boston and Utah.
Still, I must admit that even amongst all my cluttered thoughts as to
whether I had packed enough cutting boards, knives, utensils, etc.,
I had some lingering doubts -- "
In
less than thirty minutes after our arrival my fears had all but vanished...I
was sitting in the somewhat palatial party suite of Chairman and Ms.
Moe (Chris and Cathy Gross) sipping a bit
of Viognier. After a few phone calls and multiple knocks at the door
we were joined by Bill and Norma Paumen,
Andy and Linda Keillor, Scott
Thiede, Sam and Jean Leone
(left),
and others...smiles, flying corks and the occasional wail of Bob Marley
on the CD player filled those small spots not occupied by fast arriving
friends.
Saturday
morning saw our "wino motorcade" of 7 loaded vehicles rolling
over the highways and byways of Toledo. With Chairman Moe in the lead,
we managed to get the entire group to Anderson's -- a true "superstore"
where one could purchase anything from fine wine, to lumber, to Tony
Packo's famous hot dogs.
Just
about everyone found a few bottles to their liking (Tim
Thomas purchased
some NZ Sauv Blanc and Solengo, Jeff
Witzel and Sara Misun (right with Linda Keillor)
found some
Essencia, and Dennis
and Diane Jordan
unearthed a mag of 90 Sauternes) and after carrying
out 3 or 4 cases of wine, the group piled back into the vehicles, making
a quick stop at the Libbey glass outlet and soon arrived back at the
Courtyard.
We
decided it was time for our "Ridge afternoon." Once the corks
were pulled, the Draper creations did not disappoint. Smiles were abundant
as we sipped Ridge and listened to geo t.
"get his mojo workin' " on guitar and harp. Some tasters traded
their stems for trunks and sloshed about in the inviting pool. Mike
(right, looking a little jetlagged) and Carla Lawton were a fixture
at the euchre table, proving it is not just a game for Midwesterners.
Mark Horvatich (though calling in sick
on Friday) thankfully gathered up the strength to join us as well.
