A NYC Wine & Food Pairing Feast Designed Just for Forumites

[Elchonon Hellinger]

im trying, found cheap tickets, lets see

[Adam M]

This event has been planned in my mind for about 6 months, but it was only put into action about two weeks ago. So we have not had the fullness of time to dot every "I" and cross every "t" in terms of the precise wine list.

Yehoshua - yes we are proudly serving Yarden's schmitta wines. Shomer Shabbat pourers will be doing the honors. Most of the guests will not care and will thus taste some of Israel's best wines from an above average vintage. Those who care can abstain. Chabad will be supervising the pouring as well as the logistics around the disclosure and pouring of the schmitta wines. If it's ok with them, it alright with me.

Yossie - the 08/09 indication is intended to mean that both vintages will be presented. I would not expect there to be much of the brand new 2008 Yarden Katzrin. I will tell you that the CEO of Yarden will be personally beinging this wine as a formal launching in the US. If we get one bottle we should happy as clams, particularly since I did not even ask for this wine to be included (didn't know it was even released in Israel yet). I am also told that the Shirah wines will be in limited supply, simply b/c the distributor doesn't have the bottles yet.

I have reached out to all of the distributors regarding the # of bottles of each wine that they are bringing and have been assured that they will be as equipped as they are for the Gotham events. So I am optimistic, but cannot guarantee anything. So please don't base your decision on whether to come to the event on the desire to be able to have multiple tastes of a particular wines or even a handful of wines. There will be plenty of new and delicious wines to taste and it should be a fantastic time, particularly for couples.

Incidentally, the final list of Dalton wines just came in:
ALTON ANNA NV (2 bottles will be present)
DALTON ESTATE SHIRAZ 2010
DALTON ALMA SMV 2009
DALTON ALMA CAB SAUV MERLOT-CAB FRANC 2009
DALTON ALMA WHITE 2011
DALTON RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009
 
We have welcomed additional Reserve wines. We'll see what we get!

[Elie Poltorak]

1. There's no issue in drinking otzar beis din shmitta wine. The issue is in buying it, as commerce in shmitta fruit is forbidden.
2. Adam: Who is "Chabad"?

[Adam M]

Rabbi Yosef Wilhelm, who is affiliated with the Chabad Lubavetch organization, will be supervising the pouring.

[Elie Poltorak]

FYI, there is no such thing as the "Chabad Lubavitch organization." Chabad-Lubavitch is a movement--there is no central organization to be affiliated with.
Anyhow, I look forward to the tasting. Yasher koach to all the organizers!!!

[Adam M]

Hi Eli - As tempting as you've made it, I don't even want to go there...let's put the pedantics aside and just focus on having a great time on Monday night!

[Elie Poltorak]

Hi Eli - As tempting as you've made it, I don't even want to go there...let's put the pedantics aside and just focus on having a great time on Monday night!

Not trying to be pedantic. I'm just making the point that it's misleading when people (whether for kashrus hashgocho or otherwise) claim to be "affilated with" or represent "Chabad." Chabad is a movement ANYONE can claim affiliation with. Since we're on the topic of hashgachot, there are several hashgachot operated by Lubavitchers (OK, CHK, KSA, as well as numerous local Va'ads, particularly in Canada, California, and Florida), some of which are reliable and some are not. None are "affilated with" or represent Chabad, beyond the fact that their proprietors and/or supervising rabbis may be chabad chassidim. Each chabad organization and institution is entirely independent, as are of the local shluchim. Beware of anyone who claims to represent "Chabad" as such, as its typically a fundraising scam.

Anyhow, I definitely agree with your suggestion about focusing on a great time Monday night. Yasher koach again for organizing it!

[Elie Poltorak]

P.S. Just to clarify, none of this was related in any way with Rabbi Yosef Wilhelm, who is the rabbi of Chabad Young Professionals, a project of Chabad of the Upper East Side. I know Rabbi WIlhelm well and trust him implicitly. I'm very happy to hear that he'll be supervising the wine-pouring.

[Elchonon Hellinger]

oh snap! Flight booked.. Sorry Eli I couldent come today besides im still recovering from surgery... but I expect you to pick me up at JFK

[Adam M]

In commemoration of the one year passing of Daniel Rogov, I will be bringing a bottle of the very limited edition Carmel "Rogov" brandy for tasting during the last hour of the event. A special thanks to Gabriel Geller for helping me secure this bottle.

[Adam M]

Adding once again to the list of wines. This time not to taste but only to view and take orders to purchase. The following vintage wines are expected to be present at the event:

1.5L 2000 Labegorce Zede
3L 2000 Smith Haute Laffite
2000 Yarden Katzrin red
2001 Yarden El Rom Cabernet Sauvignon
1.5L 2002 Castel Grand Vin
1.5L 2003 Castel Grand Vin
A variety of Capcanes
A vertical of old Yarden, including cabernet sauvignon

I would expect that these wine will have fixed prices, but that it might be possible to negotiate further.

[Steven B]

Alas, I have college Monday nights.This is all making it very tempting for me to cut class and go anyway. Being that I'm only 21 this would actually be my first opportunity to be able to get into a real tasting.

[Gabriel Geller]

In commemoration of the one year passing of Daniel Rogov, I will be bringing a bottle of the very limited edition Carmel "Rogov" brandy for tasting during the last hour of the event. A special thanks to Gabriel Geller for helping me secure this bottle.

Anytime Adam, my pleasure. Hope you and all the folks there will like it as much as our fellow forumite Mark Lieser did.

[Marc G]

Im attending by myself and would like to meet some of you. Since I havent met almost anybody, I was wondering what would be the best way to meet.

[Elchonon Hellinger]

Im attending by myself and would like to meet some of you. Since I havent met almost anybody, I was wondering what would be the best way to meet.

Wear a sign ? lol naw c'mon there's 150 people, you want to get to know every one there!!

[Andrew Breskin]

at the Domaine Roses Camille table! See you all tomorrow

[Elie Poltorak]

Adam:
It occured to me that most people here, not being used to shmita wine, probably aren't aware of the strict halachic prohibition against spitting such wine. You should have some sort of sign to remind people that halachically, the shmita wine is holy and must be swallowed.

[Adam M]

Hi Eli - we have discussed this with the Rabbi who will be supervising and have left it with him as to how best to handle. Best, Adam

[Yossie Horwitz]

Not to derail the conversation or segue into an ill-placed kosher-centric discussion, but FYI - only Shmittah wines designated Otzar Beit Din cannot be wasted (i.e. spat) - this is not true for the many Shmittah wines that are Heiter Mechira.

[David Raccah]

The only 08 so far are Yarden and galil which are Otzar Beit din.

[David Raccah]

Guys, was the glaring lack of wine from outside of israel on purpose? Just wondering?

David

[Adam M]

Yes. This is not intended to be a "kitchen sink" type of tasting. We were very selective. In consideration of this, we decided to limit the universe so as to avoid uncomfortable conversations. About 120 wines for about 100 people isn't too shabby. I'm worried about this vintage debacle, though

[Isaac C]

Yes, we wanted to focus on Israeli wine specifically, though there are a few exceptions (some excellent wines that are hard to come by).

[David Raccah]

Indeed the addition of Shirah and DRC are nice.

Thanks