jwjon1

will weather be influencing this outing, or is it rain or shine? I'm in either way, but would like to know either way so as to plan my afternoon. looking forward to it!

So after all your research, Doc, where did you end up going... and what would you recommend to fellow travelers headed to the Bay area in June? How did they compare to your wonderful best of 2005 list? Any of them a lock for your 2006 list?

do i hear a door of opportunity opening? I mentioned that my schedule doesn't allow me to participate on the 22nd. Is it possible that with this possible change of events the Pizza Club might consider starting on the 23rd... or 29th? Just throwing it out there... I have always enjoyed Shakespeare, but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought my appreciation of him spread to pizza as well

Let's hope they are keeping the stock in temperature controlled facilities in the meanwhile. Anyone know if this is the case or not?

Looks like I won't be able to make the 22nd outing, but am looking forward to updates and future events. I'm sure you will all have a blast!

Depending on which side of the state you are on, State Line Liquors in Elkton MD carries the 7 Deadly Zins for 15.99 after discount (using the "club" card, just like in grocers). Total Wines also had the Zin for about $18, I believe. Its a pretty popular wine, mostly due to clever marketing. I picked up a few bottles of the 7 last year, but found the final notes a bit medicinal. I gave it a shot on the basis of the Earthquake Zin produced by Michael David (who also produce the 7), which I had at Domaine Hudson in Wilmington and absolutely loved. Unfortunately, I cannot find the Earthquake line for sale anywhere around this area. If you enjoyed the 7 and see the Earthquakes around, give 'em a shot. The price point is about the same for both. And if we're lucky, Chairman Newman will make a trip out to Lodi and strike a deal! [edited for spelling]

[Edited as I just realized Shacke beat me to the punch] As Shacke pointed out, the 2003 Setti Ponti Crognolo are in few select stores now. http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/WebApp/Product_...sp?cdeNo=023545 No word on the Oreno, but I'm looking forward to cracking open its little brother this weekend.

Mama mia looks likea you're headed straightsa for the firsta PhDia in Philly Pizzaologia. I'll have ta check my wife's a schedulia, but I think the 22nd is perfectionia. And if I haven't offended anybodyia yet, sounds like you have an excellent route planned out! Superb work pulling all this excellent research together... my tummymia thanks you!

The Luce showed up a couple of weeks ago. I picked up the last 1997 from the Bryn Mawr store, and they had at least a case of the 1996 remaining at that point. Haven't found occasion to crack it open yet as its a little more challenging making a random excuse to open a mag! Looks like the 96 is still around... give em a ring to hold for you, or you might be in the same boat as shacke with such few bottles remaining: http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/WebApp/Product_...sp?cdeNo=024136

Check the website again... the Beringer Reserves are available on line as well as at numerous locations now.

Just the opposite, in fact: it makes me feel quite foolish for not following your example! Ohhh the envy!!!! So who knows the lucky man/woman/family who has hired out Shola for the Spring/Summer? And how can I crash that party?

I gain more and more appreciation for this board every day! Best pizza in philly thread? Now we are talking! I'm from Wilmington and have been here for about two years now. Sad to say it: I've only been to three pizza specific joints: Lombardi's, Tacconelli's, and the one next to DWR on Chestnut. But I'm always looking for the best pie, so this thread is spot on! I'd love the hear about scheduling updates so the wife and I can tag along, if possible. Sounds like a worthwhile series of events!

I have been following this thread for a bit now and even made the gesture to contact Shola to arrange an outing with some of my friends from the area. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of offering multiple dates to the parties involved, and none of them could reach a common evening. This should have been a sign to choose dining partners more carefully (heck... I personally was willing to toss aside ANY prior obligations for this experience), but instead I threw the towel in and declared my motivational skills non-existent. So here I type with no excuse whatsoever for not having partaken in the Shola experience. Truth be told, I did contemplate setting a date and sticking an invitation in the ISO thread. I did not pursue this route, however, because I talked myself into thinking that dining amongst "strangers" in such an intimate setting would be a bit unnerving. How naive one can be. Now that Shola is off to do his research, I can only hope that he returns to StudioKitchen for at least one last hurrah. This time around I will not hesitate to set a date and invite the members of this community... or if I'm lucky, I see Rebecca's or someone else's announcement in the ISO thread and take them up on the reservation. All of your kind words towards new friends and old alike, to giving Shola's creations (and Shola!) the credit they deserve, and the general good natured humor on this string convince me on the err of my ways: clearly, the members of this community are precisely the type of people I should have invited from the get go! Thanks for providing such an inspiring string... here's hoping Shola continues to amaze from Philly! (edited for spelling)

I've been phoning multiple locations for the Beringer Reserve the past two weeks... not in yet by all accounts, although the Ardmore store did get in a half case of the 1997s earlier this month. The 1996 and 1997 Luce magnums are in. No word on the Sette.

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Thanks for the much appreciated insight, Deidre! Can't wait for some of the new arrivals myself... gonna go pick up a few bottles of the big roach beforehand, however!

Byron: Haven't hit the PLCB in a few weeks so don't know if its available there, but get your hands on Thorn-Clark's Shotfire Ridge if you can (chances are you are well aware of Shotfire Ridge already, though, due to the WS top 100). I know the MD/DE shops recently received 2004 vintage allocations ($17 was the cheapest I found it), so I'd be surprised if PA didn't as well. Great bang for the buck with this one, especially if you like new world shiraz.

I'm with Katie: thanks for the insight, Neil! I prob. would have stocked up myself on the Ridge zin had I run across a good deal at the PLCB, so this is useful knowledge! Unrelated to the PLCB, but related to this post: I bought half a case of Michael and David's Seven Deadly Zins the other day on a whim (I absolutely love M&D's Earthquake Zin, but can't find it around this area so blindly went with the 7 instead) and was not happy with it for the same off-medicinal quality. Fortunately, the store I bought it in does a good trade and was willing to take the five remaining bottles back. So thanks for saving me the headache on this one!

Thanks for the update, CherieV! Sounds like the duck salad, mussels, and sausage are in order.... I'm getting hungry just typing about them!

Thanks for the suggestion Jeff. Sounds like you and I are in the same boat: I buy whites to keep my wife happy while focusing mostly on reds myself. We'll give the Byron chard a shot!

Host's note: this topic was broken into multiple parts due to its large size; the topic began here: Wine & Spirits Bargains at the PLCB (Part 1). I just joined this forum after a quick google search of the PLCB's Futuro Super Tuscan led me to Chairman Newman's reply on this thread. I knew I found a home after reading through the entire thread! Thanks for putting this valuable thread together, Katie... I'm excited to hear critiques from those more knowledgable in wine than myself about the offerings available through the Chairman's Select program. Now I can't wait until the Dec. offerings to be released so I can put your collective knowledge to work! BTW, I'm living proof of the success of the Chairman's program: a resident of Delaware, I actually go out of my way to purchase wine in PA... and love every minute of it! What a wonderful program!

I'm brand spanking new to this forum (in fact, this is my first post!), and found this thread intriguing. I've been wanting to venture up to the Standard Tap since I first learned about it in May (I've also only recently moved to the area, so have a lot more to learn!), but I conjure up this idea of a very smokey bar serving great local beer and good food to boot. The excellent tap selection and food entice me, but the smoke assumption has been enough to keep me away to date. Am I crazy for thinking that the Standard Tap will be smoke filled, or is there actually a bar in Philly that caters to foodies... and by default keeps the smoke out? Looking forward to a long term relationship with this excellent community--particularly the Chairman's Select thread which is full of valuable resources!!!! Who knew the Chairman himself would be such an active participate! AWESOME!