Back row (standing L to R) -- Dan Gordon, Mark Overberg, Kelly Sallaz, Larry Meehan, Rowen Bell, Scott Manlin, Gary Sharpe, Mel Hill, Edward Robinson
Seated (L to R) Teresa Ovreberg, John Wocher, Connie Sharpe, Brian Colfac

To further muddy the waters, someone suggested that the group name their top 3 wines of the evening, and this time all 12 tasters participated. Tallying the results, the final determination of favorites was made:

In 1st place with two 1st place votes and six 2nd place votes was '98 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz

In 2nd place with two 1st place votes and one 2nd place each was a tie between the '94 E&E Black Pepper and the '97 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz

In 3rd place with two 1st place votes was the '81 Penfolds Grange

4th place was a tie again with one top pick and one 2nd place pick each for the '96 Malcolm and the '96 Parker Coonawarra First Growth? A statistical aberration I think caused either by my sloppy notes or confusion from a voter. Probably my notes, I'm no Bastardo. 

My top picks were the '81 Penfolds Grange for 1st place, and the '98 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz in 2nd.


The 1994 Petrus seems to have been a casualty of this tasting. Surrounded by Monster young shiraz on one side, and a wonderfully mature old beauty in the '81 Grange on the other, it didn't stand a chance to be fully appreciated. I imagine that tasted amongst its peers, this wine would have shone very brightly. I am very grateful to John for the experience, as well as for the experience with the many other great wines poured on this night. Many thanks to Larry Meehan also who endured numerous phone calls and dead end roads to set up this soiree. Juggling the needs of the restaurants, and the wishes of each individual participant, he managed to actually create an event that suited everyone's needs and was as perfect as I have seen in content and execution. Special thanks also to Mel Hill for applying his professional touch to the camera work. Teresa and I quickly grabbed the opportunity to share one or two last glasses and more conversation with this magnificent group at the Hyatt's Big Bar. A perennial favorite haunt of Teresa and I during trips to Chicago, and conveniently in the heart of John's accommodations. John's already overwhelming generosity was further immortalized when unbeknownst to most of us, he picked up the tab as he retired for the evening. I cannot thank him enough for the fun and experience we had.