Help!! Urgent Chicago area

Mark L could probably do better, but here's a couple thoughts re stores(based on my mailorder knowledge, I'm no Chicagoan!):

I think you're suggestions are good- big white is definitely way to go. But I think I'd vary a bit- white Rhone would be my choice.

good luck, Francois!

Ian Hoare wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

To keep with the general tener of the meal, perhaps a Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc?

Salut/Hi All

I know it's infra dig to reply to your own post!!

Firstly, the subject line is wrong, it should have read

"Urgent. Please help re Chicago area"

le/on Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:58:55 +0100, tu disais/you said:-

Thanks to all who have replied so far. I have gathered your suggestions and posted them to François, in case he doesn't manage to find a way of reeading us here, and will continue to do so. So please, keep 'em coming.

Many thanks.

Ian,

I know you may be inclined to think "what the hell would a NZer know about supplies in the Chicago area" - but I must really throw a strong recommendation for Sam's.

The most esteemed Prof. Lipton arranged for a couple of bottles of Zin to be dispatched from Sam's (in Chicago) to myself (in NZ) - and they arrived, in perfect condition, delivered to my office, customs cleared within ***36 hours***!!!!!!!!

That is sensational service in any man's terms - both from the retailer and courier company.

Don't discount mail order (US interstate transshipment laws permitting!!)

Ian, Sorry for weighing in so late on this topic. Yes, Sam's is the clear leader for selection & price. They have a decent selection of GruVe's at any given moment, a decent selection of NZ SBs, and a good, if pricey collection of wines from Alsace. However, they are a bit weak in their selection of wines from the Loire (IIRC, though, they do have some '02 Huet LHL demi-sec right now). For unoaked Chardonnay, they had

-- and may still have -- a fair number of '02 Chablis from Verget [is it unoaked? I cannot say] and Boudin. As Dale mentioned, another interesting store in Chicago is Hart-Davis-Hart (née John Hart Fine Wines). They started their existence as a dealer in older, grey market wines, but have gradually moved into new releases as well. They usually have a very enticing selection of White Burgundies and White Rhones. If your friend wanted to get a Beaucastal Roussanne V.V., that would be the place I would send him (caveat: this establishment is as far from the usual caviste as one is likely to find; they have office space on the 5th floor of an office tower, with cellars in the lower depths. Visitors to the office see no wine at all and must order online). As for what I'd serve with the fish, the saltiness of the tapenade would steer me to something off-dry, like your top GruVe or a Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris (Indice 2-3) or how about a good Provençal rosé?

Relevant hyperlinks:

HTH Mark Lipton

wow - a guy that really OWNED a restaurant in france???? that must make him some kind of celebrity. there are very few places to purchase wine in chicago - 'good thing you planned ahead for such an important event.

if the guy wants to get some in chicago, i'd recommend rush street. if he just wants wine, he might try a wine shop.

looking for a

Chardonnay or

Help me out here Ian. A top GruVe? I am not familiar with this, and a google search gives a bunch of garbage about raves.

Thanks

Tom Schellberg

" snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" wrote in news:1110854426.313772.228490 @f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Gruner Veltliner, an Austrian white

Thanks

I just didn't recognize the abbreviation.

Tom Schellberg

Salut/Hi snipped-for-privacy@aol.com,

le/on 14 Mar 2005 19:00:59 -0800, tu disais/you said:-

Sorry Tom, it's a barbarism I learnt here. I thought it was current.

By the way... it appears that mother and son have forbidden white. I've suggested that François tells them they're on their own. But if anyone can come up with any suggestion less than frightful, I suppose it would be a kindness.

Sigh.

Egad! Would they similarly balk at a rosé? If so, then *mumble mumble* Pineau D'Aunis???

Yours sympathetically, Mark Lipton

] Ian Hoare wrote: ] > Salut/Hi snipped-for-privacy@aol.com, ] > ] > le/on 14 Mar 2005 19:00:59 -0800, tu disais/you said:- ] > ] > ] >>Thanks ] >>

] >>I just didn't recognize the abbreviation. ] > ] > ] > Sorry Tom, it's a barbarism I learnt here. I thought it was current. ] > ] > By the way... it appears that mother and son have forbidden white. I've ] > suggested that François tells them they're on their own. But if anyone can ] > come up with any suggestion less than frightful, I suppose it would be a ] > kindness. ] > ] > Sigh. ] ] Egad! Would they similarly balk at a rosé? If so, then *mumble mumble* ] Pineau D'Aunis??? ]

Aha! A coteaux du Loir might not be a bad match. And dark red enough to satisfy the peanut gallery. Otherwise, how about Arbois? Or even a chilled Bourgueil, or (dare I say it) Fleury?

Hmm, all French, they should try something American. What's a good domestic red to reccomend with Mahi Mahi?

-E