MOCOOL 2009 AUG 15th!

One of the organizers asked me to post this here. To contact them please join their Yahoo group.
Log in to Yahoo.com. Click "groups" on the left hand bar. Look for MoCool-Announce.

> -----Original Message-----
> CABIN FEVER!
>
> Yes Virginia, there really will be a MoCool this year.

>
> So here's enough information for everyone to:
>
> * Save the date
> * Book accommodations
> * Pay your attendance or other fees
> * Pick out only your finest wines
>
> -And dig up that old Doris Day album for the theme.... Que Syrah,
> Syrah,
> Part Deux, Revisited, Again.
>
> Date:
> =========================
> Saturday August 15
>
> Accommodations:
> =========================
> This is a little complicated, but not that bad. Here goes.
>
> If you rented a cabin last year, you have first dibs. Price and
> availability is the same as last year. You can arrive as early as
> Thursday, August 13, and the price is $55 per person, per night. If you
> take three out of four spaces in a 4-person cabin, you must rent all
> four, and are free to find a body to fill that spot. Clay will try to
> coordinate but would appreciate it if you try too and get the most
> utilization possible.
>
> Several people have spoken up for cabins already. If you expressed an
> interest and still want a spot, expect to be contacted by email no
> later
> than Sunday July 5 at Noon. If you asked and don't get an email one
> way
> or the other by then, please email clay again at clay@chartermi.net
>
> Here is the priority we'll apply to assigning cabins:
>
> (1) Last year renter, any space
> (2) 2-3 nights, full cabin
> (3) 2-3 nights, less than full cabin
> (4) 1 night, full cabin
> (5) 1 night, less than full cabin
>
> Attendance fees:
> =========================
> Attendance to MoCool is priced the same as last year at $55.00 per
> person. Please send payment by check, payable to “MoCool, LTD” to:
> Clay
> Johnson, 5625 Crest Court, Dexter, MI 48130. We'd prefer you pay via
> mailed check as it saves us 3%+ in Paypal fees. You can s till pay
> that> way if you insist, but then the onus is on you to bring a 3% better
> wine
> along to share.
>
> The Theme, Syrah! Que Syrah Syrah Part Deux
> ==================================================
> Insert Joel Goldberg awesome witticisms and regalia here. I can't
> write
> that well.
>
> Bring your very best Syrah to show off to your buddies.

Hi Julia,

I will see you there. The Noland brothers have reserved a cabin at the lake. We will be there Thursday night-Sunday morning.

[Jenise]

Why don't I slap a stickie on this for you?

Gee, Jenise, no one has ever offered to slap a stickie on anything for me before...I like it. Go for it!

Thanks!
JuliaB

[Jenise]

Gee, Jenise, no one has ever offered to slap a stickie on...me before...I like it.

Are we still talking about your post?

JB, I will of course be there again this year, my 13th consecutive. I have asked for a reservation at the lodge, but Clay has not yet let me know whether I have one or not, nor if I have one which one. I also have a reservation at the Best Western at Whitmore Lake. Just trying to cover all the bases and not miss out on any of the fun.

Linda and I will be there again this year. The Original Que Syrah, Syrah was my first MoCool (as a Rhone lover, how could I resist?). See you there, people.

JB, I will of course be there again this year, my 13th consecutive. I have asked for a reservation at the lodge, but Clay has not yet let me know whether I have one or not, nor if I have one which one. I also have a reservation at the Best Western at Whitmore Lake. Just trying to cover all the bases and not miss out on any of the fun.

Sounds like you are hyped up Bob H? Which Syrahs are you digging out of the cellar?
No doubt you will be taking a white or two for apperitif?

Sounds like you are hyped up Bob H? Which Syrahs are you digging out of the cellar? No doubt you will be taking a white or two for apperitif?

Hi Bob,

I haven't completely made up my mind as to which syrah I will take to Mo'Cool this year. I am in the planning stage as we speak/type. I am considering some mid 90's Ch. Tahbilk 1860s vine, also I have a couple bottles (different vintages) of Victor de la Serna's syrah from Spain of course, and I have a couple bottles of 1996 Qupe Bien Nacido Hillside Estate syrah. I think I also have a 98 of that same wine. Then there is the 1996 Guigal Cote Rotie I posted on in another thread. Yes, It is likely that I will take several vintages of Tahbilk marsanne to show off. Probably some 95,98,99,00, and 02. Mo'Cool is in August and one needs some white and some rosé in summer.

I confess in advance to ignorance, and even give myself three stripes with the cat o'nine tails as I say mea maxima culpa, but will one of you good folk please tell me: "Just what is Mocool?" I tried searching on Yahoo and found nothing........

Thanks
Roigov

I confess in advance to ignorance, and even give myself three stripes with the cat o'nine tails as I say mea maxima culpa, but will one of you good folk please tell me: "Just what is Mocool?" I tried searching on Yahoo and found nothing........

Thanks
Roigov

Daniel,
This will be the short version of "what is Mo'Cool. Mo'Cool is an abbreviation of Motown Cooperative Off-Line, which is a gathering of wine lovers occurring in Ann Arbor (AA) Michigan each August. It was begun in 1992 by some local (AA) guys and gals, and has been going ever since save 2007. in the early years the gathering was held at the home of one or the others of the local Mo'Coolers, most notably Joel and Sally Goldberg. The schedule in those days was to gather on Friday, and a dinner was planned at a local Detroit area restaurant with the meal and wines planned by Madeline Triffon master sommelier who overseas such things for a local Detroit area restaurant group.

Eventually the gathering grew too large for a Saturday backyard picnic and wine mosh pit and another solution had to be found. Currently and for several years now, we have been fortunate to be given the use of a lodge located on a small lake near Dexter Mi, which has in the lodge a professional kitchen, allowing a meal fit for a king to be cooked and served. We contract for a tent and tables to be set up, and there is usually 200 or more bottles on the table. A theme is set for each year, but off theme wines of good to great quality seem to make their appearance for which I am grateful. And in the early years there was a brunch (great quality food and wines) was held on Sunday at the Polo fields golf and country club in AA.

these last few years the activities have been scaled back to a Saturday picnic at the lake, and frequently one of the locals will host a gathering on Friday evening, which seems to go into the wee hours, and of which it is not possible for me to sing sufficient praise.

I have not ever in my 13 consecutive years of Mo'Cool actually counted the bottles of wine, but it has been well over 300 bottles on the tables, and perhaps even twice that many. As to the Saturday picnic there are no hard and fast rules, but the unspoken rule is to bring the best......IOW no white zin please. As I said this is the short version of what Mo'Cool is. Suffice it to say, that this is one of, if not THE, best wine offline in the world! (one mans opinion)

Bob, Hi and Many Thanks!!!!! Indeed, sounds like quite a blast!

Best
Rogov

...As I said this is the short version of what Mo'Cool is. Suffice it to say, that this is one of, if not THE, best wine offline in the world! (one mans opinion)

I agree. I've helped host NiagaraCOOL for 5 years and can really appreciate what the organizers do to pull this off. I think my favorite MOCOOL was 2006, when I had the utter pleasure of tasting through a dozen 1990 vintage Champagnes - and I missed the Dom.

Bob, Hi and Many Thanks!!!!! Indeed, sounds like quite a blast!
Best
Rogov

Daniel, we would be quite honored if you could find some way to attend this year! In years past we have had attendees from as far away as South Africa, and Australia and you would be our first from Israel. It's fun to be the first!

Cindy and I are planning to attend this year as well. Looking forward to it!

Daniel, we would be quite honored if you could find some way to attend this year! In years past we have had attendees from as far away as South Africa, and Australia and you would be our first from Israel. It's fun to be the first!

Bob, Hi...


Many thanks for the kind invitation. I'd love to make it there....sounds like a fun, friendly event. Alas, I'm scheduled for that period to be in Tuscany.

Best
Rogov

Daniel, we would be quite honored if you could find some way to attend this year! In years past we have had attendees from as far away as South Africa, and Australia and you would be our first from Israel. It's fun to be the first!

Bob, Hi...


Many thanks for the kind invitation. I'd love to make it there....sounds like a fun, friendly event. Alas, I'm scheduled for that period to be in Tuscany.

Best
Rogov

Tuscany?? What does Tuscany have over Ann Arbor, second weekend of August? Sounds like a pretty feeble excuse to me.

Rogov, dear, Mike is right...what could possibly be more enticing than Ann Arbor, Michigan in August?? Of course, if ever you would bless us with your presence, it would indeed be cause to celebrate!

Cheers!
JuliaB

Make you guys a deal. Let me know well in advance when Mocool 2010 is scheduled and I'll see if I can't time one of my American trips for that event. It would be great to meet many of you!!!

Best
Rogov

[James Roscoe]

Advance scheduling for MoCool? Most MoCoolers here make plans for when they think it MIGHT be and hope and pray that there actually WILL be a MoCool. (Julia and Bob go to the extreme of actually planning their own MoCool when one does not materialize.)

Rogov, that would be fantastic! I will definitely take you up on that offer!

See you in 2010!
JuliaB

Daniel,
It's usually sometime in August but the actual weekend varies.

I will try to make it this year but it comes close on the hills of a visit to Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA the weekend before. Maybe I can get there for Friday and Saturday and leave on Sunday where last year I think I came on Thursday and left on Monday. I will probably stay at Best Western Whitmore Lake or in Ann Arbor.

Daniel,
It's usually sometime in August but the actual weekend varies.

I will try to make it this year but it comes close on the hills of a visit to Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA the weekend before. Maybe I can get there for Friday and Saturday and leave on Sunday where last year I think I came on Thursday and left on Monday. I will probably stay at Best Western Whitmore Lake or in Ann Arbor.

Jane, it will be nice to see you again this year. As always I am sure there will be good food, good wine, and good friends. I do have a reservation at the Best Western, but have also applied for a bunk in a cabin at the lake.

JC,
Ditto what BobH said! Looking forward to the "family reunion" in August!

Cheers!
JuliaB