IPNC week is here!
I’m just back from Seattle, where I got to see soccer giants Chelsea play a pre-season match against the Seattle Sounders of the MLS – in front of 65,000 crazed fans at Qwest Field. What a blast! Huge thanks to our great friend and customer Phil Franks for hooking us up with our new friend and customer Ed Murray, who hooked us up with the tix.
A stadium full of fellow soccer geeks!
Chelsea had only returned to training for a few days after their 6-week summer break – but even rusty and out of shape, their superior skills and talent clearly showed, and they cruised to an easy 2-0 victory. It was great to see Frank Lampard score a goal, and new signing Daniel Sturridge as well. With all the upheaval around the Premier League this year, it could be anybody’s title for the taking, and Chelsea will certainly challenge for the top. (Just to be clear, I am an Arsenal supporter. I’d say we’re in good shape for another top-4 finish, with an outside shot at the title…)
A sweet spot on the lake...
We then headed for the “after party” at Ed’s gorgeous lakefront digs on the shores of Lake Samammish. Great beef was grilled, many excellent wines were opened – including a ’96 Pol Roger bubbler, assorted old ports and Cabernet-based wines from CA and Bordeaux (hey it was only Port and Bordeaux, I didn’t take notes!), and a bottle of ’99 Charmes Chambertin from Taupenot-Merme that was showing exceptionally well.
Now on to the final prep for IPNC 2009, kicking off with our sold-out dinner here at the winery Thursday night with special guests Anne & Hervé Sigaut from Chambolle-Musigny. They’ll be pouring and participating in all the IPNC events throughout the weekend, and we’ll be featuring their gorgeous wines here at the tasting room all week – so one way or the other, plan to get up close and personal with the Sigaut wines asap.
Time to get into the cellar and pick out some good bottles for all the dinners coming up, including the Paulée-style Salmon Bake soirée at IPNC Saturday night. Here’s another shot from last year’s bacchanalia…
Kelley Fox with Thiébault & Marielle Huber
