November 22nd, 2006 – 37,500 feet above the Atlantic
Well, there’s no wifi connection up here (at least not yet – probably soon though!) Actually, my laptop is detecting someone’s wireless computer-to-computer network hee on the plane, but I think I’ll decline to connect…
Since the last entry I have had time to recover from the sheer blitzkrieg of wines at the Paulée – I was actually very disciplined and spit everything all day, thus emerging sober but with a very tired palate. Others around me were not so cautious – fortunately most folks were staying within walking distance. (OK, I didn’t spit everything – I may have swallowed a sip or two of the ’49 Pommard and the ’31 Bonnes Mares – it would have been a sacrilige not to!)
On the business end of things this has been a tremendously productive trip, and our portfolio of Burgundy producers will soon be growing from eight to 12 or 13. I really can’t say anything until all the details are put to bed, but suffice it to say there will be some Romanée-St.-Vivant and Chambolle-Musigny “Les Amoureuses” in our future. Nothing could make me happier (well, maybe a little Musigny and Richebourg too, but I don’t want to be greedy. All things in good time!)
I can’t believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and that the day after we will be hosting a few tousand of our closest friends at the first T-Giving weekend Open House celebration in our new facilities. Please join us – and the hot tip is to come early, before the crowds – we’re opening at 10 each day for your dining and dancing pleasure… I sure do miss my girls at home- only another 18 hours of travel left to go until I’m home in Portland and surrounded by the people I love!
November 20th, 2006 – This is better than Christmas and a birthday combined. Today is my favorite day of the year – La Paulée in Burgundy. Véronique Drouhin attracts a hand-picked group of producers and collectors from around the planet for this event in the ancient cellars at Drouhin – and it is quite possibly the best gathering of Burgundy geeks on the planet.
“Lunch” started at 12:30 and ended after 7:00. Here’s a partial list of the wines that were going around. I’m sure I missed at least as many, but this is what made it into my glass over the course of the day:
2000 Montrachet – Marquis de Laguiche/Drouhin
1986 Montrachet – Remoissonet
1992 Montrachet – Lafon
1993 Batard Montrachet – Leflaive
1976 Chevalier Montrachet les Demoiselles – Latour
1993 Montrachet – Thenard
1985 Montrachet – Marquis de Laguiche/Drouhin
1992 Ille des Vergelesses – Chandon de Briailles
1952 Meursault Charmes – Jobard-Morey
1979 Puligny Caillerets – Drouhin
1991 Corton – Chandon de Briailles
1993 Meursault Perrières – Morey
Then the reds:
1985 Volnay Santenots – Lafon
1966 Bonnes Mares – de Vogüé
1978 Gevrey-Chambertin – René Leclerc
1949 Pommard – Verdereau
1996 La Romanée – Bouchard
1976 Vosne-Romanée – Jayer
2000 Echezeaux – Grivot
1966 Vosne-Romanée les Suchots – Nicolas
1976 Clos Vougeot- Mugneret
1989 Clos Vougeot – Jadot
1985 La Romanée – Bouchard
1985 Ruchottes Chambertin – Mugneret
1983 Grands Echezeaux – Gros Frère & Soeur
1988 Cros Parantoux – Jayer
1953 Musigny – de Vogüé
1993 Musigny – de Vogüé
1987 Chambolle-Musigny – Lignier
1985 Clos St. Denis – Dujac
1955 Romanée-St. Vivant – Bouchard
1959 Romanée-St. Vivant – Drouhin
1976 Clos des Mouches – Drouhin
1993 Echezeaux – Rouget
1985 Amoureuses – Serveau
1990 Amoureuses – Serveau
1935 Pommard Epenots – Ganou
1986 Latricières – unknown
1998 d’Enfant Jesus – Bouchard
1978 d’Enfant Jesus – Bouchard
1990 Griotte-Chambertin – Drouhin
1990 Clos de la Roche – Drouhin
1919 Moulin-a-Vent – producer unknown
1945 Richebourg – Noellat
1978 Vonay Santenots – Potel
1971 Grands Echezeaux – Villamont
1966 Chambertin – Jadot
1988 Corton Clos du Roi – Chandon de Briailles
1987 Grands Echezeaux – DRC
1993 Beaune 1er – Prosper Mafoux
1993 Clos du Chateau des Ducs – Lafarge
1993 Richebourg – Grivot
1990 Corton Clos du Roi – Faively
1985 Charmes-Chambertin – Leroy
1949 Musigny – Bichot
1959 Ille des Vergelesses – Chandon de Briailles
1964 Griotte Chambertin – Drouhin
1949 Chambertin – Thorin
1931 Bonnes Mares – Groffier
1966 Clos de Beze – Clair Dau
And a bunch of stickies, including:
1976 d’Yquem
1975 d’Yquem
1986 Jurancon ( a late harvest Petite Menseng – amazing stuff)
And finishing with the legendary:
1961 Krug – in magnum.
All I can say is Holy Shit! As impossible as it seems, it just gets better every year. Huge thanks to our hostess Véronique Drouhin, and of course everyone who brought and shared these amazing wines.
My wines of the day: – ’31 Bonnes Mares, ’59 RSV, ’64 Griotte, ’49 Pommard, and the 1919 Moulin-a-Vent (Beaujolais doesnt age well, of course…!)
