The aftermath…
IPNC 2010 is in the books, and once again we’ve lived to tell the tale. And what a tale – as it is every year at this magnificent event. This was the 10th straight IPNC I’ve participated in, and while each of them tend to blend together into one delicious memory, they all take on their own unique personalities as well.
This year we kicked it off with a stellar dinner in the cellars on Thursday night. We knew it was going to rock, but not that hard. Chef Vitaly Paley and team totally brought their “A game” – and pulled out all the stops for a meal that seemed to be the buzz of IPNC all weekend long.
Chef Paley at the stove, in my favorite t-shirt...
The rabbit salad was mind-blowing, while the ribeye was transcendent. 30-day dry-aged, hay-smoked over oak wine barrel chunks and grilled to perfection – I can still taste the beef four days later…
Sink your teeth into this...
It was an honor to have Allen Meadows, Ray Isle, and Greg La Follette with us, not to mention young Paul & Louis Meunier, the next generation of Domaine J-J Confuron in Burgundy. It was their first trip ever to the U.S., and as I drove them to the airport last night they were already plotting to return next year!
Gilles Ballorin, Kelley Fox, and Louis & Paul Meunier at Azana Vyd.
The seminars and tastings throughout the weekend were well-executed and interesting as always. The two big dinners on Friday & Saturday nights are always where the great wines show up. This years’ highlights for me were the Mugnier ’07 Amoureuses – drop-dead sexy and the most beautiful mouthfeel I’ve ever come across in a young wine, the ’00 de Vogüé Musigny, the ’97 Leflaive Pucelles, ’01 Amoureuses from both Groffier and Drouhin, ’01 RSV from Confuron (stunning!), an ’01 Montrachet from Drouhin, ’01 Mazoyères from Taupenot-Merme, and several other goodies I can’t recall in my current state!
The revelry in full effect at the IPNC Salmon Bake
It was great to see everyone over the course of the weekend – tons of friends old and new, and I already can’t wait for IPNC 2011 – the big 25th anniversary blow-out that should be quite the extravaganza! Now, back to my much-needed annual post-IPNC restorative nap…
