Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

I was thinking that one way to do it would be to schedule a series of dinners for Weds-Thursday-Friday in mid-late March.

The one date I cannot do is the evening of Weds March 22 which is the US Fed/FOMC announcement (7pm London time).

So if it is that week, the week commencing Monday March 20 it would have to be Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

If it is the previous week or the week after it could be Weds, Thurs, Friday.

I would suggest night one, Italy, night two, burgundy and or Rhone and night three Bordeaux or some combination like that.

Then after London folks could go off to Paris on the Saturday and perhaps Bordeaux the week after.

The exchange rate has moved back a bit in recent weeks but is still highly favourable for US folk coming to Blighty and to France.

Thoughts and expressions of interest please.

For Lisa and me, the week of March 6th would be optimal (March 8-10), but we are still in a window where we can change plans.

Given the weeks you provided, I'd vote for the "previous" week, which would be March 15-17.

But we are in!

Personally, I can't do wine dinners 3 nights in a row, but would certainly be up for two.

SF Ed

Ed - early March would suit me well too - so let’s not exclude the whole month.

I think Blanquito has expressed a keen interest but April is out for him so all of March really

If I'm able to pull it off the one week that would be least good for me would be that week of March 8-10 as I have jury selection scheduled that week. Any of the remaining three weeks would probably be best for me, assuming I can even do it in the first place.

I’d love to come, and I can attend in principle if the dates work out. The second half of March is much more feasible for my calendar. Any chance for, say, March 22-25?

Second half of March would be better for me as well.

We can make the 2nd half of March work as well. What matters more for us is nailing down a date sooner rather than later if it isn't in early March.

I know MichaelP was interested too - hopefully he will weigh in soon.

SF Ed

Airfares look good.

Just communicated with MichaelP, sounds like he's in.
He'll be checking in himself soon.

I'm in. No travel plans for March.

Oui! Oui!

So my monthly trial schedules usually involve a jury selection on the first or second Thursday of each month, with trial exposure during the remaining business days of the month. Jury selection in March 2023 is on Thursday, March 9th. The March 22-25 dates that Patrick suggested would work for me, with the possibility of moving over to France into the next week. I'm thinking about flexible plans if I go over to France following London.

Lucie and I will certainly try to make it. It depends on whether it fits in around my work. I won't know for a while when we would be able to come.

I’m very likely in, pending finalizing some of the details. Looking forward to seeing everyone and finally meeting Ian in person!

1 - Are we setting up a week in Bordeaux after London that would mirror the trip we had planned in 2020? That changes the schedule A LOT!

2 - Or some shortened version, a few days (3?) after a few days (3?) in London? Also changes the schedule.

3 - We need to be in the Jacksonville, Florida area 3-8 Mar so for us the best would be to arrive LHR on 9 Mar. Otherwise we will head back to Calif on the 8th and make the trip over the pond from Calif.

4 - Except for 3-8 Mar, any time works for us in Mar.

5 - What is the schedule?

Michael-P

Hi,

I am pretty sure I can swing a trip to England any time in March 2023.

Alex R.

Looks like things are coming together!

Can we nail down the exact dates? It seems like Blanquito likes March 23-25, I'd vote for March 15-17, and everyone else either doesn't know or is in regardless. Just to be clear, we're in regardless - just expressing a preference.

Ian - what do you think?

SF Ed

Ed - I am flexible but the only evening where I won’t be a available is Weds March 22, so I would have a slight preference for either of the previous or the following weeks.

But even that week we could do dinners on the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, as you say not everyone can manage three wine dinners in three consecutive days.

But it would be good to 1/ settle on a date soon and 2/ get some idea of numbers quite soon too so I can book ahead.

In terms of numbers we can probably go up to 20. However going to Bordeaux in a group that size the following week would be more difficult in terms of arranging chateau visits.

15-17 would not be good for me as I would lose the whole month for trial. I can't come back from London and do a trial.
The best for me would be the week of March 27th.
Second best would be as Blanquito proposes.
Third best would be as SF Ed proposes.
I can't do it the week of the 8th Mike.
Like Eddie, two nights of drinking is pushing it for me these days.
I'm not sure whether I can go on to France, I may just leave my options open.
For now I think I'll book a flight from Boston to London on Tuesday of whatever week we choose, with return from London to Boston on that Sunday. I can always change things if I decide I can swing France the following week.

We cannot do 1-3 Apr.
MP

To me it is looking like March 22-25 is best.
For anyone in town on Wednesday perhaps we could do a light dinner, then do the main events with Comte on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th.
Sorry I can't do the week of the 8th Michael, that's going to be a lot of extra flying for you guys.

Can we clarify which days events would be on for each option? And it doesn't really matter to me, but is there a reason why we chose not to have the final one on a Saturday for the 22-25 dates?

Yes I was wondering that as well Joel.
What about Thursday Friday Saturday 22-25, if some advance on to France that can be accomplished on Sunday.

I am in for a Saturday blowout!

I am very unlikely to be able to join in for a post-London trip to France.

I think the initial view around not including Saturday was that Ian, our host, initially laid out other days. I'd slightly prefer weekdays, but again, am in for 2 days in any case.

Since some people (like me) are in for only two days and others seem up for 3, and Ian is unavailable on the 22nd, I would propose a DYI/non-formal get together on the 22nd followed by events on the 23rd and 24th. Kind of like the classic BWE format.

SF Ed

I am very happy if we have a Saturday blowout - I just suggested Weds to Fri because I thought some of you might want to go off to Paris on Saturday.

So that week in March the Thursday to Saturday March 23-25 would suit me very well

I like it!

I have three ‘go to’ restaurants here in London.

My local Italian Terra Rossa which is very generous with corkage, mid level informal with good food. Nic and Patrick have been there.

Noize a French restaurant basically tailor made for people like us. Jay, Nic, Alex and Patrick have been there.

La Trompette which is one of the best restaurants in the U.K. in Chiswick in West London. I think Jim, Tim and Alex have been there.

Those three at least are the - very wine friendly - fall back/base case. But there is scope to experiment and to be more adventurous.

Noize has a good basement space which I thing would be ideal for a BWE Saturday night blow out.

La T woudl be good for a Friday night maybe burg themed dinner - the food there is amazing.

But I am totally open to go with the flow, but I would like to book it up before too long.

Sounds great to me.
Unless MichaelP has a big objection, I say we go with:

Thursday, March 23
Friday March 24
Saturday March 25

That sounds like a plan to me. Based on what Ian just posted I'd go:

Thursday March 23rd - Intro night at Terra Rossa with Italian wines (I'd miss out on that one)
Friday March 24th - La Trompette for Burgundy
Saturday March 25th - Noize for an old-fashioned BWE Saturday night Bordeaux blowout

Is that a plan?

SF Ed

I took the liberty of changing the title....

March 23, 24, 25....

I booked my flight, I have 24 hours to cancel.

Departing Boston on Tuesday, March 21 in the morning, arriving in London on Tuesday at 7pm.
Departing London Sunday March 26 at 11:15am

Sounds perfect. I love it when a plan comes together. I should be in for all 3 nights. Who all is considering a short trip to France after?

I'm not ruling out France, Joel, but that's going to be tougher for me to commit to earlier.

Bump… I’m about to buy my ticket to London town, arriving the morning of March 23rd.

Captain, all systems go?!?!?

Yes!

Blanquito wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:22 pm Bump… I’m about to buy my ticket to London town, arriving the morning of March 23rd.

Captain, all systems go?!?!?

Heading back on the 26th?

Do most people plan to fly with their wine across the pond or source there? Any further tips/thoughts on this welcome. I’m always wary of shaking up these older wines.

JoelD wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:30 am

Blanquito wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:22 pm Bump… I’m about to buy my ticket to London town, arriving the morning of March 23rd.

Captain, all systems go?!?!?

Heading back on the 26th?

Do most people plan to fly with their wine across the pond or source there? Any further tips/thoughts on this welcome. I’m always wary of shaking up these older wines.

I was going to leave on the 26th, but my kids and wife are going to come over that day and we plan to move in with Ian indefinitely.

At least for old Bordeaux, I’ve had great luck lugging these bottles on long trips without any apparent injury. Of course, old Nebbiolo, and perhaps burgundy, is a different story.

Ian do you utilize Crump Richmond & Shaw in London?

Hi,

This sounds all very exciting .

There are apparently 3 evening events.

Would it be correct to assume that the unmissable "gala evening" is on Friday the 24th?

Ian, for those people who prefer to buy wine in London rather than cart it from thousands of miles away, do you have any suggestion(s) of somewhere with a good online selection?
Any ideas as to logistics so the wines won't be all shook up?

All the best,
Alex