London 2023 BWE convention
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 3:02 pm
I'm still emotionnaly high. I can't barely get out of my dream. This was epic, but which BWE event is not epic?
Again, going to a BWE event is always like a gentle fun compromise, in term of time, budget and not being with your family. But want it or not, i'm the one who thought from start that if we can focus on the people, that would make the BWE experience bigger, funnier, cooler and one of the most wortwhile as human friendship.
After the obligatory covid break, it was great to find back my BWE friends, in London that is a great city, for a few days. Comte Flaneur organized some truly splendid venues for each night, and i can't thank him enough for that, for his high commitment to accomodate friends the best he could. Bravo!
So people first. I was happy to see back Comte Flaneur just 8 months after last summer. Ian is truely a great person, focusing on sincerity and grest time. Anobody could handle with him for a long time, a quality that most BWEers has. His generosity on that weekend was immense, almost made us cry on Saturday night. Can't wait to see you back Ian.
I was happy to see AlexR after all those years, last time being 2015. Alex is one of the most sympathetic person, with his special France French attitude, and now light US caracter. Comfortable relationship with everyone, like to argue at the same time, any time with Alex is kind of philosophical and re-energizing. Love him and he doesn't get any impact of ages, bein essentially the sae guy i met in 2003...
Handling with Tom and Gail is very great, to make you feel unserious, young of heart, and priviledge, as they are a great couple. Caring a lot for others, you can just feel appreciate by them, so you return the same to them. Inviting and very generous person, Tom again showed his "wine generosity" in London. Big hug to them.
Nalan an MichaelP are also among the coolest people that exist. Of course, i know MichaelP since the very beginning in 2001, and always had a great relationship with him. Nalan is so lovely, positive, smiling, handling with them is great. They have that "open" WestCoast attitude (like Ed and Lisa by theway), and i'm just looking forward to when in the future, i can spend a bit more time with them, with MC.
Lisa an Ed are also a top couple of BWE. Knowing them since 2002, had many conventions/some offlines in their company, always impressed by the gentle attitude of Lisa and the demonstrative character of Ed. Even if i don't do many activiies out of he official dinners with them, it is always a pleasure to sit next to them as you're sure you'll have great discussions about the wines, and genuine special time commenting what going on during the night. I will write it here: i will probably never get back to a big bandwagon visit of Bordeaux Châteaux with BWE in the future, but if Lisa and Ed are part of it, might change my mind!
Tim McCraken, c'est Nickel! Tim is also one of the most generous person, so kind, looking at others. Many conventions too with Tim, and i can just say that you just can't get enough of Tim. Can discuss about anything, always calm, caring, and very fun at the same time. Tim is balanced like a 1937 Pichon Lalande... this say it all. Always in great company with Tim.
Marc Spector might be a quiet guy, but he is also one of the BWE i saw the most at BWE events. A great true BWEers! I have sit near him or at the same table often, discussing about our kids, saying what bug us with sometype of wine... The reserved personnality of Howard is a shield, but personnally, i have always big fun with the Dallas guy. In London, passed some times with the man and few other BWEers out of dinner times, having challenge Howard on Burgundy Friday night, all things that makes my frienship with Howard. Never been to Texas, but i have to plan it sooner than later.
blanquito. Ah, blanquito. About same age as me, same type of significant other, same age range kids, same type of attitude, same palate... oups, maybe not that last one, but it is good. But at the same time, i rated the 2019 Bordeaux from the blind tasting exactly the same as Pat! To be fair, did not spend enough time with blanquito in London, even if we went shortly for ales on Friday night, but what a great person again. Serious and not, profound and light thoughts about wine, he is like a cousin to me (i don't think i'm at his bro level up to now...). Patrick is the type of guy you're always looking forward to see again. I will look what i can do to bring him (and other BWEers) to Québec City. And why not the whole of his family, that we finally feel badly judge by our respective wife? Another of the BWEer i enjoy the most.
JoelD is the youngest energic overflowing wine passionate of BWE. I remember most of us being like him 20 years ago... After meeting him in 2020, i was looking forward to handle with him back in London, and so we did, and so i appreciate him even more. What to say? A bit too much wine oriented at the moment (i think he probably visited 10-15 wine shops in London?), off dinner time with Joel was special as he is open to everything, joking attitude, but at the same time i can see his appreciation of the group is growing on him. He say he still learning about wine (we all do by the way), but he has a great palate for sure. If we can have more young people that are like Joel, the future of BWE will be great. And don't get me wrong, we discussed about way other topics than wine too. See you soon Joel, in your hometown or elsewhere.
I'll come back with Jim.
Again, going to a BWE event is always like a gentle fun compromise, in term of time, budget and not being with your family. But want it or not, i'm the one who thought from start that if we can focus on the people, that would make the BWE experience bigger, funnier, cooler and one of the most wortwhile as human friendship.
After the obligatory covid break, it was great to find back my BWE friends, in London that is a great city, for a few days. Comte Flaneur organized some truly splendid venues for each night, and i can't thank him enough for that, for his high commitment to accomodate friends the best he could. Bravo!
So people first. I was happy to see back Comte Flaneur just 8 months after last summer. Ian is truely a great person, focusing on sincerity and grest time. Anobody could handle with him for a long time, a quality that most BWEers has. His generosity on that weekend was immense, almost made us cry on Saturday night. Can't wait to see you back Ian.
I was happy to see AlexR after all those years, last time being 2015. Alex is one of the most sympathetic person, with his special France French attitude, and now light US caracter. Comfortable relationship with everyone, like to argue at the same time, any time with Alex is kind of philosophical and re-energizing. Love him and he doesn't get any impact of ages, bein essentially the sae guy i met in 2003...
Handling with Tom and Gail is very great, to make you feel unserious, young of heart, and priviledge, as they are a great couple. Caring a lot for others, you can just feel appreciate by them, so you return the same to them. Inviting and very generous person, Tom again showed his "wine generosity" in London. Big hug to them.
Nalan an MichaelP are also among the coolest people that exist. Of course, i know MichaelP since the very beginning in 2001, and always had a great relationship with him. Nalan is so lovely, positive, smiling, handling with them is great. They have that "open" WestCoast attitude (like Ed and Lisa by theway), and i'm just looking forward to when in the future, i can spend a bit more time with them, with MC.
Lisa an Ed are also a top couple of BWE. Knowing them since 2002, had many conventions/some offlines in their company, always impressed by the gentle attitude of Lisa and the demonstrative character of Ed. Even if i don't do many activiies out of he official dinners with them, it is always a pleasure to sit next to them as you're sure you'll have great discussions about the wines, and genuine special time commenting what going on during the night. I will write it here: i will probably never get back to a big bandwagon visit of Bordeaux Châteaux with BWE in the future, but if Lisa and Ed are part of it, might change my mind!
Tim McCraken, c'est Nickel! Tim is also one of the most generous person, so kind, looking at others. Many conventions too with Tim, and i can just say that you just can't get enough of Tim. Can discuss about anything, always calm, caring, and very fun at the same time. Tim is balanced like a 1937 Pichon Lalande... this say it all. Always in great company with Tim.
Marc Spector might be a quiet guy, but he is also one of the BWE i saw the most at BWE events. A great true BWEers! I have sit near him or at the same table often, discussing about our kids, saying what bug us with sometype of wine... The reserved personnality of Howard is a shield, but personnally, i have always big fun with the Dallas guy. In London, passed some times with the man and few other BWEers out of dinner times, having challenge Howard on Burgundy Friday night, all things that makes my frienship with Howard. Never been to Texas, but i have to plan it sooner than later.
blanquito. Ah, blanquito. About same age as me, same type of significant other, same age range kids, same type of attitude, same palate... oups, maybe not that last one, but it is good. But at the same time, i rated the 2019 Bordeaux from the blind tasting exactly the same as Pat! To be fair, did not spend enough time with blanquito in London, even if we went shortly for ales on Friday night, but what a great person again. Serious and not, profound and light thoughts about wine, he is like a cousin to me (i don't think i'm at his bro level up to now...). Patrick is the type of guy you're always looking forward to see again. I will look what i can do to bring him (and other BWEers) to Québec City. And why not the whole of his family, that we finally feel badly judge by our respective wife? Another of the BWEer i enjoy the most.
JoelD is the youngest energic overflowing wine passionate of BWE. I remember most of us being like him 20 years ago... After meeting him in 2020, i was looking forward to handle with him back in London, and so we did, and so i appreciate him even more. What to say? A bit too much wine oriented at the moment (i think he probably visited 10-15 wine shops in London?), off dinner time with Joel was special as he is open to everything, joking attitude, but at the same time i can see his appreciation of the group is growing on him. He say he still learning about wine (we all do by the way), but he has a great palate for sure. If we can have more young people that are like Joel, the future of BWE will be great. And don't get me wrong, we discussed about way other topics than wine too. See you soon Joel, in your hometown or elsewhere.
I'll come back with Jim.