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Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:32 pm
by Comte Flaneur
Alex turned 70 today

Happy birthday my old friend

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:24 pm
by dstgolf
Congrats Alex. Aging like a fine wine!

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:32 pm
by Blanquito
70 is the new 30, Alex. Happy bday, I hope you drink something special.

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:41 pm
by jal
Happy birthday Alex. Many many more and wishing you only good things

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:29 pm
by JimHow
To ChatGPT:

Write a birthday poem to my friend Alex Rychlewski, an American ex-patriot and Bordeaux Wine Enthusiast who lives in Bordeaux, France, and is 70 years old today.

….

In Bordeaux's embrace, a connoisseur thrives,
Alex Rychlewski, the wine enthusiast, with age he strives.
Seventy years have adorned his vibrant path,
A life of passion and Bordeaux's aftermath.

From the land of stars and stripes, he took flight,
An American soul, seeking France's delight.
In Bordeaux's vineyards, his heart found its place,
A taste of heaven's nectar, his eternal grace.

With every sip, his spirit dances with glee,
As Bordeaux's secrets whisper, "Come, let me be."
From the bold Cabernets to velvety Merlots,
Alex's devotion to wine forever flows.

His cellar's filled with treasures, aged to perfection,
Each bottle telling stories, a reflection of his affection.
From Pauillac to Saint-Émilion, his palate explored,
A journey of flavors, a symphony encored.

Today, we celebrate a milestone so grand,
Seventy years of life, a legacy in his hand.
To Alex Rychlewski, a friend tried and true,
May Bordeaux's blessings continue to renew.

Raise your glass high, a toast to this special day,
To an ex-patriot who found his love in Bordeaux's sway.
Happy 70th birthday, dear Alex, with joy we sing,
May your Bordeaux dreams forever take wing!

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:55 pm
by JCNorthway
I cannot hold a candle to ChatGPT, but Happy Birthday, Alex.

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:59 pm
by DavidG
Happy birthday Alex!

Nice gesture Jim. Just keep AI out of your briefs. And out of your court filings, too. ;)

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:26 pm
by stefan
Welcome to the septuagenarian club, Alex!

Best,

Bill

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 1:58 am
by ericp
Jim, that’s great - nicely done.

Wishing you many many more birthdays Alex, you are aging like a 1929 Bordeaux!!

Eric

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:25 pm
by JoelD
Happy 70th, Alex! Hope to see you again soon.

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 2:40 pm
by tim
Bon anniversaire Alex!!

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:52 pm
by Nicklasss
Joyeux anniversaire à mon bon ami Alex. Une belle journée à toi, avec les personnes que tu aimes.

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 9:47 pm
by AKR
That is quite the poetic homage! Congratulations

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 6:10 pm
by AlexR
Hi guys,

Many thanks for your birthday wishes.

Jim, I showed your poem around to friends and family and we all loved it.
What a great idea!
What input did you put into ChatGPT for them to come up with it?
I invited 35 people over to dinner to celebrate my birthday, which entailed a lot of work. But it was well worth it. We had good wine, but nothing earthshaking.
I served four magnums of NV Champagne: one each of Mumm Cordon Rouge and Jacquesson Cuvée 742, and two of Bollinger. We all pretty much preferred the Bollinger. It is definitely my favorite grande marque. I long to go there one day…

We also had magnums of 2016 Ch. de Ferran and Ch. Seguin, two wines from Pessac-Léognan. The Seguin was really lovely, as good as some crus classes. The 17 Langoa Barton was thin and angular. We also had other mid-range wines, mostly from Burgundy and the Roussillon.
My daughter and grandson flew in from England for the bash which finished, as it ought to, with a good cigar (Wide Churchill from Romeo y Juileta) and Pierre de Sognozac XO Cognac.

All the best to my BWE friends,
Carpe Diem,
Alex

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 6:17 pm
by JCNorthway
Sounds like the right way to celebrate, including the cigar and Cognac.

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:19 pm
by Claudius2
Yes happy birthday!
Hope to meet you again in Bordeaux some time.
Cheers
Mark

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:16 am
by greatbxfreak
Hi Alex,

You were born in 1953, which is a spectacular Bordeaux vintage, when the bottle has perfect provenance, and you obviously hadn't tasted any on the day. But it's a choice of course how to celebrate your birthday.

I chose differently, and In December 2016, when I celebrated my 70th birthday, I invited about 15 people to my event at a great restaurant in Copenhagen with a menu suggested by myself and created by the chef and 27 exclusive wines. Unfortunately, 9 people didn't accept the invitation for different reasons, so we ended with 6 participants (me included). 27 wines for 6 people. There was enough wine for the sommeliers and kitchen staff after the tasting diner. The wines tasted were a historic line-up. 0 was the second digit of my age, and 6 was the last digit of the year I was born in.

It was a life-time moment and I maybe repeat it in some way in three years time when I be 80 years old
Menu_and_wines_for_the_evening_2.jpg

Re: Happy Birthday Alex!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:24 pm
by AlexR
Izak,

One of the high points of my life was drinking 1953 Château Margaux during a lunch at the château.

Mind you, 1961 Margaux from magnum at the château with fellow BWEers wasn't too shabby either.

Alex