BWE DC 2021 - Themes?

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Fri May 28, 2021 8:35 pm

Any thoughts for themes for the Friday and Saturday dinners?

Friday is always everything other than Bordeaux and Saturday is always Champagne followed by Bordeaux, and I don't see any reason for that to change.

But any theming around either of the evenings? I'm enjoying thinking about seeing all of you and selecting the wines already!

SF Ed

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Fri May 28, 2021 9:11 pm

1990, since we missed it in 2020?

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Fri May 28, 2021 9:40 pm

Blanquito wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 9:11 pm 1990, since we missed it in 2020?

We did a fair amount of 1990/2000 at BWE 2020. What about 1989 vs 1990? That would give us some fun comparisons with both verticals and horizontals.

Or just the 1981-1990 vintages? Wider range and could allow more people to participate in some of the debates we've had recently about the best consecutive vintages.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 28, 2021 9:50 pm

It all sounds good to me, I'm with the flow.
"1989 v. 1990"
"The Golden Decade of the 1980s"

As Eddie said, we usually do "Anything But Bordeaux" on Friday nights and "Champagne + Bordeaux" on Saturday nights.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 28, 2021 9:53 pm

...And, of course, even though we create themes for each night, that doesn't preclude anyone from bringing whatever they want, from any vintage.

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Sat May 29, 2021 12:58 am

I like it when a plan comes together.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 29, 2021 3:07 pm

“2001 - greatest overlooked vintage of all time”

Actually 2000 vs 2001 would legit be interesting

In 2024 I definitely want to do 2004 vs 2005 because so far in my experience 2004 has been better

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 29, 2021 3:08 pm

Also, I strongly favor a theme of “60 years since 1961” with someone else (not me) bringing all the perfectly stored 61s

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 29, 2021 4:08 pm

We should have a “one corner” for the oft-denigrated and vintages ending in one. 1981 vs 1982, 1991 vs 1990, 2001 vs 2000, 2011 vs 2010. This is their moment

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 29, 2021 4:18 pm

Also, we should have a side table for 2001 Sauternes. I unfortunately only have a few half bottles but can bring Rieussec, Suduiraut, De Malle

I am getting into this 2001 idea, can bring bottles of Pichon Baron, VCC and Pape Clement

Dandersson · Post by **Dandersson** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 11:47 pm

Another idea would be to gather enough wines from say debated estates for the BWE classification. Say some people might like Lynch Bages more than others. Could be an excellent time to figure those issues out.

marcs, saying 2001 Pichon Baron (any Pichon Baron would have done it), makes me want to come even more than before. Sadly, I will not be able to confirm until much later, and very unlikely to be able to attend.

Harry C. · Post by **Harry C.** » Wed Jun 09, 2021 6:43 pm

on another thread an obvious theme was suggested. 1995 versus 1996 Bordeaux.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:53 pm

I like that too.

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:43 pm

Harry C. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 09, 2021 6:43 pm on another thread an obvious theme was suggested. 1995 versus 1996 Bordeaux.

With this many people, it could totally be opened up to the best wines from 1981-2001. A lot of underrated vintages in there as well. This will be a great post covid celebration. Hopefully our Canadian and European friends can make it!

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:07 pm

Yeah, I'm all for people just bringing interesting Bordeaux with some age on it.
Thursday nights we usually round up a group for Champagne-Bordeaux-Sauternes as well, we'll see how many come in early.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 8:54 pm

Bumping this.

I’m all in on bringing any Bordeaux that has some age on it or is drinking well or even something young that’s of interest. Big tent.

That said, no harm in a suggested theme to coalesce around knowing there will be many off-theme bottles that are just as valued and welcome. I’ll be happy with any theme. Whether on- or off-theme, I’ll never turn my nose up at a Bordeaux from the greatest decade in my lifetime: 1981-1990!

Sounds like Thursday is trending Pomerol.

Friday is usually anything other than Bordeaux. Sometimes we have a few sub-themes.

Saturday is usually Champagne for the welcome hour, then red Bordeaux and finally Barsac/Sauternes.

jal · Post by **jal** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:31 pm

Blanquito suggested at some point California Pinot Noir for Friday. I think it be easy to expand the Pinot theme to have CA vs OR vs Burgundies. Let's see how good these St Innocent and Rhys Pinots really are when we put them next to a Volnay or a Chambolle.

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:55 pm

jal wrote: ↑Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:31 pm Blanquito suggested at some point California Pinot Noir for Friday. I think it be easy to expand the Pinot theme to have CA vs OR vs Burgundies. Let's see how good these St Innocent and Rhys Pinots really are when we put them next to a Volnay or a Chambolle.

This sounds fun and interesting. I'd be curious to check in on some quality oregon pinot's vs burgundy as well. I usually thumb my nose at cali pinots but I have a few. Could throw an Aubert chard in there at 15+% Abv and see what people think vs white burgs!

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 10:22 pm

I never saw any Friday night theme suggestions but it would be easy for me to bring great examples of California Pinot like Rhys and Littorai.

SF Ed

tim · Post by **tim** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 10:41 pm

I'll volunteer anyone who wants to bring some DRC to challenge SF Ed's Rhys.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 11:07 pm

I know some of you that squeezed in the convention just before lockdown did 1990 last year, but for those of us who weren’t there (or at least me!), it feels a little like 90 was “skipped”, especially after featuring the 89s so gloriously at BWE Denver 2019.

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:52 am

If y’all are doing Pinot on Friday, I’ll be with my cousin’s family. I love you guys but I have my limits.

Hm$

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:04 am

I’m with Howard, let’s do variety on Friday night.
Fridays tend to be my least exciting night because there’s no Bordeaux. That’s the night when I tend to drink lighter. I’m not sure how the whole anything but Bordeaux thing started. Why drink California Pinot when we see each other once every several years and we could be drinking Bordeaux. I mean, I like west coast Pinot too but I don’t feel I need to travel a thousand miles to drink it.

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:13 am

Ok, fine, let's make it a sub theme. TBH, I only go to the convention to see you guys, not to drink wines, wine is just a secondary thing. I would be happy going there and drinking only water and La Grande Dame

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:17 am

We can have it all Jacques, great friends AND great wines!

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:18 am

I’ll bring some fine Pinotage from Stellenbosch as a ringer for the subtheme.

Hn$

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:23 am

To be in your company, Howard, I'd drink it

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:35 am

JimHow wrote: ↑Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:04 am I’m with Howard, let’s do variety on Friday night.
Fridays tend to be my least exciting night because there’s no Bordeaux. That’s the night when I tend to drink lighter. I’m not sure how the whole anything but Bordeaux thing started. Why drink California Pinot when we see each other once every several years and we could be drinking Bordeaux. I mean, I like west coast Pinot too but I don’t feel I need to travel a thousand miles to drink it.

I agree with this, the whole anything but Bordeaux them is fun and allows a lot of different options. Although I normally prefer a loose theme, I think with enough people with great tastes and collections, great random wines can show up. Ie some loire cab franc, super tuscans, northern rhones, aged napa etc.

That way there can be something for everyone. And I can just have a few short pours of Cali pinot

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:46 am

Hm$(still) wrote: ↑Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:18 am I’ll bring some fine Pinotage from Stellenbosch as a ringer for the subtheme.

Hn$

It couldn’t be worse than the bottle of Yacochuya that was making the rounds at BWE Denver! … hmmm, I wonder who brought that?

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:47 am

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:56 am

Michel Rolland strikes again!

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 4:09 am

Howard - would you come if I brought luxury Uruguayan Tannat that tastes like a chocolate milkshake with blueberry syrup? That's pretty close to the Yacohuya

SF Ed

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 10:47 am

I would! But only as a ringer/science experiment. And only if it has Rolland’s signature on the bottle. That’s what makes it a fine wine.

Hm$

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 5:13 pm

I very seldom drink California Pinot but sometimes drink Oregon Pinot. I often drink red and white Burgundy so I will probably bring some of those on Friday - plus some nice Champagne, of course.

I don’t think there should be any restrictions on wines for Friday night. If you like, bring Cal Cab or Bordeaux or Pinotage, etc.

Chris Bublitz

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:10 am

It seems like we did not settle on a theme this year, or did I miss it?

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:46 pm

tim wrote: ↑Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:10 am It seems like we did not settle on a theme this year, or did I miss it?

I think we loosely settled on all of the good vintages between 1981-2001. Emphasis on 81-90, 95/96, 00/01

I have some 86's and 89's I'm planning on bringing.

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Thu Sep 23, 2021 2:12 am

Thoughts on the ‘86 Ducru?

Hm$

JCNorthway · Post by **JCNorthway** » Thu Sep 23, 2021 12:04 pm

If it is one of the OK bottles of 86 Ducru, it should be lovely. But many were flawed back then because of problems with bret (I think) in the winery. I bought 4 bottles and at least two were flawed. One of the bad ones was a bottle I brought to the 2016 BWE gathering in DC.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Thu Sep 23, 2021 1:19 pm

I'm just trying to bring 2001s and 2011s. I'm very unoriginal.

Speaking of which, I'm bringing a 2001 Suduiraut on Saturday -- anyone else have 2001 Sauternes to contribute? Legendary vintage!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Thu Sep 23, 2021 3:57 pm

JCNorthway wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 12:04 pm If it is one of the OK bottles of 86 Ducru, it should be lovely. But many were flawed back then because of problems with bret (I think) in the winery. I bought 4 bottles and at least two were flawed. One of the bad ones was a bottle I brought to the 2016 BWE gathering in DC.

I remember 2-3 of badly flawed mid-80’s Ducru bottles that evening, smelling mostly like TCA taint to me.