BWE Maine '25: Friday, July 25th, and Saturday, July 26th.

[JimHow]

One of the four bottles is from a vintage that does end with a "5", I'll say that much....
Holy mackerel, Michael-P, this will be epic.

[stefan]

Michael always brings some interesting old wines. I don't have wines as old as his, but I am thinking about bringing something from the 1970s.

[Nicklasss]

Seriously, though, nobody needs to feel obligated to bring ANY wine.
This is going to be a very casual, chill weekend, I have a ton of wine in the cellar.

Ok, i’ll bring Froot Loops cereals.

[marcs]

Just added a 2005 Pichon Baron to my shipment to match with Stefan's 2005 Pichon Lalande. Getting to quite a 2005 horizontal here!

I've always been particularly curious about the 2005 vintage and whether or how it will come around, I remember it being touted as the Greatest Vintage Ever many years ago by critics and that wasn't as common then as it is now when it happens roughly every other vintage...

[Nicklasss]

No doubts here about the fact that 2005 is a great vintage, and for long.

I have been convinced almost since day one!

Is it one of the greatest? The wines still need more time to confirm.

[JimHow]

Just heard from Julia, she and Cab Fan are booked at the Hampton Inn Lewiston-Auburn from Thursday to Sunday, again, to me that is the way to do it, get into the state a day early. We are going to have multiple drivers available to shuttle folks the three miles from the hotel to my house. Reservations can be cancelled until like the day before.

[JimHow]

Just talked to Rob and Sue Dayton, they both sound great, Marjorie and Winona were there visiting them. I worked them over hard to get to Maine this summer! They both sounded great, it was very heartening.

[JimHow]

I have reserved a room under my name at the Hampton Inn Lewiston-Auburn for Thursday to Friday in case anyone needs a last minute reservation. I can cancel until the day before. There is also a motel not too far from my house called SureStay Hotel by Best Western, it's nothing fancy, it used to be a Motel 6, but it was recently renovated, one of my old law school buddies and his wife stayed there last summer and they said it was fine. In any event, we will have drivers available throughout both evenings to shuttle BWEers back and forth to your accommodations.

[Cabfan]

Hi Jim, it looks like Julia and I will be able to make it, for the 25th and 26th. Looking at flights and accommodations now. Looks like a wonderful event.

Peter

[JimHow]

That's awesome Peter, I was texting with Julia last night, a historic visit to the Great State of Maine!

[rdaytonjr]

Well we booked. Now we'll work out logistics.

[JimHow]

Omg that's amazing Rob.
I'm having Easter dinner with my event team (the Howaniec-Cartmell families), this is going to be truly historic.
I'm very humbled by the response!

[JimHow]

BWE Maine '25 Attendees:

Jim
Joel (+ 1 or more?)
Nic (+ MC?)
Peter + Julia
Bill + Jan
Jon + Paula
Michael + Nalan
Eric + Rebecca
Bob + Barb
David + Peggy (Saturday night)
HM$ + Lisa
Ryan
Gerry + Mike
Tim
Tom + Gail
Winona + Marjorie
Harry + Greg
Marcus + 1
Steve Moore + 1
David + Jenny
Rob + Sue

[JimHow]

I've been texting with my psychologist sister-in-law Barbara this morning, she is quite the social animal, you'll all love her, she is going to be heading up the cooking team with her brother Matt and sister-in-law Amy, and we also have the transportation crew in place as well, led by my brother Tom and his son/my nephew Jack. And I have my lawyer buddies Stephen Dassatti and Danny Dube to provide extra hands as well. (Stephen of course some of you old-timers will remember from the early conventions of BWE.) They are all very excited to participate in this historic event! This is going to be quite a 36 hour project!

[JimHow]

Regarding the Saturday lunch at Five Islands Lobster Company:

https://fiveislandslobster.com

They open for business at 11:30am. It is about a 50-55 minute ride from Lewiston to Georgetown, where they are located. There will be a line at 11:30am. By noon it will be closer to a one hour wait. Also, parking is VERY limited and it becomes a problem as everyone converges on this sort of end-of-the-earth point on the coast. So, again, it is very important to get there early. So I suggest we be ready to roll by 10:20-10:25am so that we get there by 11:30am. We'll coordinate a meeting point on Lisbon Street not far from my house in Lewiston which is Route 196, which is a road that goes directly east to the coast.

[JimHow]

Tony and Jennifer, my lawyer friends who many of you met in BWE Bordeaux '15 are joining us, they are looking forward to seeing everyone again....

BWE Maine '25 Attendees:

Jim
Joel (+ 1 or more?)
Nic (+ MC?)
Peter + Julia
Bill + Jan
Jon + Paula
Michael + Nalan
Eric + Rebecca
Bob + Barb
David + Peggy (Saturday night)
HM$ + Lisa
Ryan
Gerry + Mike
Tim
Tom + Gail
Winona + Marjorie
Harry + Greg
Marcus + 1
Steve Moore + 1
David + Jenny
Rob + Sue
Tony + Jennifer

[JimHow]

At some point I'm going to have to start thinking about creating a waiting list, we're up to between 35-40.
We'll be operating between the house, deck, and yard, those who have been to my house know that I have an open floor plan, I'm thinking about 35-40 we can fit inside for a reception, or outside as long as the weather is nice, between my two tables I can seat about 16 inside, another 6-8 on the deck, and then I'm going to bring in picnic tables and an open tent/canopy next to the deck.

[JeanFred]

Tony and Jennifer, my lawyer friends who many of you met in BWE Bordeaux '15 are joining us, they are looking forward to seeing everyone again....

BWE Maine '25 Attendees:

Jim
Joel (+ 1 or more?)
Nic (+ MC?)
Peter + Julia
Bill + Jan
Jon + Paula
Michael + Nalan
Eric + Rebecca
Bob + Barb
David + Peggy (Saturday night)
HM$ + Lisa
Ryan
Gerry + Mike
Tim
Tom + Gail
Winona + Marjorie
Harry + Greg
Marcus + 1
Steve Moore + 1
David + Jenny
Rob + Sue
Tony + Jennifer

Wow, Already 25 attendees confirmed

I'm glad so many people responded to your invitation. So much that the event is going to be Epic. I'm going to miss all those people by a couple days but for a good reason.

If you still have any energy left, we should see each other few days later…

JeanFred

[JimHow]

Sorry we couldn't quite make it work for you JF, but we'll see you a few days later. I think Joel said he might still be around for a return visit. And, yes, if there is anyone still around when JF comes by a few days later, you are more than welcome!

[DavidG]

I just received MichaelP's stash today. Suffice to say they are a bit older than 1995....

1991, 1992, 1993?

Did you unintentionally reverse the last two digits LOL?

[JoelD]

I just received MichaelP's stash today. Suffice to say they are a bit older than 1995....

1991, 1992, 1993?

Did you unintentionally reverse the last two digits LOL?

Tongue in cheek from multiple angles. Usually "a bit" older would be a few years older. Mp's wines are quite likely closer or even exactly the flip of the last two digits. And those are some pretty off vintages that it's unlikely that he would be bringing. Just said it to amuse myself.

I need to do a writeup about our Napa excursions and Saturday dinner. There may or may not have been a very good and very alive 1934 Leoville Barton in attendance that evening, obviously provided by the generous friend mentioned here.

Also, very decent chance that I can swing back through for at one night to see JeanFred when he is in town. Hopefully I can make it work around our schedule!

[JimHow]

Agent How to Agent Marcs:
Stash has been delivered safely to Pinewoods Base. Over.

[JimHow]

Those are some beautiful wines Marcs.
Geez I think we're going to have enough wine just from the Marcs and Michael-P contributions, again, feel free to bring wines if you want but there is no obligation to do so as I have 1200+ bottles in my cellar. And if you do bring wines, no more than a bottle or two is necessary.

[marcs]

My pleasure Jim! If we don’t do the 2005 horizontal you can enjoy them yourself throughout the year!

I see what you mean about your cellar - if no one brought a bottle we would still be pretty set on your 24 bottles of 2015 Canon and 25 bottles of 2016-19 Lafite!

[JimHow]

Mmmm I do indeed intend to uncork a Lafite or two on steak night Marcs!

[tim]

Do you have enough glasses?

[JimHow]

Yes, I have enough glasses for two for each person, plus Champagne glasses.

[JimHow]

Agent How to Agent Dayton: Stash delivered safely to Pinewoods Base. Over.

[JimHow]

I think between the wines shipped from HM$, MichaelP, Marcs, and Rob, we have enough wine for BWE Maine dinners for the next three summers!

[rdaytonjr]

That's the BWE way!

[barsacpinci]

I can't believe I'm missing this. But, there is a concert that weekend I've waited years to see and I already purchased tickets months ago. I will drink a 2005 that night and report out.

[JimHow]

Bummer Brian, you're welcome anytime to the Great State of Maine!