In the fall of 2004 the Wine Workshop (an affiliate of Acker, Merrall & Condit,
America’s oldest
wine shop dating from 1820) presented their Top 100 Wine Weekend. Actually, it ended up as
the Top 144 wines of the Century as John Kapon (my nephew) kept adding wines to
the original Top 100 list. From 1900 Chateau Margaux to 1992 Screaming Eagle, 35
wine lovers (45 attendees including shared pours ) from around the world paid
$25,000 each (that is not a misprint) for the weekend events (airfare &
accommodations were extra ) that included a Friday night dinner at Daniel;
Saturday lunch at Cru; Saturday dinner at Per Se (I attended that dinner) &
Sunday lunch at Veritas.
This year
John changed a few things based on last year's experience. “We hope that this
year’s more “focused” lineup helps keep everyone fresher and more in tune. As a
result, we stuck to the basics; the wines of France. We also
added two new restaurants; Le Bernardin (Friday dinner) and Bouley (Sunday
lunch), to the only carryover from last year, Cru (Saturday
lunch).”
Besides the
reduction in the number of wines to 100 and the dropping of the Saturday dinner
(the lunch lasted 5 hours), the price was also reduced to $16,500. Once again,
it was sold out with 40 attendees. I was invited to attend the Sunday lunch at
Bouley where David Bouley and his staff prepared my “meal of the year.” Superb
food, wine and service that was impeccable with out being pushy or annoying. All
I can saw is WOW!
After a Champagne reception of 1959 &
1961 Krug Collection with a selection of canapés, the luncheon had 7 courses
matched with 30 wines. There were two bottles (or one magnum) of each wine,
marked red or blue so tasters could sample wines from a different bottle if
there was a problem (except with the magnums). Rejoice there were no major
problems, a testament to my nephew and his staff. For brevity I have left out
some of the food course description.
Maine Day
Boat Lobster paired with Ramonet Montrachet 1990 (magnum); 1989; 1986; 1985; 1983.
Steamed
Homemade Tofu with DRC Romanee-Conti 1923; 1937; 1945.
Wild Whole Roasted Turbot and 1978 Dujac;
Charmes-Chambertin; Echezeaux; Clos
St. Denis; Clos de la Roche; Bonnes
Mares.
Rack &
Loin of Milk Fed Veal paired with Roumier Bonnes Mares from 1993; 1998 Vieille
Vignes; 1985; 1978; 1971.
Baba Farms
Organic Squab & Young Mallard Duck and 1945 Bordeaux (all from magnums) - Part
One- Chateaux Gruaud-Larose; Palmer; La Mission Haut Brion; Haut
Brion.
Roasted Baby
Lamb and 1945 Bordeaux- Part Two- Chateaux Latour; Mouton Rothschild; Cheval
Blanc (magnum); Latour a Pomerol; Petrus.
Hot Roquefort
Brulee, Bartlett Pear, Black Mission Figs with 1945 Chateau
d’YQuem.
David
Hamburger, who runs the Wine Workshop with my nephew, and organized the pairing
of all the wines, agreed that the lunch at Bouley was the highlight of the
weekend.
Food, wine,
service; 100 on the Ron Kapon Gastronome scale. What is the date for 2006 &
how can I get a seat?