Wife and I are considering going for our anniversary, which is on 3/7. Wondering whether we should head up to NYC and make a weekend out of it. Bonus is free babysitting as my sister-in-law lives there. Things we’re wondering;
Is the Grand Tasting worth it? Walk around tastings can either be good or bad experiences. Seems like the good wines go fast, so if you’re not at the table right away, you might miss out. Is this a problem at La Paulee or do the winemakers bring enough to last through the entire event?
Tell me about the dinner - again, is it worth the price of admission? How do you get seated? What kind of bottle are you expected to bring to share? If coming as a couple, do you bring 2 bottles or 1?
First Press Package - says for people 40 and under. We are 41 and 45, but this would be our first time coming. Any idea whether we could sweet talk our way into this package?
The Zachys auction. Very interested in attending, but is there an expectation that you buy wine? What if you just get outbid on everything you are interested in? Is it difficult to reserve a spot? How does that work?
Yes, of course that’s true. Widgets are worth what someone is willing to pay for them, right? My question was more about whether there’s an expectation that you bid on and win something if you’re attending the auction.
No - no expectation that you bid. Many people go to just be in the room and many people bid in the room or are bidding for others or place their bids in advance. You could be sitting by somebody who winds up spending a few million and they have never raised their paddle. If you see something you like then you should bid but you are never forced or expected to bid (or win) on anything.
I’ve only ever been to the Verticals which were well run and a lot of fun. I never had a problem trying everything I wanted to. I’ve stopped attending since I’ve mostly stopped buying new release Burgundy (and the one relatively low cost producer I still buy doesn’t attend La Paulee).
Friends who attend the GT speak highly of it. Certainly worth it if you want to get a feel for the current vintage when deciding what to buy.
The dinner depends on whether you like that sort of thing. I don’t like being rushed to drink up one great wine to get a pour of another great wine so I’ve never attended. But there will certainly be a lot of great wine being poured.
If you go to the auction, bring good wine otherwise you will feel foolish when others at your table are opening bottles and sharing and you have nothing to share.
Troy, I think the Grand Tasting will be worthwhile…it will be a showcase of 2017s, and after the praise for the quality of the white burgs especially I am looking forward to it. I don’t think there’s any chance of great wines running out.
I’ve enjoyed the gala dinners when I’ve gone, but agree with Jay that they can be over the top, a lot of excellent wine is dumped to make room in glasses for the next pours.
The auction could be fun for a while if you’ve never been.
I saw that the Roumier dinner is already sold out.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the most famous estate in Burgundy, and securing a visit to their renowned cellars is near-impossible. Proprietor and Estate Director Aubert de Villaine will present a lineup of incredibly rare vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti dating back to 1971 in the private Bellecour room at restaurant DANIEL, featuring the incomparable cuisine of Chef Daniel Boulud and guest Chefs Michel, César, and Léo Troisgros, visiting us from their three Michelin-starred restaurant in Ouches, France.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Echézeaux Grand Cru 2014
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru 2014
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2014
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 2006
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 2001
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 1999
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche Grand Cru monopole 2000
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche Grand Cru monopole 1991
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche Grand Cru monopole 1971
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru monopole 1991 en magnum
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru monopole 1971 en magnum
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Montrachet Grand Cru 2003
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Montrachet Grand Cru 1979
unfortunately these days great usually means expensive if you have to go to the marketplace to get it—unless you have older stock for which you paid little. When I went to the NY version, it was a Bacchanalian over the top event with amazing rare wine after rare wine. One had to spit 50 year old Musigny to grab the next great wine. It was too crazy for me and I didn’t like not spending adequate time w the wines so I’ve never gone again. People are very generous and I’m sure 09 DRC would be well-received. I wouldn’t bring Beaujolais or Bourgogne!