The SOMM Journal

February/March 2015

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36 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 { events } BOULDER, CO, HAS LONG BEEN known as a hotbed of Master Sommeliers, but for one November weekend every year, it becomes the somm capital of the world. That's because of the Boulder Burgundy Festival, the brainchild of Boulder Wine Merchant owner Brett Zimmerman, MS. This year's fourth annual celebration, held November 21–23, attracted sellout crowds to locations around town. Celebrity sommeliers from coast to coast now attend the event to bliss out on Burgundy in all its manifestations. The high- light for many was Saturday's La Paulée– style lunch (inspired by the annual Daniel Johnnes festivals in New York and San Francisco), which took place at Flagstaff House restaurant overlooking Boulder. Chefs and staffs of both Flagstaff and Aspen's The Little Nell collaborated on the menu, and guests brought Burgundies of all sizes to share. Led by host somme- lier Melanie Kamen, the visiting somms all circulated around the restaurant pouring wines. Flagstaff House and The Little Nell also collaborated on a dinner the previ- ous evening, featuring winemaker Virgile Lignier-Michelot of Morey-St. Denis. This year's special guest was Guillaume D'Angerville of Domaine Marquis d'Angerville, who brought a flight of spectacular 2011 Volnays for a standing- room-only Sunday seminar at the Hotel Boulderado. Joining D'Angerville on the panel were Zimmerman; Boulder-based author and spirits producer Richard Betts, MS; New York importer and wine director Robert Bohr; and California winemaker and sommelier Rajat Parr. D'Angerville wines were featured in a Saturday dinner at Frasca Food and Wine, hosted by co-owner Bobby Stuckey, MS. Also at Frasca, the Guild of Sommeliers sponsored an opening Friday tasting of eight older Burgundies, dating from 1976 to 1988, under the guidance of Master Sommeliers Jay Fletcher, Betts, Stuckey and Zimmerman. New to this year's fes- tival was a Sunday Chablis Brunch featur- ing some two dozen Chablis, most from recent vintages, organized by Manager- Sommelier Wade Vizena at The Kitchen restaurant. The weekend wrapped up with a Grand Tasting at the Hotel Boulderado, featuring more than 170 Burgundies at 20 tables of importers and négociants, with a capacity attendance of 200. Zimmerman estimated a total turnout of 500–600 individuals, many of whom signed up for multiple events. "Overall, I was super happy," he said. "Every year I learn a bit more, but we con- tinue to grow and generate more money for our charities." Proceeds of the festival go to support the Growe Foundation, a local environmental-education cause, as well the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's research. boulderburgundyfestival.com Somm Summit THE BOULDER BURGUNDY FESTIVAL DRAWS THE ELITE IN WINES AND PALATES by David Vogels Participating sommeliers are pictured at the Flagstaff House luncheon. Standing, left to right: Rajat Parr, Michael Mina Group/Sandhi Wines, San Francisco; Brett Zimmerman, MS, Boulder Wine Merchant, Boulder; Grant Reynolds, Charlie Bird, New York City; Robert Bohr, Charlie Bird, New York City; Carlin Karr, Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder; Jay Fletcher, MS, Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado; Csaba Oveges, The Little Nell, Aspen; Paige Bodine, Boulder Wine Merchant; Jonathan Pullis, MS, Chefs Club, Aspen; Melanie Kamen, Flagstaff House, Boulder; Richard Betts, MS, Aspen. Front row, left to right: Carlton McCoy, MS, The Little Nell, Aspen; Bobby Stuckey, MS, Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder; Eric Railsback, Les Marchands, Santa Barbara; Mark Bright, Saison, San Francisco. PHOTO: JEREMY PARZEN, COURTESY OF THE BOULDER BURGUNDY FESTIVAL

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