This year's Decanter Man of the Year is Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti – apparently, if almost unbelievably, the first time this honour has been held by a Burgundian.
A dinner for nearly 50 to celebrate this was held at the offices of DRC's UK importers Corney & Barrow last week, complete with guardsmen at the entrance, a nod to C&B's managing director Adam de la Falaise Brett Brett-Smith's position as member of the Royal Household Wine Committee and wine advisor to Prince Charles perhaps.
Tradition has it that the winner provides the wine for the celebration...