Been out here in the Valley of the Sun kicking the little white ball around and on Wednesday a buddy of mine came up and said, "There's someone here who wants to meet you. He said you are the King of Hearts.''
So I stroll over and met SPS, who described himself as "an infrequent poster but a frequent lurker.'' Had a nice chat. He is in the golf business and represents a course I'd never played. One thing led to another and out I went to his track, Gold Canyon. The best I played in the area on this trip that included 96 holes at Desert Mountain's new Outlaw, We-Ko-Pa, Eagle Mountain, and the Raven at South Mountain. If you're out here and enjoy uphill and downhill with beautiful views of Superstition Mountain I highly, highly recommend it. Breathtaking par 3s.
So golf led to a mini-off-line at my cousin's home Saturday evening with my cousin and her husband (they attended the NO Swamp and Grape Stomp), SPS and his lovely wife Shelly, and my buddy and his lovely girlfriend Wendi. We had two bottles of 96 Tapesty that were simply divine, a 99 GDLT that did not hold up to the Tapestry, but improved, a 00 Pride cab franc, a 99 Relentless from Shafer (hoocie mamma, WOTN), a 00 Del Dotto sangiovese, a 99 Duckhorn merlot and we finished with Pride Mistelle de Viognier.
As Jimmy Buffet might say, it was a pleasure and a helluva evening, surely was my night to win.
Another new compadre was met through these boards. That is what truly makes this a special place. The only thing missing, was the Queen's presence. But we vowed to do it again, with the Queenie in tow.

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.

I live in Scottsdale and work in the wine biz.
Golf, wine and ......

My life doesn't suck!!!!

Cheers

KOH-
sometimes these little unexpected things turn out to be such nice surprises!
I remember your cousins well, we shared a great evening with them in NOLA at Gabrielle's-- apres the infamous lights-out rainstorm!
He reminds me of William H Macy!

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"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou

Sometimes we are convinced he IS Macy. It's eerie. I'm private emailing you a photo of all of us from Christmas, you'll laugh. We're planning another Scottsdale trip soon, maybe you and Pinto too?

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http://seattle.vinocellar.com

love, love ,love Scottsdale!
love, love, love the Fairmont Princess!

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"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou

The Princess is truly fit for a Queen, indeed, but we'll be at the Biltmore. I love the Boulders best and the Phoenician doesn't suck either.
First, though, we'll be in So. FLA then off to your neck of the woods (late Feb., same as last year...)

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http://seattle.vinocellar.com

I have stayed at the Phoenician but Pinto has not, might have to spoil him a bit.

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"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou