The wines were excellent, but pale in comparison to the wonderful people we met at MLV and Jcocktosten's beautiful home. Instantly, there was a great "vibe" which complimented the wine every bit as much as the great meal.
MLV, remembering my brother's birthday was a special touch too. Since he is leaving today, that WAS his birthday party.

Guys, I'd welcome the next off-line at my home when everyone can get together again. It was a pleasure meeting all of you.

Now....who took tasting notes??!!

Thanks so much to Jc and mlv for another wonderful event in their beautiful home. A tremendous amount of planning and work were required, I'm certain, and my wife and I are very grateful. We enjoyed seeing some of you again and also meeting new people.

The Gruaud Larose and Beaucastel were opened and double decanted 3-4 hours before tasting. The Gl we had earlier this years was great. This one was tired but a think some of the vibrancy may have been lost after decanting. The fruit in the Beaucastel was not likely as developed when first decanted. It tasted like a much younger wine. The Rieussec was stunning and the Prisoner needed the 4-5 hour decant.

My wife and I had a wonderful time last night and want to thank everyone for their generosity with such nice wines and especially our hosts, Jcocktosten and MLV, who prepared such wonderful food and opened their home to people they had never met before.

Here's the notes I took. Unfortunately, I did not get to taste the '05 Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese and one other white which I can't recall.

SOUTH FLORIDA WS FORUM OFFLINE - Hollywood, FL (12/26/2007)

• 2001 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières
  Dry, with some minerality and light acidity on a light bodied frame with notes of citrus and melon. (89 pts.)
  
• 2001 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Josephshöfer Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
  Well balanced between sweetness and acidity with predominate flavors of pear and honey. Beautiful riesling. (92 pts.)
  
• 2001 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  Esquisitely balanced between sweetness and acidity with long lingering flavors of apricot, honey, and a hint of orange at the end. Truly an exceptional Sauternes that will continue to improve with depth and complexity as it ages. (97 pts.)
  
• 2003 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Symposium - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Thick texture with nice, bright cherry flavors, but with the alcohol and heat in check. A fairly big pinot that remains well balanced. (90 pts.)
  
• 2005 Kutch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  Big fruit forward flavors of cherry with a little spice, and some heat and glycerin. Those who like big, extracted CA pinot will like this more than I, as I favor more earth and elegance in my pinots. (88 pts.)
  
• 1975 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  Light to medium body with red fruit, earth, and some crisp acidity. Nice mature Bordeaux that probably had a little too much air before tasting. (88 pts.)
  
• 2001 Viader Proprietary Red - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Prominent red fruit flavors and higher than expected acidiity. Nicely balanced wine, but fairly light for a CA cab blend (medium body), this is geared more as a food wine. (90 pts.)
  
• 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  The wine had brick edges, but still lively fruit of raspberry with good acidity, very smooth tannins and well balanced. Medium body with a 30 sec finish. A very nice example of mature CdP. (92 pts.)
  
• 2003 Mas Doix Priorat Salanques - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
  Decanted for 3 hours before tasting. Primarily alcohol on the nose, then sour cherries on the palate with surprisingly high acidity. Nice long finish of abot 35 sec. that's a little hot. I believe this wine should be cellared for a few more years before it hits its stride. (90 pts.)
  
• 2001 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  Nice notes of earth and leather with flavors of black cherry. Medium to full body, acidity there, but not pronounced. Well balanced with very smooth tannins, this is drinking very well right now. (93 pts.)
  
• 2003 McCrea Syrah Boushey Vineyards - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Decanted 1.5 hours. Full bodied, with some heat, thick texture with plum and currant flavors. I found this a little overextracted with a sharp, short finish. (87 pts.)
  
• 2005 Outpost Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  A nice full bodied zin with well rounded dark fruit flavors, a little spice and pepper, and enough tannin and acidity to keep it from being too flabby or sweet. (91 pts.)
  
• 2005 Orin Swift The Prisoner - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Full bodied, with big dark fruit flavors, but comes across as soft due to low acidity and tannin levels. Found it little overripe too. Many will like this more than I, as it's a style I do not prefer. I recently tasted a Beau Vigne cab, with the same winemaker, Dave Phinney, and it hit me the same way. (88 pts.)
  
• 2004 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio - Spain, Murcia, Jumilla
  Opened 4 hours prior to tasting. Reminds me of a good Australian wine. Big fruit flavors of blackberry and plums, nice acidity and surprisingly smooth tannins at this stage. 40 sec finish with a tinge of heat. (93 pts.)
  
• 2001 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Numanthia - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
  Very opaque, dark color. Massive dark fruit with plenty of tannin and oak that still needs time to resolve. Nice long finish. The score is more reflective of the wine at maturity 5+ years down the road and could easily be higher. (93 pts.)
  
• 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Wonderful, big currant flavors with some pronounced oak. Nice depth and complexity and very well balanced with a long 40 sec finish. Many would say that this still needs more time, but I found it quite approachable and smooth now. My only hope is that the oak will tone down more with age. (95 pts.)
  

Jcocktosten and MLV definitely outdid themselves once again. It was nice being able to see those I had met before and those I met for the first time. A wonderful evening that was well worth the 8 hours of driving over the past two days.

Vinole, great notes and can't really argue too much with the notes, although like Jc, the Clio just had a bit too much alcohol on the palate for me to really enjoy.

No doubt the 2001 Château Rieussec was both my WOTN and WWOTN. The 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape was my RWOTN, even though I didn't get to taste much either.

hello everyone. i am new here. i am a cellartracker member and found your group when vinole tasting notes came up on my ct homepage.

we are snowbirds who are hoping to get on the circuit.

my handle at ct is bacchus. please browse.

hope to have the opportunity to meet the group soon.

i am trying to reach out to you guys but i am having trouble navigating ws forums. does the south florida ws forum maintain its own group or chat page? how do i access that?

i am also trying to figure out how to contact individuals that i have set up on my buddy list.

i will trade tutorial help for wine!!

best holiday wishes to all.

filippo, there is no webpage or chat page for the group. There are no regular tastings as well. Usually someone decides they want to host or plan one and post it here and those interested just chime in to say they will attend. The WS boards also do not have a PM feature if that is what you are looking for. The good news is that MiamiAtty has already said he's willing to host the next one. That's a very good thing as he is a great guy that happened to bring some REAL nice wines.

Also rather new to the forums and this passion. Saw the post for this get together in the final moments and didn't want to crash in at the last minute. Would love to make the next one in the S. Fla area (although it's not feeling much like S. Fla today!)