Last week, while on my trip to Denver, I had the pleasure to meet, and dine with, mbansek. While I think he'll agree that the wine ('99 Foxen Morehouse Syrah) was forgettable, the company was great.

Then, in an amazing gesture of philanthropy, he gave me a bottle of '96 Flora Springs Trilogy and a '99 Isosoceles (two of my favorite wines, mind you) to take with me back to Boston. What a guy!

Such an amazing experience to be able to travel across the nation and have friends to share good food, wine, and conversation. Looking forward to another rendezvous - hopefully I'll soon get to meet the rest of the Denver crew.

Long live the wine mafia!

Couldn't agree more; mbansek is a great guy. Ever generous with his wine, he's a great friend to have.

Sorry I couldn't make it down to meet you for dinner. I'd just flown back in from Ft. Worth, the wife was working that night and I was left watching the baby. Hopefully, things will work out better next time you are in town.

I also agree on the subject of mbansek. He knew me only from posting and when he heard that I was intersted in a wine and he found it, he picked it up and shipped it. He's a generous person, a caring person.

Mike is the absolute best. Nothing to add.

Matt, you were in Fort Worth and you didn't let anybody know! You scum! We could have gotten together for some wine. Shame on you young man.

As long as we're saying nice things about Mike...

Last year when Mike came through Sacramento in a WHIRILWIND tour of Northern California, Sarah and I met up with him for a nice dinner and a GREAT bottle of David Arthur 1147. During our dinner conversation, we started chatting about champagne and we mentioned that we were holding onto a nice bottle of 1990 La Grande Dame that was given to us as a gift. We told him we were saving it for when we moved into our new home (which at that time, we weren't even in escrow yet.) We also discussed our upcoming cruise for our anniversary. Mike suggested that we pop the cork on the La Grande Dame on our cruise since it was our anniversary. We wanted to wait for our house.

Upon Mike's return to CO and some weeks later, a box arrived on my doorstep. Inside was a SECOND bottle of 1990 La Grande Dame with a note. In effect, the note said you don't have to wait, enjoy this on your cruise and Happy Anniversary.

Mike is one HELLUVA guy in my book. And he'll always be considered as one of my very good friends!

All I know is that the guy said he was coming to an offline at my place and he never showed.

while we are at it. mike is one great guy and an awesome enabler. i just hope he hasn't drank my 01 switchback

He sure is.

Wow. Mike is one kewl dude. Tres Kewl.

Wow, thanks everybody! I was logged on all day at work, but not at my desk except occasionally, so never got to crusie the boards much. Lots to catch up with, then I find this!

Of course, now I am going to get a big head... I can already feel it swelling... oh, wait, never mind. That is the head cold, which is getting worse...

What a great time for one too, with dinner tomorrow at Andalu, and davidn's Friday night. And of course, I cannot miss those...

So I won't. I guess I will have to enjoy the company more than the wine, but it will still be worth it!

Mike

Well heck Mike, I'm looking forward to meeting you live and in person on Friday evening.

Yeah, if he shows up this time

Last time I was in Denver, last September, Mike and I went fourwheeling out by Mt. Evans, then went to a Riesling dinner. Although we had lots of good wine, we apparently didn't have enough wine. So, he generously sent me home with a bottle from his cellar -- a 1992 Beringer Reserve.

Now, fast forward to the present. I've been harboring a case, less a few bottles (that I told Mike & Jill to drink and enjoy) of 1990 Pichot Moelleux Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette Vouvray. I had about a case and a half here at home, so I wasn't in a hurry to get the case from Mike's home. However, I asked him recently to send it "when he could" to get it out of his way prior to the summer heat.

The case showed up today with the two gaps filled -- with wines worth more than the ones he drank, not to count the freight that came out of his own pocket. I'm now the happy holder of my 10 bottles of Vouvray, plus a 2002 Thorn-Clark Shotfire Ridge Barossa Cuvee and a 2001 Justin Isosceles ... wines that Mike knew that I appreciated buy did not own.

Mike is one of the people that I've met through these forums that I truly consider to be a friend ... even when he doesn't pad my cellar

I look forward to seeing you and yours again soon, Mike. Hopefully we'll be able to give you an inside look at Rocky Mtn NP, and share some great wine on your beautiful home turf.

Steve

without any doubts, mike is one hell of a great guy. i can't wait to be able to sit down and share some great vino with him, in person. without his help, there would be many great wines i would of missed out on.

Mike? never heard of the guy .........

Thank you Mike for all that you do. You are simply the best.

Second the nomination

Third!

fourth

Yea, that Bansek, anyone who would actually sit through a dinner and let me and Mrs. Winebrat torture him has got to be a good guy.