Events

Bob's Bodacious Boys night brought the fabulous new  Fiola Miami to our Branch for the enjoyment of 24 lucky Members who experienced spectacular wines  and cuisine along with our IWFS camaraderie . Fiola Miami is Fabio and Maria Trabocchi’s first restaurant venture outside of Washington D.C. and establishes Michelin-starred Fiola’s second location so marvelously convenient for the Miami Branch!  Bob Dickinson pulled some of our best wines to savor including side-by-side 100 pointers with our main course. Though we tried it when much younger (infanticide!), the 1990 Chateau Margaux has "turned into a sensational wine that eclipses both the 1988 and 1989...and then some. It has a gorgeous, ethereal bouquet with sumptuous red berry fruit, leather, camphor and licorice—it is the kind of nose in which you just immerse yourself" as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate puts it. We were all speaking in similarly ecstatic terms about all the wines this evening, especially the voluptuous beautifully proportioned 100 point 1990 Montrose side-by-side with the elegant and classic beauty of the 1990 Margaux.  But which was the wine of the night?  It depended on the taster! There were votes for the '90 Margaux, the '90 Montrose,  and for the '01 Grange- and the '90 Barolo was right up there too.

We started the reception with Hommage du Chardonnay vintage 1998 Krug Champagne en magnum and Fiola's delicate passed hors d’oeurves.  Executive chef Michael Fusano matched the highest level of cuisine to this high occasion.  Next we paired 2011 Marcassin Chardonnay, Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast with a delicate and rich scallop appetizer. Moving on to the reds, 1990 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto followed with a perfect porcini risotto, and we then moved on to the lamb where got to experience both 100 point pinnacles of winemaking, the 1990 Margaux and 1990 Montrose side-by-side. The cheese course carried on with the side-by-side extravagance with more contrasting examples of excellence. the classic style 2001 Penfolds Grange and more modern style 2002 Clarendon Hills Astralis. Our exotic Baba Rhum White Chocolate-Lime dessert was truly a finale in grand fashion with 2001 Rieussec Sauternes.