- New Spanish Restaurant Tryout DinnerEl Pote Español, New York, NY$39.00
Long time group member Mihaela (Mika on Meetup) has found a Spanish restaurant with a great looking menu. Join Mihaela and myself as we try out El Pote Espanol. They are located at 718 2nd Avenue, between 38th and 39th Street.
Here is their menu:
Menu for El Porte EspanolThis will be a six person event and feature 1 white from Spain, and 3 reds. The reds will be one Spain, WA State and California.
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $39 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that comes to approximately $3 more for each RSVP. Sorry!
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). AND order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. Our discounted corkage fee is based on EVERYONE ordering two courses.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $5 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wine List - Notes will be provided at dinner
2020 Alvaredos-Hobbs Godello Ribeira Sacra ($35) - CT 89.7, WE 94 points, "Medium yellow to the eye, this wine has a bouquet of lemon, pear and river rock. A wave of acidity washes across the palate bearing grapefruit, lemon zest and white peach flavors alongside notes of butterscotch, dried thyme and a hint of oyster shell that lingers into the vivid finish."2021 Ridge Evangelho ($41) – CT 92, 12.8% alcohol. Owen Bargreen 95 points. “One of the truly unique wines in California, the 2021 ‘Evangelho’ is a knockout blend of 58% Carignane with 22% Zinfandel and the reminder Mataro all coming from the Contra Costa County. Stored in only 20% new American oak barrels, this offers beautiful verve and weight on the palate. Creme de violette, tar, crushed mint, and suggestions of coffee grounds all combine on the palate. Loaded with mouth-watering acidity and showing an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2024-2038” *We had this at the November Ridge night & loved it.
2020 Familia Nin-Ortiz Priorat Planetes Classic ($45) – CT 91.7, WA 96 points, “The superb 2020 Planetes de Nin Clàssic is very elegant and ethereal, the finest vintage for this cuvée from four hectares in Porrera, which in 2020, the year of mildew, was 69% Garnacha Tinta, 12% Garnacha Peluda and 19% Cariñena. The grapes fermented with full clusters and stems with indigenous yeasts in 3,200-liter oak foudres, where the wine matured for 18 months”
2022 JM Cellars Carménère Bramble Bump Carmenere Margaret's Vineyard & Seven Hills Vineyard ($45) – A rare Carmenere from WA state! I was fortunate enough to try it straight from the tank a year before its release! I was able to buy a few bottles and have already drank one and loved it! - Friday Night Italian Wines !Donna Margherita, New York, NY$49.00
Please join me for this Friday night dinner at Donna Margherita. We have been there a few times recently and have always enjoyed it. We will have 1 white and 4 red wines at this 8 person event. The wines will be a selection of different Italian wine varietals.
Donna Margherita, has great personal sized pizzas and a nice variety of Pastas. They do charge a corkage fee, which is included in the event cost. Check out their menu here:
https://www.donnamargheritany.com
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $49 and is for the cost of the wines, plus corkage only.NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It is annoying and confusing, but there is nothing I can do about it. It comes to approximately $3 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. Sorry!
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $5 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2021 La Parrina Vermentino Parrina ($18) - CT 90.4 " Antonio Galloni, 92 points, “Fattoria La Parrina - The 2021 Vermentino is a wine of real distinction, and that's not something I can say often about Vermentino. Bright and sculpted, with terrific energy, the 2021 is loaded with varietal orchard fruit and floral character. There is so much to like."2011 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro ($60) - CT 91.1, WA 92, "From a hot vintage, the 2011 Roccamonfina Terra di Lavoro is a soft, round wine with a large presence of dark cherry fruit and blackberry. This wine has broader shoulders compared to 2010 and 2012. Dark fruit, prune, plum and dried cherry lift heavily from the bouquet. Those more obvious aromas are followed by ethereal touches of ash, licorice and plenty of balsam herb. The wine's volcanic personality shines through, although with slightly less intensity. This edition of Terra di Lavoro shows soft tannins and a long finish. It's a beautiful wine that reflects the warm year."
2015 Paolo Scavino Barolo Prapò ($60) - CT 92.8, WA 95 points, "coming from less than a hectare in the Prapò vineyards, from which only five producers draw their fruit. It's a beautiful plot at about 1,000 feet in altitude and with a full southern exposure, producing some very meaty fruit with a high phenolic presence, as the color is darker and there is more perfume. The 2015 Barolo Prapò is a distinctive vintage of a wine that is one to watch, for sure. The vineyard makes the difference, with brown and orange sandy soils, along with marlstone and veins of soils more typical of the area. The Scavino family bought this plot in 2008 and let the land rest for two years before they replanted. The goal, they said, was to steer away from more productive clones in favor of those that wouldn't take away too much from the quality. They took wood from the mothership vineyards in Bricco Ambrogio for this experiment, grafting them onto the rootstocks they carefully selected. The result is a soft and delicate Barolo with a lot of personality to go along with its firmness and power. This is an easy cru to recognize. Enrico Scavino said they could have waited longer for this experimental harvest, but they felt the time was right, explaining that "this work is all about feelings and instincts." (drink 2022-2045)"
2015 Bibbiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Capannino ($30) - CT 91.7, WS 96, WA 93 points, "This is another plump and intense expression from the folks at Bibbiano. The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Capannino is a bold and contemporary wine with dried blackberry and ripe cherry aromas that are followed closely by spice, tar, leather and moist chewing tobacco. The wine offers sweet softness, especially when it comes to the quality of the tannins, with lasting fruit flavors. This wine should continue its evolution over the next 10 years. (drink 2018-2030)"
2020 Foradori Granato ($68) - CT 92. No WA review for the 2020, but here is their 94 point review for the 2019, "This is a beautiful organic and biodynamic wine from Trentino in the far north of Italy. A pure expression of the native Teroldego grape, the Foradori 2019 Granato opens to an inky dark appearance with little light penetration. The bouquet takes a few moments before it fully opens, but once it does, you get dark plum and blackberry followed by cola, licorice and black rose. This richly concentrated red offers great depth and momentum."
- New Wave RiojaAkdeniz, New York, NY$37.00
Rioja is boring. I hear that all the time. It's known mainly for powerful reds with emphasis on aging in oak barrels, with varying degrees of quality and price. Even fans of famous Rioja estates would be hard-pressed to name a single village in the region, since everything is sold under the generic Rioja brand, distinguished only by those cosecha, crianza, reserva and gran reserva stickers.
Thankfully, changes are afoot, even if they are slow. In this event, we will taste wines that highlight some recent developments in this 600 winery, 400 million bottle region that is so familiar, yet at the same time, unfamiliar.
We will de dining at Akdeniz, a favorite Turkish restaurant in Midtown West. Here is a link to the menu
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $37 and is for the wines and corkage. You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and appetizer ). There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a low corkage.
Cancellation policy - If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $10 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (see accompanying photos)
2018 Bodegas Honorio Rubio "Lias Finas" Crianza (Viura)
Trend - Renaissance of white wines. In recent years, winemakers have employed better viticulture and different fermentation and aging techniques, among others, to produce world-class bottlings.
Notes of ripe apple and crisp, refreshing lemon zest combine with decidedly earthy notes of smoke, hay and mushroom in this delightfully complex bottle of wine. This cuvée spends a total of 16 months aging on its lees, and 10 months in barrel. 2934 bottles. TA 93, RP 92
2019 Gil Berzal Pequenas Parcelas Tinto (Tempranillo)
Trend - The word "Laguardia" on the label, indicating the village. A big step in showcasing terroir. Labels are now allowed to display the region, village or vineyard names. What took so long?
5th gen brothers Saúl and Benjamín Gil-Berzal carve out wines from high elevation vineyards in Laguardia. Fermented in concrete vessels, aged in French oak for 15 months. Evolution in the glass, great structure with coiled tannins, mighty fine drinking.
2021 Bodegas Ojuel Salvaje 1 (Garnacha)
The next three wines are from Bodegas Ojuel, run by Miguel Martinez (2018 Young Winemaker of the Year - Tim Atkin).
Trend - Embrace of wine varieties other than tempranillo. Garnacha used to be the top dog, now it's appearing more often in single varietal bottlings.
Old vine Garnacha is grown at 500m elevation on poor soils south of the village of Sojuela. This evocative red has lots of sweet fruit and floral notes (violets) over a herbal and forest background - the earthy finish does not hide its charming character. 574 bottles. 17/20 (Spanish Wine Lover)
2021 Bodegas Ojuel Salvaje 2 (Maturana Tinta)
Trend - Focus on lesser planted grapes like graciano and maturana, which are more widely used as blending grapes.
Organic with no additives, this is from old Maturana vines and other varieties located 650 meters above sea level, on Cerro Sojón. It is rare to enjoy a wine of these characteristics, pure and wild, full of harmony and seduction. This displays notes of Cabernet Franc, very Chinonesque. 800 bottles.
BONUS!!
2021 Bodegas Ojuel Supurao Naturalmente Dulce 375mlYes, traditional dessert wine from Rioja! Who knew?
Supurao is made from dehydrated grapes, and this winery is the only one making it! Read this in-depth article "Ojuel recovers supurao" .More trivia - Supurao was also made when a baby girl was born —tradition dictated that the wine had to be cellared until the day of her wedding. This is a work of historical recovery that, in addition, is a delight on the palate.
"Sweet wine reminiscent of eating prunes. Lots of sweetness, marked quince and aromas of nuts. Fabulous sweet wine and a lot of fun, the acidity supports it very well. It will age fabulously." 17.5/20 (Jancis Robinson). 1900 bottles
Supurao is not fortified, not heavy, it is only 12% alcohol. As a holiday treat, I will order assorted desserts for the group to share. Gratis!
- You Had Me at MerlotBobby Van's 230Park, New York, NY$53.00
It's time for a Merlot night! After the movie Sideways (20 years ago!) Merlot's reputation (and sales) took a BIG hit. But there is a reason the grape is so popular, done right, it makes great wines, and they go really well with red meat! For this dinner we will have 1 white wine starter, followed by 4 Merlot and Merlot blends.
We will be dining at Bobby Van's on Park. Located on the corner of Park Avenue and 46th Street.
Here is a link to their menu...
Bobby Van's on Park MenuJust a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $53 and is for the cost of the wines only.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. Sorry!
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a Zero corkage fee. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $5 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2021 Littorai Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ($75) - CT 91.9, No reviews that I could find, this is Littorai's entry level Chard. One poster on CT said, "Grapefruit, honey, high acidity. Oak well integrated." Here is what Jeb Dunnuck said about the winery, "Heidi and Ted Lemon operate Littorai from their Gold Ridge Estate in Sebastapol, where they produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from exceptional cool-climate vineyard sites on the Sonoma Coast and in Anderson Valley. Ted is hands down one of Sonoma's most important farmers and winemakers today, and I met with him at the winery this May. Though they farm biodynamically, they prefer to describe their practices in the vineyards as “Generative Farming,” a term intended to include the human relationship to the stewardship and shaping of the land as part of modern nature and integrated farming. In the winery, all the wines undergo spontaneous fermentations, with the reds going through two to three weeks of fermentation, and although Ted is not dogmatic in his approach, each of the wines is raised similarly."2013 Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle ($140) - CT 92.6, WA 94 points, from Napa Valley, CA, A blend of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
2015 Roc de Cambes ($50) - CT 92.7, JD 93+, A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Bordeaux' Cotes de Bourg.
2013 O'Shaughnessy Merlot Howell Mountain ($75) - CT 93.4, WA 92 Points, "A chunky 100% Merlot, the 2013 offers gorgeous toffee, black cherry and mocha notes as well as some chocolate. It has beautiful density, a plump, corpulent, medium to full-bodied texture, and a luscious finish. This is a sexpot of a Merlot fruit bomb to drink over the next 8-10 years."
2018 Obelisco Estate Merlot ($55) - From one of my favorite AVAs, the Red Mountain of Washington State. No reviews that I could find, but I tried it at the winery and really enjoyed it. Here is what the winery says about WA State Merlot, "Merlot is the hidden gem of Washington winemaking. It is unique in comparison to Merlot from other parts of the world with a bigger, bolder structure and intense concentration. It is also perfectly suited for being grown in the Columbia Valley with our warm days and cool autumn nights." FWIW the 2018 Merlot won a Silver Medal at the Seattle Wine Awards.
