Manhattan Fine Wine and Dine Group

We will be dining for the first time at Yong Chuan, a modern upscale Chinese restaurant focusing on Szechuan and Ningbo cuisine. While we all know and love the classic pairing of Chinese food with fresh, zippy white wines (Mosel riesling, Wachau gruner, etc.) I’m of the belief that richer “winter whites” can work just as well. So for this tasting, we will be trying two champagnes followed by three white wines with the soul warming characteristics that should make them a perfect match to this diverse cuisine.

Yong Chuan is located at 90 Clinton Street on the Lower East Side. Here is a link to their menu.

Young Chau NYC Menu

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

** The cost of this event is $84 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage 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! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.

Please note that you'll be responsible for the cost of your own food, plus an additional 33% to cover tax and tip. We kindly ask that you order at least two courses—such as a main dish and either an appetizer or dessert—for dinner. Restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a reasonable corkage fee are rare, so it's important that we show our appreciation by being gracious guests. This helps ensure we’re welcomed back in the future.

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 $7 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wines:

F. Vauversin “Rossignol” 2019 ($80)
The history of the Vauversin family in Oger dates back as far as 1640, when Nicolas de Vauversin was the first to plant vines in the village. In 1930 the 12th generation, Fernand Vauversin, started making its own champagne rather than selling the harvest to the large houses. Currently the house is run by Bruno and his son Laurent who converted the vineyard to organic in 2014. This is a Blanc de Blancs (100% chardonnay) Brut Nature (0g dosage) from the Grand Cru Oger village. The soil here is limestone rich and chalky, which produces a lean, mineral driven chardonnay.

From the Maison:
On the palate, the attack is crisp, marked by refreshing acidity and a beautiful texture. The minerality is prominent, offering an elegant structure to this Champagne. Flavors of lemon, ripe white peach, and green apple fully express themselves, providing well-balanced acidity.

Philipponnat Clos de Goisses 2004 ($200)
Clos de Goisses is a historic 5.5 hectare walled in vineyard which since 1935 Philipponnat has used to make this single vineyard bottling. 2/3 pinot noir and 1/3 chardonnay, 4.5g dosage. Disgorged in 2013.

Decanter (97 points, 2024 review):
A vintage now entering a perfect stage of maturity, Philipponnat’s legendary single vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ is showing an explosive aromatic range of dried pear, grapefruit and orange zest, bright on one hand yet also characteristically deep in bramble, walnut and honey on sourdough bread. It’s a relatively vinous, serious and concentrated 2004 as one would expect from this site, although for Goisses it is right down the middle, almost classical in framing. A swashbuckling, personable Goisses ready to take on another decade

Clape Saint Peray 2021 ($75)
Auguste Clape îs an iconic Rhone producer known for putting Cornas on the world stage with their meaty, savory red wines. Their production remains small, with roughly 2,500 cases per year, of which about 300 cases are white wines from Saint Peray. Saint Peray is a tiny appellation which only permits white varietals, the majority of which are made as traditional method sparkling wine. However, this is a still wine made from 80% marsanne and 20% rousanne, fermented in cement tanks. It had a traditional robust aromatic profile which Northern Rhone whites are famous for.

James Suckling (95 points):
An aromatic and delicate nose of white peaches, flowers, anise and hints of flower honey. Medium body with sharp and precise acidity. It’s very mineral with great tension. Round-textured with volume and harmony. It’s creamy at the edges, crisp and vertical at the center, with a long, peppery finish.

Paolo Bea Santa Chiara 2020 ($50)
An early pioneering force in the world of natural wine, Paolo Bea has developed a reputation for producing singular and unabashedly wild wines deeply rooted in nature. The grapes are grown organically amongst a mix of wild vegetation, and the wines are made without temperature control, filtering and fining, or other common human interventions.

It’s true. This is not technically a white wine, which contradicts the theme of the night. That said, it sees less skin contact (only about two weeks) than the other whites in the Paolo Bea portfolio, making it “just barely orange”. Also differentiating it from the other Paolo Bea whites is the blend; Santa Chiara comes from grechetto, malvasia, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and garganega, while their others (Lapideus and Arboreus) are 100% Trebbiano.

Vinous (91 points):
A gorgeous yellow gold, the 2020 Bianco Santa Chiara opens with a wild blend of candied ginger and incense complicating dried nectarines and peaches. This is round yet lifted, full of energy, with ripe orchard fruits and inner floral perfumes that cascade throughout. This finishes with a pleasantly chewy sensation, leaving hints of tropical citrus and spice. The 2021 is a lovely and feminine Bianco Santa Chiara.

Marcel Deiss Schlossberg 2018 ($100)
This producer is best known for their Alsatian field blends, and they never reveal the exact varietal percentages. Nor could they do so accurately since the vines share the same plots, and the grapes are harvested and fermented together in a completely non-mechanized fashion. However, we do know their Schlossberg bottling (which had its first release in 2018) is their most riesling dominant wine and it spent 12 months on the lees in neutral oak. It can be assumed that small amounts of pinot gris, gewurztraminer, muscat, and others may play a background role as well.

Wine Enthusiast (95 points):
An almost confectionery nose gives way to a wine that's lean and driven. Notes of chèvre and tart white peach are complemented by slate and salinity in a smooth, medium body. A vein of searing acidity runs through into the long finish. This wine cries out for a cheese platter to accompany.

Join me for a Friday night dinner. at Bobby Van's on Park For this dinner with 8 people, we'll be having all Washington State wines, one white and four reds.

Here is a link to their menu...
Bobby Van's on Park Menu

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

** The cost of this event is $38 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! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.

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 $6 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wines :

2022 The Walls Vineyards Grenache Blanc Lip Stinger French Creek Vineyard ($30) - CT 89.5. A blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 32% Viognier, 12% Marsanne, 8% Roussanne, 3 % Picpoul. It has a touch of sweetness to it, and is an excellent wine for the "I don't like Chardonnay" crowd.

2012 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($50) -CT 92.2, My last bottle of this vintage, this Bordeaux style blend is 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. WS 93, WA 95 points, "A gorgeous wine that's loaded with that candied lavender, violets, lead pencil shavings, black cherries and licorice aromas and flavors that define this terroir, the 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is full-bodied, elegant and silky on the palate. It has polished tannin, impeccable balance between its alcohol, tannin and acidity, and a great finish. It's another beauty that will still benefit from short term cellaring and keep through 2032."

2013 Col Solare Washington Wine Festival ($50) - JD 94 points, "Coming from the Col Solare and Quintessence vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2013 Proprietary Red is a rich, fabulously textured, full-bodied effort the has tons of black cherry and cassis fruits intermixed with notes of licorice, smoked herbs, graphite and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Made from a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec that spent 22 months in 100% new French oak, drink this pure, layered and polished Red Mountain Bordeaux blend over the coming 15-20 years. (drink 2016-2036)"

2018 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis Reserve ($80) - CT 91.7, JD 97 points, "The finest vintage here since the 2015, the 2018 Syrah John Lewis boasts a deeper ruby/purple hue to go with thrilling notes of violets, tapenade, lavender, and peppered meats, all supported by a gorgeous core of ripe darker fruits. Medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, and with building structure, this sensational Washington State Syrah will benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and keep for two decades.<!--more-->This is the finest set of releases I’ve tasted from Gramercy since 2015 when the wines seemed to be harvest way too early and possessed more dilute, almost stripped characters. These latest 2018s still show classic varietal characters with plenty of acidity and tannins, yet also bring beautiful fruit and texture. (Drink between 2021-2041)"

2016 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard ($60) - From my favorite WA State vineyard. CT 92, WA 91+ points, "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard displays ripe dark fruits, a floral dustiness and herbal undercurrent on the nose, with added complexity from the pleasingly subtle yet defined oak tones. Full-bodied, the palate has a rich and ripe core of fruit with a dusty herbal edge and is balanced and complex, with a layered and structured expression across the mid-palate. The wine is focused, with energetic acidity and enlivening, firm supporting tannins, finishing long. Wow, this is simply delicious. I’m going to steal away another sip."

Earlier this year, a few folks from the wine group and I visited Ceritas in Sonoma—and I’ll be honest: I’d never even heard of them beforehand. Then I tasted the wines and my brain basically short-circuited. Ceritas is a tiny, site-obsessed producer that works with coastal Sonoma vineyards, picking earlier and leaning into finesse over power. The result feels like a best-of-both-worlds cheat code: unmistakably California terroir, but with the restraint, texture, and the precision you normally associate with Burgundy.

Since that visit, I’ve put together a small stash—and I’m excited to share six bottles with the group, all with enough age to show just how seriously ageworthy these wines are. We’ll taste 3 Pinot Noirs and 3 Chardonnays, including a mystery bottle of Burgundy slipped into the lineup for a little blind fun: “Find the Burgundy.”

Nice Matin Dinner Menu

Nice Matin is located at 201 W. 79th Street, the corner of Amsterdam Ave.

** The cost of this event is $65 and is for the cost of the wines.

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 $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. MEETUP+ members are exempt from this charge.

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). You will be expected to order at least 2 dishes (an appetizer and a main, or main and dessert) to help support the restaurant.

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 $6 service fee.

The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):

2018 Ceritas Chardonnay Trout Gulch ($69)
Jeb Dunnuck (94 pts): This wine is expressively aromatic with notes of lemon custard, toasted brioche, and ripe green apple. The palate is high-toned and tightly wound, featuring a persistent mineral texture of crushed rock and saline alongside fresh lemon and baking spice.

2018 Ceritas Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray ($69)
Wine Advocate (93 pts): This vintage offers deeper, savory tones of nori and iodine mixed with crushed hazelnuts, flowers, and a core of stone fruit. The palate is rounded, earthy, and refreshed by lively acidity.

2021 Ceritas Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray ($77)
Jeb Dunnuck (95 pts): Expressive with floral aromas and ripe orchard fruit like apricot and delicate oak spice. The medium-to-full-bodied palate has a silky mineral texture with notes of hay and fresh herbs.

Mystery Burgundy Red ($79)
Tasting Notes: The wine presents a beautiful red color with dark reflections. Its aromatic profile is characterized by sublime, fresh, and delicate fruity notes, leading to a palate that balances fruit freshness with a superb, long finish.

2019 Ceritas Pinot Noir Elliott Vineyard ($85)
Vinous (93 pts): Built on resonance and power, this wine shows depth and gravitas while maintaining finesse. Clean mineral notes support a bracing finish, with 60% whole-cluster inclusion nicely balanced.

2021 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard Old Shop Block ($94)
Jeb Dunnuck (95 pts): Described as "explosive with purity and perfume," it carries notes of violet, black raspberry eau de vie, and fresh pine. It is broad on the palate with generous fruit and a long, clean finish.

I do love my big Pinot Noirs. Some would say they are Pinots masquerading as something else. No matter, because I love them! Please join me at Nice Matin for a night of New World Pinot Noirs. This will be an 8-person dinner featuring 4 different Pinot Noirs from both California and Oregon. Granted the Oregon Pinots are more elegant, but they dp have some muscle. Plus the obligatory white wine starter..

Here is a link to their menu:
Nice Matin Dinner Menu

Nice Matin is located at 201 W. 79th Street, the corner of Amsterdam Ave.

** The cost of this event is $43 and is for the cost of the wines.

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 $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. MEETUP+ members are exempt from this charge.

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). You will be expected to order at least 2 dishes (an appetizer and a main, or main and dessert) to help support the restaurant.

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 $6 service fee.

The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2024 Evening Land Vineyards Clair de Lune Seven Springs Vineyard ($45) - This is a new white from Evening Land Vineyards from Willamette Valley, Oregon. It is 13.1% Alcohol, and EL says, "This brand-new cuvée, a mouthwatering blend of 50% Chenin Blanc and 50% Chardonnay, announces itself with a gentle spritz in the glass and impeccable freshness on the nose and palate. Juicy Gala apple, bergamot, beeswax and ginger unfurl a carpet of vibrant texture and mineral tang which continues for some time, picking up florals along the way. Clair de Lune is a white wine fit to enjoy equally under the moonlight or in the sun."

2021 Argyle Pinot Noir Artisan Series Dundee Hills ($60) - From Oregon's Willamette Valley, CT 91, WS 92 points, "Handsomely structured and generous, with refined raspberry, orange peel and dusky spice flavors that build tension and richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031."

2021 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch Vineyard ($55) - From CA's Sonoma Coast. CT 91.3 WA 95 points, "The 2021 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch opens with deep tones of pomegranate and rhubarb before releasing notes of fir leaves, garrigue and earth. The light-bodied palate is velvety and seamlessly fresh, with a weightless yet powerfully perfumed core of fruit and a long, floral finish. It really opens up with time in the glass, so give it 2 to 3+ years in bottle or a couple hours in the decanter. (drink 2025-2035)"

2022 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir Foxtrot ($52) -From CA's Russian River Valley. International Wine Report 94 pts. ~ "A screaming value of the 2022 Pinot Noir lineup ... a classy expression of this varietal from the Russian River Valley ... carrying a nose of slight pinecone, the entry is super settled, and shows off a fine and settled tannic structure. Bing cherry, red raspberry, cola, licorice and nutmeg are all present early in the game. It never loses it vitality with time in the glass and keeps its balance through the finish. This is a wonderfully interwoven wine that should have at least 12 good years ahead of it." The Drunken Cyclist, 93 points ". This wine? Whoa. Yeah, the fruit is not hiding, is not shy, and certainly not an afterthought; it is upfront and in your face with not a single apology to be found. Dark in color with plenty of forrest floor, blackberry, and pepper to keep the brooding aesthetics company. The palate is a fruity delight with tons of blackberry, touches of vanilla and wood, a zingy tartness that maintains its dominance throughout, and a subtle spice that makes you want to think this is a Syrah (but you know darned well it isn't). Yeah. And Whoa. This is much more your drunk cousin than it is your demure aunt, but that is OK, every wedding needs someone to be the first on the dance floor! Outstanding."

2021 Martinelli Pinot Noir Skyridge Ranch ($85) - From CA's Russian River Valley. WA 94 points, "The 2021 Pinot Noir Sky Ridge Vineyard is new in the Martinelli portfolio and comes from Swan and Calera vines planted in 2016. It has layered scents of red cherries, cranberries, Earl Grey tea, mushroom and tobacco. The medium-bodied palate is supple and energetic with surprisingly concentrated, earth-laced fruit, and it has a very long, spicy finish. Just 99 cases were made. (drink 2025-2035)"