What we’re about
We are a Wine and Dine Group! We share some good (sometimes Great!) bottles of wine over food and conversation.
A few times per month, we have small group dinners, either 6, 8 or 10 people at each event. The group organizers will host dinners on both weeknights and weekends. The organizer will supply 4 bottles of wine for 6 person dinners, 5 bottles of wine for 8 person dinners, and 6 bottles of wine for 10 person dinners. Most of the time, the wines will come from the event organizer's personal collection.
The cost of each event will be for an individual's share of the wine and in some cases the wine corkage charge of the restaurant. Dinner is not included and must be paid for at the event.
To attend an event, the wine payment must be made in advance, and reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Once you pay, refunds or credits are only available if you cancel AND your spot gets filled by someone else. All refunds are subject to a cancellation fee from $3 to $5, depending on the cost of the event. There is no refund or credit for no-shows.
No other outside wine will be permitted, unless prior arrangements have been made with the host, but attendees may order wine or spirits from the restaurant, at their own expense. Attendees are expected to order at least an entree and one other item from the menu, either an appetizer, a side dish or a dessert.
Along with the wine charge, everyone will be expected/required to pay for their own meal, along with a 33% charge for tax and tip.
We will be dining at restaurants that we have established relationships with, where we can bring our own wine for us to enjoy. Corkage varies from restaurant to restaurant, from Zero to $25 per bottle.
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PROFILE PICTURE WHERE I CAN SEE YOUR FACE, YOU WILL BE REJECTED FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THIS GROUP.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- 5th of July @ Afghan Kebab House!Afghan Kebab House, Manhattan, NY$32.00
What are you doing the DAY AFTER the 4th of July? Do you feel like a Saturday night wine dinner? Then join me at Afghan Kebab House.
Afghan Kebab House is located at 1st Ave, between E.75th and E. 76th Streets. They are a small restaurant with ZERO corkage! We have dined there before and really liked it.
As they are small, I'm going to limit this event to 6 people. We will have 1 white wine and 3 red wines. All from Washington State.
Looking at their menu they seem to be a mix between the menus at OM Indian and ABA Turkish.
Here is a link to their menu..
Afghan Kebab House MenuThe cost for this event is $31, and is for the wine only.
PLUS a reminder of our usual rules:
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 low 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.
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 $3 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.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2022 The Walls Vineyards Grenache Blanc Lip Stinger French Creek Vineyard ($30) - I've served this before and really enjoyed it! It is a blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 32% Viognier, 12% Marsanne, 8% Roussanne, and 3 % Picpoul."
2019 Force Majeure Parabellum Coulée Rhone Blend ($40) - CT 91.8, JD 94 points, "What can be thought of as the entry level Rhône blend from this estate, the 2019 Parabellum Coulee is based on 76% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault and Counoise. Rocking red and blue fruits, white pepper, leafy herbs, graphite, and crushed stone define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has terrific purity, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. Drink this impressive Syrah over the coming 10-12 years. (Drink between 2022-2034)"
2018 Force Majeure Parabellum Alluvio Bordeaux Blend ($50) - CT 92.1, JD 93 points, "The 2018 Parabellum Alluvio checks in as a blend of 43% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot. It offers beautiful cassis and darker berry fruits as well as lots of chocolatey herbs and graphite on the nose. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it's one heck of an entry level wine from this great estate. It's going to keep for 10-15 years.<!--more-->Previously known as Grand Reve, Force Majeure has skyrocketed to the top of the pyramid in Washington State, in no small part due to their talented winemaker, Todd Alexander, who moved from Bryant Family in Napa to Washington State to focus on this estate. While the focus is on their Red Mountain Vineyard, they make a bevy of world-class wines from throughout the Columbia Valley. Anyone doubting the quality coming from Washington State these days owes it to themselves to try these wines. (Drink between 2021-2036)"
2021 Soos Creek Syrah Commander Comet ($40) - CT 91.5, Owen Bargreen, 93 points, "A new bottling from the Soos Creek collection, the 2021 Commander Comet comes from the Discovery Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Inky in the glass, this delivers tar, sagebrush and allspice dusted blackberry on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and great sense of flavor density with its black fruit and chocolate core. Delicious now, watch this develop over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034"
- Sunday Night at a STEAK HOUSE!Tuscany Steakhouse, Manhattan, NY$76.00
WELL THE SOB'S AT PORTERHOUSE HAVE DONE IT AGAIN! THEY JUST CANCELLED OUR RESERVATION. SAID THEY WILL BE CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS FOR THE SUMMER. I AM NEVER SCHEDULING AN EVENT THERE AGAIN. GOOD RIDANCE THAT THEY ARE CLOSING FOR GOOD!
THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE GROUP FAVORITE TUSCANY STEAKHOUSE. LOCATED ON W. 58TH STREET BETWEEN 6TH AND 7TH AVES. THEY DO CHARGE CORKAGE, SO I'M ASKING EVERYONE TO KICK IN AN ADDITIONAL $20 FOR THE CORKAGE FEE. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR RSVP AND I'LL REFUND YOUR MONEY ASAP, WITHOUT ANY CANCELLATION FEES.
I'm squeezing this one in before I leave for my Fraternity convention in Detroit.
We will be dining at group favorite Tuscany Steakhouse, located at 117 W. 58th Street between 6th and 7th Aves. Here is a link to their menu.
Tuscany Steakhouse dinner menuI hope you can join us!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $76 and is for the cost of the wines and corkageNOTE: 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 $7 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 $10 service fee.Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2021 Domaine Lafouge Meursault Les Meix Chavaux ($68) - CT 92, I don't subscribe to Burghound, but here is their review of the 2019 vintage, "Hints of mineral reduction and petrol add breadth to the more floral aromas of citrus confit and ripe white orchard fruit. The delicious, seductive and caressing middle weight flavors also possess a beguiling texture on the balanced and ever-so-slightly more complex finale. Worth considering. (89-92)/2024+" Allen Meadow"
2002 Château Duhart-Milon ($80) - CT 89.5, WA 89 points, "This is an excellent effort boasting notes of cedar, spice box, earth, and red and black currants in a medium-bodied, elegant style that exhibits the hand prints of Lafite Rothschild. A pure wine, it should age nicely for 10-15 years. Duhart is a chateau to watch as the Rothschilds (of Lafite) are making serious investments and pushing full-throttle to upgrade the quality and image of this estate."
2010 Château Kirwan ($70) - CT 91.3, WA 92+ points, "As always, this estate has produced a blockbuster style of Margaux in 2010, with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. This wine is powerful and concentrated, but by no means excessively extracted. Dense purple, muscular, deep and impressive, it is a wine that allows for no compromise among wine lovers. Forget it for 6-10 years and drink it over the following 20-40 years."
2010 Château Saint-Pierre ($80) - CT 92.6, JD 97, WA 97 points, "The final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot has resulted in a wine of great power, stature, gravitas and density. The wine has a black purple color and a brilliant nose of scorched earth, creme de cassis, espresso roast, blackberries, truffles and licorice. Full-bodied, extremely powerful, yet with abundant sweet tannin, this stunning effort should prove sensational if given 7-10 years of cellaring. It should also last for 30-40 years.
This is another brilliant wine from Jean-Louis Triaud, who is also responsible for the brilliant resurrection of the cru bourgeois, Gloria. This is one of the smallest estates in St.-Julien, with only about 6,000 cases produced, and even less were produced in 2010 than in 2009. (drink 2020-2060)"
- Galician Wine beyond AlbarinoEl Pote Español, New York, NY$34.00
After bingeing on albarino a couple of weeks ago, now we turn our attention to the other grapes/regions of Galicia. While they have not yet reached the same level of commercial success, they are no less delicious and worthy of your attention.
Godello, a white grape often likened to chardonnay, has been featured in many of Stephen's events, Treixadura is less readily available in the USA, but I have always enjoyed this one that we're having.
The red varieties are also relatively obscure except for Mencia, which produces medium bodied reds and is popular in neighboring Bierzo. So I'm eager to present the espadeiro/caino blend and the brancellao.
We will be dining at El Pote Espanol, a Spanish restaurant that has been a mainstay in Midtown East, and where the group has dined on a number of occasions.
Here is their menu:
Menu for El Pote Espanol** The cost of this event is $34 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage.
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 $10 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
Whites
2023 Coto de Gomariz 'La Flor y la Abeja'
Grape - treixadura; Appellation - DO RibeiroIn Ribeiro (Galicia's oldest wine appellation), treixadura reigns supreme. It is a characterful yet aromatically subtle variety, typically displaying notes of honey, a nicely rounded mouthfeel and mild acidity.
The region is committed to indigenous varieties (23 of them), and they are expelling "foreign" grapes over the coming years (yes, including tempranillo!!)
"It opens with floral aromas, notes of orange blossom and soft herbs. Has notable freshness and concentration, gaining expression and energy on the finish. Clean and bright." (Vinous 91pts)
2022 Bodegas Godeval 'Cepas Viejas'
Grape - godello; Appellation - DO ValdeorrasGodello is quickly gaining a following especially as some of Spain's star winemakers, including Telmo Rodriguez and Rafael Palacios, have produced wines that scored highly with critics.
The Cepas Vellas (old vines) is a selection from the oldest estate vines which average 50 years old at an altitude of 500 meters. Pure slate soils. Aging in stainless steel for 5 months on the lees.
"An intense and complex nose of ripe fruits, lime, fennel and mint. The apple, melon and peach fruit flavors carry on giving power to the wine which is deftly balance by brisk herbal notes and hints of mineral from the slate soils."
Reds
2021 Bodegas Zarate 'Fontecon Tinto'
Grapes- 70% espadeiro, 30% caino tinto; Appellation - DO Rias BaixasBodegas Zarate is quite well known for their albarinos (we had two at our event), but this is a rare red blend from Rias Baixas (which is 98% white wine country). Only 1000 bottles produced.
"A fresh-faced Atlantic red, showing off the lavender, floral, balsamic and red berry aromas these wines are known for. High acid, racy, and earthy all at once. A terrific alternative to Pinot Noir or Gamay as far as food pairings are concerned, as this red complements most fish or poultry in any preparation beautifully." (Acker Wines)
2022 Pazo de la Cuesta Brancellao
Grape- brancellao; Appellation - DO Ribeira SacraThe next two wines come from Pazo de la Cuesta in Ribeira Sacra, the only appellation in Galicia that produces more reds than whites. The pazo ("manor house") dates back to the 1400s, and includes the oldest family run winery in Galicia. Check out the NY Times Magazine article on the restoration of the pazo.
"Clean and bright with a surprising colour. Very intense nose with complex red fruit, spices, and the characteristic coffee and cocoa notes of the terroir. This wine has a pleasant texture and is bold and complex in the mouth, well structured and intense on the palate and extremely fresh, which makes it appealing at any time of year."
Winner - Gold Medal (Mondial des Vins Extremes 2024), 2430 bottles produced
2022 Pazo de la Cuesta Batanero
Grapes- 85% mencia, 15% merencao & souson; Appellation - DO Ribeira SacraDeep nose of red and stone fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), compotes, fermentation notes, and sweet notes of wood and toasted aromas. Very direct attack, where freshness and the passage of time prevail. Harvested from wines with an average age of 40yrs. Aged for 9 months in French oak. 2046 bottles produced. 93 pts Club Enologique
