The Northern Rhone

Indoor tennis season is over! Which means I can schedule a Thursday night dinner! So join me for this 8 person dinner at which I'll feature wines from the Northern Rhone of France. There will be 1 white wine and 4 red wines at this 8 person dinner.

We will be dining at Akdeniz, a favorite Turkish restaurant in Midtown West.

Here is a link to their menu

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

The cost of this event is $49 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.

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.

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.

Lastly: NO DRINKING AND DRIVING

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

2022 Cédric Parpette Côtes du Rhône Blanc Berthelon ($29) - From the importer, "..As an everyday Viognier, like everything Cédric ever made, impossible to beat for the money......get what you can, and thank me later."

2021 Côte Rôtie Les Schistes ($73) - 4 Stars John Livingstone Learmonth, "pure red robe; the nose has a gentle blackberry, cassis leaf aroma, a note of toffee. The palate is uber pure, crystalline red fruit present, is cool throughout, gathers a little extra form and weight towards the finish, the close on powder touches. Rose-violet, light graphite appear on the aftertaste; this is joli. From 2025. "

2018 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Roure ($50) - CT 91.3, JD 94 points, "Lots of blackberry and black cherry fruits, peppery herbs, truffly earth, and chocolate notes emerge from the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Roure. This medium to full-bodied, rich, nicely concentrated red has ripe tannins, a terrific, balanced, layered texture, and a great finish. It's a classic, impeccably made Syrah that can be drunk today or cellaring for 10-15 years. I'd put it up with some of the top Crozes in the vintage. (Drink between 2020-2035)"

2020 Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles ($50) - CT 90.8, JD 92 points, "Looking first at the 2020 Cornas Les Chailles, which is the younger vine cuvée of the domaine, it sports a healthy purple hue to go with meaty, slightly reductive notes of ripe black and blue fruits, lavender, rose petal, and black pepper. It's medium to full-bodied, has a round, lush mouthfeel, good purity, and a great finish."

2019 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch ($80) - I JUST had to throw in a CA Syrah! CT 92.3. For some reason the Wine Advocate DIDN'T review the 2019...But they reviewed every year from 2015 to 2021 of this cuvee and scored each vintage between 93+ and 97 points. So I'm confident we will enjoy this. Here is the 2020 95 point review, "The 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch has a dense core of blackcurrant fruit, which relaxes after a few minutes in the glass to notes of allspice, chargrill, menthol, blueberry and chocolate. The full-bodied palate is chalky and surprisingly fresh, with youthfully coiled fruit and a long, floral finish. Give it some time in a decanter, and drink it over the next 3-5 years."