Small group @ Altamirano's on the UES

As this is somewhat short notice, I'm going to make this a 6-person event.

Join me for this Friday night dinner at Altamirano's Italian Ristorante on the UES. The owners are old friends who used to work at 83 1/2. I have now been there a bunch of times, and I love it.

The are located on the corner of E. 78th Street and York Ave. Here is link to their menu.

Altamirano Italian Ristorante Menu

We will have 1 white, and 3 red wines. Should be fun!

Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $31 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! 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. 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):

2023 Ridge White Alder Springs Vineyard ($40) - From CA's Mendocino County and a wine with Italian grape varietals. 82% Falanghina, 18% Vermentino. 13% alcohol. From Ridge's website, "Nose of peach and white pepper. Present acidity with notes of pineapple, grapefruit, and minerality"

2021 La Massa La Massa Toscana IGT ($30) - No reviews for the 2021, but here is WA's 94 point review for the 2020, "The Tenuta La Massa 2020 La Massa, with 100,000 bottles produced, offers great value across the board. This is a generous and deeply layered blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, Alicante and Petit Verdot. The wine sees 12 months of barrique aging with 20% new oak. Vintner Giampaolo Motta breaks the rules by making Bordeaux-inspired wines in one of the most fervently Sangiovese-leaning spots in Tuscany. But he adds a little charm and magic to this wine nonetheless."

2015 Soos Creek Vieilles Vignes Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($46) - From the SC website, "This is our first reserve-styled wine that we have produced since 1999. It is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. It has abundant but unobtrusive tannins, excellent concentration and the supply is very limited." WA 91 points, "The 2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Vieilles Vignes comes from old vines and is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Merlot. It sashays out of the glass with a concentrated fruit tone, showing an elegant lift from the oak spices and a delicate floral bouquet with integrated, seductive oak tones. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a remarkable focus across the palate with a ripe and lush core of blackberry, cassis and dusty black cherry skin. It concludes with a clean and expressive finish of sweet oak and gripping tannins. This is a marked success. It’s delicious and comes recommended. 50 cases produced. (drink 2020-2028)"

2018 Soos Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Reserve ($40) -WA92+, Owen Bargreen 93 points, "100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 ‘Red Mountain Reserve’ shows off heady blackberry compote, creosote, and Turkish coffee tones with black florals on the nose. The palate is polished and downright voluptuous. Layers of huckleberry and black tea collide with smoke, minerals, cassis, and exotic spices. Polished and refined, with a silky texture and great flavor density, this glorious new wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036"