High End Italian Wines

Join me for this Italian wine night, where all the reds will be high-ish end wines. The white wine starter will be French wine from Corsica, but it is an Italian varietal. We will be dining at Il Monello Italian Restaurant for this 6 person dinner. They are located on E. 49th Street, between 1st and 2nd Aves.

Here is a link to their menu...

Il Monello lunch & Dinner Menu

** The cost of this event is $97 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage only. Please understand, that Il Monello charges us corkage, which is included in the price of the event. PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP FOR THIS DINNER IF YOU ARE SURE YOU CAN MAKE IT.

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 $6 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.

Just 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.

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 $8 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2023 Domaine de Vaccelli Ajaccio Granit ($85) - Vermentino from Corsica. One CT reviewer said, "Great nose with lemon and sea spray; almost without fail, whenever I taste a Vaccelli white it feels like a cross between Chablis and Provence. Full-bodied and expansive for a Vermentino. To be honest, this would be a great blind in a white Burg tasting." The importer said, "his whites are phenomenally good, showing the power and finesse of Vermentino at its very best. You can think very full bodied Chablis on a Mediterranean vacation, or something of the sort."

2001 Antinori Tignanello ($165) - WA 95 points, "The 2001 Tignanello is an object lesson in how to make Cabernet work with Sangiovese, the two varieties balancing and enhancing one another in admirable symbiosis. (The percentage of Cabernet, in fact, was reduced from the previous 20% to 15% in this vintage, an important sign - I hope - of how the wind is blowing.) A blackish ruby, its perfectly focused plum and cassis fruit, given an additional complexity by notes of sweet herbs and saddle leather, is fully and completely shaped in flavors of impeccable volume, roundness, and depth, caressing and powerful and with an additional power on the close which promises another 15 years of gratifying drinking. (drink 2006-2021)" NOTE: WA's review is from 2006 and gives a drinking window that has already past. But recent reviews, plus my own tasting of this wine last year, makes me believe that it will still be drinking well. But there is always a chance that is over the hill.

2019 Marchesi Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi Toscana IGT ($90)
WA 96 points, "The Mazzei 2019 Siepi is a special achievement and a delight to taste at the exciting conclusion of this historic retrospective spanning 26 vintages. This edition of Marchesi Mazzei's celebrated blend of Merlot and Sangiovese benefited from ideal growing conditions, with warm days and cool nights throughout the summer season. The clusters were healthy and full. The fruit is crisp and fresh, and the tannins serve to softly support the wine's generous texture and fiber. The 2019 vintage also achieves balance with a pretty assembly of dark fruit, mineral and spice aromas."

2020 Montevertine Toscana IGT ($100) - A Sangiovese blend.WA 95 points. "The 2020 Montevertine shows a generous, open-knit presentation with dark fruit, blue flower and delicate mineral highlights. The wine is 90% Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Colorino. It shows a medium-rich core of fruit but also offers a filigree of background nuances that renders it all the more enticing and interesting. The is a true beauty, showing the subtleties and nuances that can be achieved with native Tuscan grapes in a warm vintage."