Bargain Wines at ABA

Join me for an 8 person dinner of Bargain wines with one white wine and four red wines. We will be dining at group favorite, ABA Turkish. Most of these wines came from WA state marketers Garagiste and Full Pull. One came from Last Bottle. A few of these were Mystery wines, where I got a basic description of the wine, but the producer was unknown to me until the bottle arrived. Should be fun!

The cost for this event is $20, 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.

Here is a link to the menu....
ABA TURKISH RESTAURANT MENU

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 Domaine des Pérégrins Petit Chablis ($22) - From the importer, "100% limestone-laced, salt-spray and mineral dusted Chardonnay that could only be from one small region – the environs of Chablis!)" Here is a CT review from 11/24, "Beautiful yeasty and leesy aromas of fresh baguette, plus lemon, some stonefruit, and green apple. Sharp green apple spikes on the palate at first, with a very satisfying deceleration, more round character and oaky influence, lingering savory flavors, ending with a little saline and tart blip. Super satisfying."

2024 Adam Lee Pinot Noir Phone Booth ($21) - From CA's Santa Lucia Highlands and a Last Bottle purchase. I can't find the original sales pitch, but here is Vinous' 93 point review for the 2023 version. "The 2023 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is a rich, expressive wine that shows all the hallmarks of a long growing season in its concentration and complexity. Dark, slightly salty fruit meets heightening tones of chapparal herbs and stony minerals. This is impeccably balanced and totally approachable. (Drink between 2025-2035)

2021 Franck Balthazar Côtes du Rhône ($24) - From the importer, "Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, Franck Balthazar’s 2021 Côtes du Rhône is a beauty. It has a super red and black fruit intensity on the nose, accompanied by a fine cherry blossom perfume. The palate has such intensity of sweet red fruit. It is just lovely, with a floral bouquet. The tannins are powder-fine and the whole wine has a balletic poise, with a galet-stone purity on the long finish. This is delightful."

2021 Domaine Cabirau Maury Sec Serge & Marie ($14) - JD 93 points, ") Always a brilliant value as well as a terrific wine, the 2021 Maury Sec Serge & Marie is based largely on Grenache yet includes one-third Carignan. Black cherries, darker raspberries, dried violets, loamy earth, pepper, and sandalwood all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a great finish. This cuvée always shows the perfumed, riper style of Maury yet never comes across as heavy or cumbersome, and if anything, this 2021 could easily be mistaken for a beautiful Pinot Noir. It's perfect for enjoying any time over the coming 7-8 years. (Drink between 2023-2031)"

2019 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon ($22) -CT 91.2. A Garagiste Mystery wine from WA State's Columbia Valley, and I can't find any reviews for it. But it normally retails for $45 per bottle.