The Return of Magnum Madness!

I'm loving Il Monello, an Italian Steakhouse on E. 49th Street. Turns out they have a large private room (downstairs) along with an outside garden. Even though it is rather large, they are going to allow us to hold a 16 person event there (well below the room's capacity. And what does that mean? The Return of Magnum Madness! A 16 person dinner featuring 5 magnums! One white and 4 reds!

Here is a link to their menu...

Il Monello lunch & Dinner Menu

** The cost of this event is $64 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):
2017 Argyle Riesling Nuthouse Master Series ($100) - A very enjoyable DRY Riesling from Oregon. No reviews that I could find.

2015 M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blanc Les Granits ($110) - CT 92.9, this Northern Rhone, 100% Marsanne scored 97 from JD and 93 points from WS.

2014 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac ($110) - CT 92.1, WA 94 points, "94 points. The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac (100% Grenache) is one of the wines of the vintage and offers shocking levels of concentration and mid-palate depth to go with classic notes of black currants, dried earth, leather and graphite. It lacks the concentration and depth of the 2015, but is one serious 2014 that has ample tannin and over a decade of longevity."

2019 Downstream ($240) - JD 99 points, "I think the finest wine here is the 2019 Downstream, a blend of 38% Zinfandel, 24% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah, and the rest a mix of other red varieties. Offering an incredible bouquet of both black and blue fruits as well as white pepper, sandalwood, incense, and exotic spices, it's slightly more vibrant and focused than the 2018 and has flawless balance, no hard edges, and that rare mix of power and elegance that, to me, defines truly great wines. It's far from unapproachable today, yet it should easily evolve for another 10-15 years. What will be the last vintage of this wine due to the death of collaborator Philippe Cambie, it's a fine tribute to an incredible human being.<!--more-->I was thrilled to be able to taste through a retrospective of all the Downstream releases, and while I’ve reviewed all of these in the past, it was incredibly educational to sit down and taste through the vintages together. The blends have changed dramatically since the inception, and you see that clearly in the style of the wines. The quality, however, is consistently great across the board. Unfortunately, with the passing of collaborator Philippe Cambie, the 2019 will be the last vintage produced. These are brilliant, singular, tiny production releases, and count yourself lucky if you have some in the cellar. (Drink between 2022-2037)"

2017 Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti) Saffredi ($180) - CT 93.3, WA 97 points, "Wow, there is a very impressive freshness here that defies the heat of this vintage. The 2017 Saffredi does not seem like a 2017 at all. Now celebrating its 30th birthday, Saffredi is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. Thanks to the vineyard's proximity to the sea, leaving leaves on the vines and the sharp diurnal shifts of the area, the fruit was able to ripen in a balanced manner despite the hot and dry summer. The team at Fattoria le Pupille knew they would have to be ready to harvest early and lose some their yields, and they did. In the end, production was down 25%, but the result is a fresh, thick and beautiful red made with ripe fruit and dark concentration. This is a great effort from Fattoria le Pupille. This wine will be released in November. (drink 2020-2040)"