CA Pinot Noir!

Join me for this California Pinot Noir night. The white wine starter will be a California Chardonnay and the 3 reds will be California Pinot Noirs. 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 $78 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 $6 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

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

2023 Tongue Dancer Chardonnay Magnolia Montrachet ($64) - Tongue Dancer got sued for using Montrachet in the name of this cuvee, so going forward it has a different name. From Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley. My notes on my previous bottle, "I'm not sure I can give any Chardonnay more than 95 points, despite the Drunken Cyclist's 97 point review, but this was spectacular! I shared this with my wine group and we all wanted more! Long finish, well integrated oak, and a creaminess on the palate. One of the best Chardonnays, CA or otherwise that I have had this year."

2022 Tongue Dancer Rambling Fox ($54) - From California's North Coast Anderson Valley. JD gave it "only" 90 points, but the Drunken Cyclist gave it 93 points in a blind tasting and then a year later, un blind, gave it 94 points saying, "I first tried this about five months ago for the Seventh Annual Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir and I loved it (93 Points). When I first opened this last night? I was a bit underwhelmed; it was closed, a bit too tart, and rather nondescript. Tonight? Yowza. Oodles of fruit, touches of earth, that tartness is still there, performing a fantastic balancing act, and a boatload of verve. Yeah. Pretty fantastic. Outstanding."

2008 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Elizabeth Bodega Headlands ($110) - Probably my last bottle of this. From the Sonoma Coast, WA 96 points, "From the coldest parcel of four cool terroirs, the stunning 2008 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvee Elizabeth boasts copious aromas of boysenberries, black raspberries, spring flowers, sweet earth and hints of graphite as well as spice box. Broad, savory and full-bodied with impressive purity, this 2008 Pinot should drink well for a decade or more."

2017 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge ($110) - From Sonoma's Fort Ross/Seaview area. WA 96+ points, "The 2017 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and aromas of blueberry preserves, cranberry sauce, warm black cherries and berries, orange peel and dusty earth with violet hints. Wonderfully concentrated in the mouth with spiced fruits, despite its only light to medium weight, it's framed by very fine, grainy tannins and juicy acidity, with a long, layered finish. 207 cases were made."