More 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 $19, 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 Clos des Lunes Lune d'Argent Blanc ($19) - WA 89, JD 92 points, "The 2022 Clos Des Lunes Lune D’Argent Blanc is clean, bright, and pure, with notes of lemon curd, white flowers, and crushed stone. Vibrant, focused, and elegant on the palate, it has impressive precision and a great finish, all making for an outstanding, incredibly satisfying white. Brought up in a mix of stainless steel and oak, drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years. (Drink between 2025-2032)" NOTE: I think this Bordeaux Blanc punches WAY about its weight class. Plus it is a refreshing way to start a dinner!

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)

2019 Domaine Cabirau Maury Sec Serge & Marie ($15) - CT 88.6 JD 92 points, "The 2019 Maury Sec Serge & Marie is 70% Grenache, 20% Carignan, and 10% Syrah and is aged in 50% foudre and 50% used barrique between two and ten years old. It's a more serious wine offering ripe kirsch, blackberry, peppery herbs, and obvious minerality in a medium to full-bodied, ripe, silky, textured package. Drink bottles over the coming 4-6 years. (Drink between 2023-2029)"

2020 Soos Creek Stampede Pass Red ($20) - CT 89.8, Paul Gregutt, (no idea who he is!) 92 points, "Here is a Bordeaux blend sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Champoux and Elephant Mountain vineyards, fermented in native yeast and aged in 15% new French oak. It’s principally Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Firm, tight, dark and tannic, yet beautifully balanced for aging, this could be your go-to Bordeaux blend for aging over the next decade. Cassis and black cherry fruits, a streak of coffee, a hint of licorice… wow, this over-delivers past any reasonable expectation. 14.1%; Alcohol (Columbia Valley)"

2023 Temporal Vintners Tempranillo ($18) - A WA state Tempranillo! From the retailer, "This 2023 is 100% Tempranillo, with half from that Dineen Vineyard Tinta del Pais Ribera clone and the other half from a Rioja clone planted at Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain. All that good Tempranillo fruit was raised in French oak barrique, mostly neutral, and alc is 14.2%. This kicks off with a high-toned nose featuring a core of raspberry and pomegranate fruit shaded by bay leaf and cedar and soil. It’s about as approachable a yumball vintage as I can remember from this project, with a dazzling attack of supple succulent dark red fruit, a plump appealing mid-palate, and then tannins that appear in the fourth quarter, all polished classy goodness. In past vintages, Temp has often been appealing for its rustic charm; this vintage, on the other hand, appeals for its density and easy generosity."
MY NOTES from a previous bottle: Dark red fruit and some oak on the finish. Medium bodied, medium length finish.