Monterey on a Friday Night

We have now been to Monterey a few times and I'm really enjoying it, plus they are one of the few corkage free Friday and Saturday night restaurants that I know of. They are from the same restaurant group as Nice Matin. So please join me for a FRIDAY night dinner at Monterey!

Since I'm dreaming about their Chicken Under a Brick entree, I'm picking wines that will go with that dish!

They are located at: 37 E. 50th and Madison Ave.

For this dinner we will have one white wine, followed by 4 red wines. Should be fun!
We will have a 7pm reservation.

Here is a link to their menu...
Monterey Dinner Menu

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

** The cost of this event is $44 and is for the cost of the wines only.

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 $4 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.

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 Zero 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 $7 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wines :
2023 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ($50) - I always seem to prefer R-M's entry level Chardonnay to their single vineyard ones. WS 93, JD 94 points, "A bright yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is expressive on opening with notes of flinty wet stones and white peach. Full-bodied, it floats on the palate and offers ripe purity, with honeycomb, lemon curd, and delicate creaminess. It has a silky, clean texture and a balanced finish, and it’s ready to drink now or over the coming 6-7 years"

2022 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard ($50) - from Oregon. JD 95, WS 93 points, "Steely and precise, with vibrant raspberry and pomegranate flavors that reveal accents of stony mineral, dusky spices and black tea as this gathers verve and tension toward refined tannins. Drink 2024 - 2032.

2019 Auteur Pinot Noir Manchester Ridge ($70) - I'm not sure why, but the WA stopped reviewing this after 2018, but gave every vintage at least 93 points. WS stopped after 2017 and restarted with the 2022 vintage. Anyway, here is the WA review for 2018, "Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Manchester Ridge Vineyard has a beautifully perfumed nose of red roses, forest floor, lavender and Ceylon tea with a core of black raspberries, pomegranate, rhubarb and wild sage. The palate is medium-bodied and finely structured, featuring grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the intense red berry layers, finishing long and earthy."

2022 LAVINEA Pinot Noir Eola - Amity Hills ($52) - Also from Oregon, and known for its single-vineyard wines, this bottling is a blend from throughout the Eola Amity Hills appellation.WS 94, JD 93 points, "A jeweled ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills shows a beautifully elegant and pure profile, with notes of cherry liqueur, candied roses, sweet herbs, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it has a delicate, weightless, sunny feel, with ripe tannins, good length, and a long, clean finish. It is very well-styled. Drink 2024-2034. (Drink between 2024-2034)"

and finally, a BIG Pinot Noir..
2019 Martinelli Pinot Noir Wild Thyme Vineyard Fort Ross - Seaview ($105) - WA 96 points, "medium ruby-purple in color, offers up scents of licorice, dried orange peel, amaro, dusty earth and loads of floral perfume. Medium-bodied, it has expansive berry fruits and loads of exotic spices, anchored by a grainy texture and finishing very long and seamlessly fresh. Give it another couple years in bottle. 167 cases produced. (drink 2020-2030)"

BONUS WINE: (FREE): 2008 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir. This might be past its prime. If we are still thirsty, I'll open it and we will find out!