Martinelli & Burgers

At a recent dinner at Akdeniz, a favorite Turkish restaurant in Midtown West, located at 43 W. 46th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, I noticed that they added a BURGER to their menu! And what does that mean? Usually a Burger and Zin night! But for this one, just a little bit of different theme. An (Almost) Single Producer Night of Martinelli wines!

Why Martinelli? Well at the same dinner one of our members said
that all their red wines from other grapes tasted like they were trying to be Zinfandel.

I'm not sure that I agree, especially since my very first Martinelli wines were Pinot Noirs, but I can't resist trying to find out if he is right (or wrong)! So join me for a night of (Almost) Martinelli wines. Burgers are optional, but I know what I'm ordering!

Here is a link to Akdeniz' menu

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

The cost of this event is $51 and is for the wines and corkage. 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 appetizer ). There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a low corkage.

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 $4 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 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.

Lastly: NO DRINKING AND DRIVING

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

NV Sven Enderle Pinot Noir Alea ($20) - A One of from this German producer. A 50/50 blend of Pinot noir and Pinot Gris. From the importer, "From the 2022 vintage, Sven made a longer skin contact Pinot Gris wine (roughly 8 or 9 days), aka an orange wine. Following the wine's evolution, he was never really pleased/thrilled with the wine, so he continued to wait to see if it would evolve in a promising direction with time and patience. A year later, during the 2023 harvest, there were a lot of Pinot Noir grapes that were not tip top ideal for making his red wines. Given such circumstances, he decided to make a rosé wine with the Pinot Noir fruit that didn't make the cut, as you can make perfectly good and quaffable rose wine with mostly free run juice and limited skin contact. He then got a bit experimental and tried to blend a small amount of the 2022 Pinot Gris orange wine with the juicy juiciness of the 2023 Pinot Noir rosé, and really liked the interplay/complexity of the combination. He went whole hog and blended all of it together, which is how this totally tasty oddity was born. There is both aromatic and flavor complexity from the Pinot Gris, as well as some textural chewy appeal that orange wines allow for, as well as the juiciness and perfume of the Pinot Noir rosé component."

2022 Martinelli Pinot Noir Sky Ridge ($100) - WS 95 points, "This pulls no punches, offering raspberry compote, cherry reduction and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes that unfurl steadily over the polished structure, backed by licorice snap, black tea and singed vanilla accents through the rich, polished and enticing finish. This blows the Viking horn for fruit lovers. Drink now through 2035. 150 cases made."

2019 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch ($75) - I'm not sure why, but WA skipped this vintage, but gave both the 2018 and 2020 vintages 95 points, here is the review for the 2020, "The 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch has a dense core of blackcurrant fruit, which relaxes after a few minutes in the glass to notes of allspice, chargrill, menthol, blueberry and chocolate. The full-bodied palate is chalky and surprisingly fresh, with youthfully coiled fruit and a long, floral finish. Give it some time in a decanter, and drink it over the next 3-5 years."

2021 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard ($115) - JD 96 points, "A medium opaque ruby, the 2021 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard is more complex, with aromas of red cherry liqueur, leather, and layers of spices and wild herbs. Medium-bodied, it has good concentration and a lifted feel, with good focus and energy, outstanding length, and persistent notes of mocha, ripe red berries, and flowers coursing through the finish. Drink 2024-2040. (Drink between 2024-2040)"

2021 Martinelli Zinfandel Vigneto di Evo ($35) - Martinelli's entry level Zin. Never rated by WA in any vintage, and only rated twice by WS and not since 2014. No information on Martinelli's web site. Let's give it a try.