Thursday Night at El Pote Espanol

A rare Thursday night event, as I'm not scheduled for tennis (for a change!). So join me for an 8 person dinner of mostly Spanish wines with one white wine and four red wines. We will be dining at group favorite, El Pote Espanol.

The cost for this event is $32, 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.

NOTE: OUR DISCOUNTED CORKAGE AT EL POTE IS BASED ON EVERYONE ORDERING BOTH AN APPETIZER AND AN ENTREE. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

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....
El Pote Espanol 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):

2025 No Love Lost Albariño ($18) - From Lodi, in Caifornia's Central Valley. Who knew CA made Albarino? I got this from Last Bottle and for the price, it's pretty good, although, I rated it 87 points. It tastes like they used Oak chips in the stainless steel aging tanks.

2020 La Vizcaína Bierzo Lomas de Valtuille Las Gundiñas ($38) - Cellartracker says this is Mencia, but WA calls it a blend, without listing the grape types or percentages. I'm guessing it's a Mencia dominant blend. WA 95 points, "The 2020 La Vizcaína Las Gundiñas has a new plot, a west-facing vineyard that is steeper and cooler. Pérez likes Gundiñas and Rapolao in warmer years like this. In 2020, 50% of the wine matured in 2,000-liter oak foudre and the other half in used 500-liter barrels. It was harvested much earlier, and the wine shows more freshness even if it shows more tannin today. He likes long macerations (40 to 45 days) and works toward having tannins and weight in his wines."

2021 Casa Castillo Jumilla Las Gravas ($70) - My first time trying this Spanish wine from Jumilla. A blend of approximately 90% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) and 10% Garnacha (Grenache). WA 98 points, "The 2021 Las Gravas contains grapes from a vineyard planted in 2006 (that already contributed to the 2020), and it has given the wine a fine-boned profile, with more freshness and varietal Monastrell notes, a rustic-elegant feeling. It keeps the incredible quality level of the 2020, with Jumilla typicity; it's Mediterranean, powerful and energetic, with balanced 15% alcohol and a chalky, rocky, stony sensation in the finish. This always contains some 8% to 12% Garnacha. Production has grown to 37,905 (numbered) bottles. It was bottled in June 2023, as they did a longer élevage. This matured 100% in oak foudre."

2021 Dominio de Atauta Ribera del Duero Parada de Atauta ($27) - 100% Tempranillo. 93 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jun 2024)
Lots of dark brambleberries, Morello cherries, violets, chocolate and blackberries. Juicy and nicely chewy on the palate, with a full body and a tight-grained finish. From the old vines of Atauta and Ines. Peppery and pretty long. Better in one more year (meaning after 2025).

2022 McPrice Myers Cabernet Sauvignon M by Mac and Billy ($20) - Our lone non-Spanish wine of the night, a Cabernet from Paso Robles, CA. It is a simple one-note Cab that I got from Full Pull as part of their mystery wine series. WA 91 points (which I think it a little high), "91 points
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a touch shy to begin before revealing red cherry, tobacco, aniseed and earth with wafts of floral perfume and mint chocolate. The full-bodied palate has a deep core of perfumed fruit framed by supple tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, refreshing finish. (drink 2024-2030)"