Friday Night at El Pote!

Join us as we return to El Pote Espanol, for a night of Spanish (plus 1 Portuguese) wines. This 8-person event will feature 1 white and 4 red wines.

El Pote Espanol is located at 718 2nd Avenue, between 38th and 39th Street.

Here is a link to their menu:

Menu for El Porte Espanol

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

** The cost of this event is $45 and is for the cost of the wines and 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 $3 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). AND order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. Our discounted corkage fee is based on EVERYONE ordering two courses.

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.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wine List - Notes will be provided at dinner:

2022 Familia Nin-Ortiz Priorat Planetes de Nin - Blanc ($43)- CT 89.7, WA 93 points, "The 2022 Planetes de Nin Carinyena Blanca (Carignan White or Vi Blanc de Varietats Antigues) is slightly different, as the slopes planted with the variety just entered in production that year. The grapes ripened well, and 30% of the blend was macerated with skins for 30 days in a concrete egg. It has a nose of pollen and yellow fruit, hints of quince, the effect of the skin contact very subtle, some dry straw, a little more Mediterranean. It has only 12.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.2 with five grams of acidity. 6,120 bottles produced."

2011 Quinta da Falorca Touriga Nacional Quinta da Falorca ($36) - From Portugal, our lone non-Spanish wine of the night. CT 91.3, WA 95 points, "The 2011 Touriga Nacional Quinta Da Falorca is a blend of Touriga grapes from three plots, two with 40 years of age and the third at ten. It was aged in new French oak for 18 months. The combination of power, finesse and seduction here make this more than a little enticing. To be sure, it is rather unevolved and it needs to pull in a little oak. Even now, though, it is slowly gathering itself. The crisp, flavorful finish, balance and good structure will support this for a couple of decades in all likelihood. It finishes with controlled power and persistent flavor. It is always a wine that leans a bit to the Burgundian and this year is no different. I liked last year's version a lot. That may in fact be a bit lusher. This has a bit more lift, focus and penetration, granting that they are not now side-by-side. It is a very nice duo. In the long run, this will win out. It was far superior the next day, its combination of finesse and precision winning out. It has an Old-World feel (forgive the stereotype). (drink 2017-2036)"

2015 Terroir Al Limit Soc. Lda. Priorat Dits del Terra ($76) - CT 92.3, we had this at El Pote January 2025 and it was the unanimous WOTN. WA 95, JD 95 points, "Also 100% Carinyena fermented with 100% stems, yet from a slightly warmer terroir, the 2015 Dits del Terra is more rounded, supple and sexy, with tons of kirsch, black raspberries, pepper, incense and iris aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, gorgeously layered and undeniably beautiful on the palate, it has ripe, rounded tannins and a great finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This cuvée gets its name from the nearly 90-year-old vines of Carinyena that give the impression fingers clawing into the schist soils of this site near the village of Torroja. It’s one of the first vineyards that Dominik and his then partner, Eben Sadie, acquired when they started making wine together in the Priorat. Where the l’Arbossar come from a cooler, north facing parcel, this comes from a warmer, southerly hillside. (Drink between 2018-2026)" NOTE: WA's drinking window for this ended in 2024.

2020 Raul Pérez Bierzo Ultreia Valtuille ($75) - Mencia from Raul Perez. CT 92.6, WA 98 points, "The 2020 Ultreia Valtuille is truly amazing. This is floral, expressive, fresh and balanced, with incredible elegance. There's a lot of precision here, they picked on exactly the right date, removed the white grapes, and the wine matured in barrique for five months and then in 1,000-liter oak foudre. The fine tannins show the finesse of the sandy soils. It's even a notch above the already other worldly 2018. Possibly the finest Ultreia Valtuille ever, with a moderate 12.7% alcohol. Bravo! 3,200 bottles produced. (drink 2022-2035)"

2022 Dominio del Aguila Pícaro del Aguila Viñas Viejas ($38) - CT 89.4, a Tempranillo blend. WA 94 points, "The 2022 Pícaro del Águila Tinto has similar parameters to the 2021 (14% alcohol), but the sensation is of higher ripeness. Surprisingly enough, it has a lower pH than the 2021 I tasted next to it; they used more white to give it freshness and more of the other varieties. It has chalky, dry tannins, reflecting the terroir more, which is remarkable for such a warm and dry year. This is more serious, and the 2021 is more approachable. A triumph over the vintage. It was bottled in January 2024. (drink 2025-2032)