Orders are available for pick-up at Restaurant Nicholas at 160 Route 35 South Red Bank, NJ 07701 during the following times:
Monday: 9:30-3:30; Tuesday – Friday: 9:15am – 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm; Sunday: Closed
$60.00 $55.00
Walter Hansel was a farmer who loved growing fruit above just about all other endeavors. Kiwis, cherries, pears, you name it. Eventually, that love led him to grapes and in 1978 he and his son Steve planted 257 vines of Chardonnay on the estate.
The vineyard was a true family affair. The family harvested together and made the wine together. That half acre was just enough for two barrels. Throughout the 80s, the family even drank the wine themselves.
But that would all change when Steve took over the ‘winery’. Steve was good friends with the famous winemaker Tom Rochioli, who let him work a few harvests at Rochioli Vineyards to cut his teeth at winemaking. Then in 1996 – Steve made his first commercial vintage – in his garage.
The following 25 years saw the wines skyrocket in quality and achieve near cult status among the few people lucky enough to stumble across the winery and then inevitably get a personal walking tour by Steve.
You’d think that success would change things but Walter Hansel is still a family affair. There are no specialized roles and no full time workers. Everyone just pitches in with whatever needs to get done, whether its the hand harvesting, bottling, or shipping the wine club.
Steve has become known for his Burgundian style of winemaking and similar to Burgundy, he manages each block individually. The wines are made in tiny lots are pretty hard to find outside of California.
Today’s wine is no exception, but I did manage to grab 12 cases for our list. The 2018 Cuvee Alyce Pinot Noir is a bombshell. With Steve’s emphasis on low yields (a miniscule range from 1.5 to 2.5 tons/acre) this wine is super concentrated and bursting from the seams with layers of fresh fruit. It’s silky and wonderfully structured and the kind of wine that’s hard to put down.
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96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce opens slowly to alluring aromas of smoked cranberries, red cherries and black raspberries laced with licorice, bergamot and dried lavender. The palate is medium-bodied and super silky with addicting freshness, absolutely packed with layered, detailed flavors, and it finishes very long and elegant. Wow!
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94 Points, Tasting Panel
This is a really exciting new release in the collection of single-vineyards from the Wagner Family, and arguably the most interesting one of the bunch. This is the only Pinot Noir in the Caymus collection that has the advantage of being from a natural Pinot Noir haven in the Russian River Valley. Dairyman Vineyard’s proximity to the pacific ocean, with its morning fog and afternoon coastal breezes allows for an even and elongated growing season, with super concentrated and expressive grape clusters that help make this Dijon clone Pinot Noir one that you need.
It’s no surprise the Wine Advocate has called the Ventoux a “screaming bargain.” Carved off the left bank of the Rhone River, the 2020 Delas Ventoux is a gorgeous medium-bodied wine with wonderful crushed red fruits, a silky mouthfeel, tremendous structure and that signature Rhone spice on the finish. I haven’t had this wine available for a few vintages, but I figure it’s the perfect springtime Red to bring back in the fold!
90-92 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 91 Pts (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast – 91 Pts, Decanter
The wines get consistent high praise but 2018 is truly something special. 90-92 from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 91 points and an Editor’s Choice designation from Wine Enthusiast. 91 more from Decanter who provides “There is so much to enjoy in the smaller appellations this year. Drinking Window 2022 – 2031” and another 90 point score from James Suckling. This is a home run value – especially for the price.
The secret to Philippe’s tightly wound, complex Pinot Noir is a combo of ancient vines, natural farming techniques, and low yields. The wines are built to age, with incredible tension and length. And the secret to me securing his other-wordly 2017 old-vine Gevry-Chambertin can be chalked up to a great relationship and over a decade supporting superior Burgundian winemaking. The wine is scary good. The nose is wild, filled with spiced dark raspberries, red flowers, and baking spices. The palate is elegant and racy, with a dynamic tension that runs right through its minute-long finish. This is a high-toned, wound-up Pinot, that is starting to hit its prime and is really turning out to be a ‘must-have’ for true Burgundy lovers.
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