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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
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
This is a spectacular new release – a flawlessly crafted, high energy coastal Chardonnay from one of California’s hottest spots. As bright and refreshing as you could want, it hits with clean, pristine green apple fruits, pears and citrus notes with a hint of that limestone-influenced minerality creeping in on the finish. It’s a fantastic wine for summer, the perfect pair with mixed seafood, summer tomatoes, corn and freshly caught fish.
Chad’s 2020 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is drop dead gorgeous. Those of you who were lucky to catch our sneak preview when we put it in our Gobbler Case can attest. Dark purple to the rim with aromas of black fruits, violets, creme de cassis and a hint of spice. On the palate, full-bodied, round and juicy with elegance and the gorgeous, pure fruit– red and black currants, blackberries and a touch of sweet tobacco.
Worlds Best Single Barrel Bourbon – Whisky Magazine
I loved the barrel I selected of Rebel Cask Strength when I was at Lux Row back in January. Finally, it’s made its way to New Jersey. My single barrel from Rebel is much different from the single barrel Cask Strength that Rebel usually puts out into the market. This is a 120 Proof beauty that was born in March of 2017. I love the way this one came together. The molasses, gingerbread, vanilla, oak and spice combination here is so smooth and effortless. You gotta try this one; I know you’re going to love it.
95 Points, James Suckling
One of America’s all-time classic Bordeaux Blends and the 2017 Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year returns in very limited supply in the fantastic 2019 vintage in Napa where a return to even and dry weather throughout the growing season created the perfect recipe for this flagship bottling. This is a well-rounded and lavish American Bordeaux blend that demonstrates the wonders of North America’s undisputed top Merlot. This beauty also has at least 25-30 years of cellaring potential going for it as well.
Once again dialing up fruit from 1000-1500ft in elevation in the Dundee Hills, Chad’s 2021 is juicy, laser focused and roaring out of the gates. Chad tells me that similar wines (very similar wines) off this vineyard are raising their prices up to $55/bottle from $45 this year due to 2020’s lost year. But where most people are raising prices to recoup last year’s losses, the CHAD Pinot Noir price is somehow lower. A true gift from our favorite winemaker.
93 Points, James Suckling – 91 Points, Vinous – 90 Points, Decanter
“An excellent Valpolicella Ripasso that shows a plethora of dried cranberries, strawberries, nutmeg and red licorice. Medium body, but with a serious backbone of juicy tannins and a solid center palate of dried fruit. Lovely acidity drives the finish.” -James Suckling
92 Points, James Suckling
This is a terrific Nero D’Avola especially for the price. A true Sicilian treat, this one is remarkably fresh with a bright acidity – one of the calling cards of the region. It leads with juicy notes blackberries, raisins, cranberry and blueberries with hints of bramble and a splash of baking spices. It has a really nice finish that sticks with you and calls you back.
95+ Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard offers up beguiling scents of Morello cherries, mulberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus underlying cinnamon stick, chocolate mint and tilled soil hints. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a firm and fine-grained texture, allowing the black and red fruits to shimmer with jaw-dropping energy, finishing on a persistent spicy note.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
98 Pts, Decanter – 97 Pts, Vinous – 97 Pts, James Suckling, 96+ Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 96 Pts, Wine Spectator
“What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for aging, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition.” -Decanter
98 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck – 96 Pts, Vinous – 95 Pts, Decanter – 95 Pts, Wine Spectator
“The 2016 Poggio al Granchio Brunello di Montalcino is aromatically expressive of perfectly ripe cherry, sweet herbs, dried flowers, and stony earth. There is generous purity of fruit on the palate, with mineral-rich earth, and it had the most balanced and harmonious structure in the lineup on this tasting, with present but fine-grained tannin. I love this wine for its darker mineral edge in counterpoint with crunchy and ripe fruit. It is a super-pleasurable wine right out of the gate and will continue to be so over the next 20 or more years”
98 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The former assistant winemaker and apprentice for Helen Turley at Marcassin, Matt Courtney left to start something special at Arista in 2013 and is well on his way. The winery has expanded, their waitlist for bottle allocations now stands at 20+ months (!) and every critic in America raves about these wines. After having the 2016 Farmington Vineyard at 96+ points to offer up last year, I’ve managed to out do myself with easily one of the best Pinot Noirs of the year.
91 Points, James Suckling
The Bisol “Jeio” Prosecco NV is a delicious sparkler that comes from the Veneto region of northeast Italy. A brilliant straw yellow color, the first sip is an intense and fresh nose of citrus fruits and saline sensations. If you love fruit forward sparklers… this one is for you.
Fresh off a huge feature in The Wall Street Journal in which they were crowned as the top Prosecco Rose in a lineup of 14, I suspect what was once our little secret will explode. James Suckling also finally got around to tasting it and gave it 91 points. I’d rate it even higher. The 2020 Bisol Jeio Brut Prosecco Rosé is remarkable, and simply put, mouth-wateringly delicious. Inviting aromas of flowers and wild strawberries, with a complex mouthfeel that sings with citrus fruits and creaminess from the tiny crisp bubbles.
94 Pts, James Suckling
Known just as ‘Privada Family Blend’, this has been slowly released to the general public over the last several years. Consequently the press has caught up. This under $20 gem checks in at 94 points – a feat that you rarely see at that price. You’d be smart to snag a few bottles before it’s too late!
93 Points, James Suckling
The last great vintage in Rioja was the magical 2010 – and those have been long gone. I dabbled a little in other vintages, but haven’t been able to find anything really great until the release of the 2016s. There are a lot of similarities that can be drawn. Both years were consistently warm and dry throughout the growing season, creating the perfect environment for structured and balanced reds. The one that I’m recommending has everything you’re looking for, whether it be an appetizer wine for the pigs in the blankets, a main course sturdy BIG RED or even a wine that can play nicely with dessert. This has it all in spades. It’s a juicy number from a great producer, the folks at Bodegas Chavarri.
The third release of Booker’s Bourbon 2022 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2022-03 “Kentucky Tea Batch.” The release had a hilarious note explaining the name. There’s no tea involved, “While some may flavor their water with tea leaves, Booker Noe, loved flavoring his water with bourbon – Kentucky Tea.” It’s a total gem. Uncut and unfiltered, this small batch came in at a whopping 126.5 proof (63.25% alc.). It was aged seven years, four months and 14 days. I have only a few bottles to go round.
“Best Straight Bourbon” & “Double Gold Medal” -San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
This is a much more rare bottling than the regular Bulleit. The barrel strength edition is made from emptied used barrels and combined into a single batch without the inclusion of any additional water after the whiskey was removed from the barrels. Aged and bottled at Stitzel-Weller in Louisville, Ky., this gives folks the opportunity to taste Bulleit Bourbon straight out of the barrel, uncut and non-chill filtered.
Now they’re coming in hot! This is my second private barrel that I sourced from my January trip down to Kentucky. My trip down there was super fruitful as I got to pick out two different barrels. Believe you me, we went through a lot of samples to make up for lost time. The winning combo is something people are going to love. It’s smooth and layered, with a full creamy mouthfeel and manages to sneak in at 104 Proof. On the nose, I get fresh cut oak, vanilla and brown butter. On the palate, freshly baked banana bread, burnt orange creme brulee and graham cracker.
95 Points, Vinous – 95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a total knock-out. Winemaker Danielle Cyrot has done a tremendous job taming the Howell Mountain tannins. There is still plenty of power and structure, but all the elements are so well balanced here. Inky dark red fruit, iron, new leather, blood orange, spice, a kiss of new French oak and game build in an opulent, brooding Cabernet loaded with personality.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
94 Points, Wine Spectator
The 2019 is a must have for any fans of cellar-worthy Italian red wines. It’s a structured Chianti Riserva, with a ton of character. The nose is intense with notes of leather surrounding a core of bright red fruits. The flavors are intense and the finish is long with lingering Bing Cherry notes that absolutely sing. Obviously, since we’ve got the first crack at it, not all the ratings are in and it probably wouldn’t matter anyway as these will not stick around for long.
It’s always nice to be in good standing with one of the most beloved wine brands in America! Our special relationship with the Wagner has granted us incredible access on their newest release! These won’t last long! This is an opulent, powerful dark-fruited Cabernet with tightly woven tannins, that is just raring and ready to go. Textbook, full-bodied, revved up and ready to go, this new Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet is the definition of a crowd pleaser.
Chad’s 2019 ‘SMR’ is a Bordeaux blend that came from what is widely considered to be the best old-patch, old-vine vineyard for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Mayacamas Mountains. It’s a vibrant purple color with killer aromatics of wild blueberry, sage and mint. This baby is full-bodied and lush on the pallet, with juicy, ripe plum and cassis flavors and just a touch of dark chocolate. The tannins are fine and long. There’s a lot to like – this is a classy wine at a crazy good price.
94 Pts, James Suckling – 93 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Pts, Vinous – 93 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck
“Coming from the upper limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion and largely Merlot, the 2018 Château Boutisse reveals a deep ruby/plum hue as well as a rich, full-bodied, decadent style that’s already a joy to drink. Mulled black cherries, licorice, chocolate, graphite, and chocolaty minerality all define the nose, and it has building yet ripe tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a lengthy finish. It’s every bit as good as the 2016, if not better. Readers looking for a gem of a Saint-Emilion that will deliver the goods over the coming 10-15 years won’t regret buying this.” -Jeb Dunnuck
97 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Points, James Suckling – 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck- 96 Points, Decanter
This one is easily one of the top names in Chateauneuf du Pape – imported directly with perfect provenance and offered up first to Nicholas Wines before anyone else in New Jersey. It already has four scores of 96+ and is outpacing last year’s release that was recently named Wine Spectator’s #7 best wine of 2022. Another thing that makes it a touch more interesting, is that this year, the normal Beaucastel CDP bottling has again crept up a point or two to match the notorious Hommage. It combines elegance with power and tremendous precision. It’s a stellar bottling.
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 Right Bank in the 2019 vintage has all the makings of something truly special, and this little number that I picked up speaks volumes to that potential. It’s a true discovery – no expert reviews, just something I tasted that was really excellent. A Grand Cru wine from the 2019 vintage with this pedigree of winemaker should cost you three to four times what today’s offer price is but … this is a very exclusive direct import. After reviewing over 100 Bordeaux, this is one of just a few I’ve selected to offer up.
99 Pts, Vinous – 97 Pts (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast– 97 Pts, Spectator – 97 Pts, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni called it, “hands down one of the wines of the vintage.” The Wine Advocate chipped in with “a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage.” Here’s what I’ll say: How could you do any better than securing a few bottles of a wine with 30-40 years of life left that is already showing better than giants such as Lafite, Margaux and Le Pin. There aren’t many years in Bordeaux’s history where one of the top 3-5 wines of the vintage was a $105 bottling and not one available at four figures.
93 Points, Vinous
“Light orange-pink. Mineral accented red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by subtle floral and botanical herbal accents. Juicy and animated on the palate, offering fresh cherry, raspberry and blood orange flavors that deepen with air and take on a spicy nuance. The mineral and floral notes repeat on the lingering finish, which echoes the citrus note. ” – Josh Raynolds
This is classic Cotes de Provence Red from one of the oldest, most respected producers in the region. The blend comes in at 70% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Grenache and is a juicy, easy drinking Red. With over 800 years of winemaking, Peyrassol is best known for their iconic clay and limestone soils that produce mouthwatering Rhone blends. On the mouth – red licorice, white pepper and small red and black currants. It’s smooth with a little spice that lingers on the round and full finish.
From the famous family behind Peyrassol, comes a new Cotes du Provence smash hit. The wine is pale pink in color with notes of small wild berries on the nose complemented by a hint of juniper. This spiciness lends weight to the liveliness on the palate reminiscent of exotic citrus fruits, creating a crisp, harmonious and refreshing ensemble. Spice lingers on the palate for a full and round finish.
96 Points & #7 Wine of Year (2019), Jeb Dunnuck
” The 2016 Château Poesia is more open and showy compared to the Barde Haut, offering fabulous limestone-like character in its kirsch and currant fruits and notes of dried herbs, white truffle, and dried flowers. Possessing medium to full body, ripe, present tannins, terrific concentration, and a great finish, it’s another incredibly classy Saint Emilion from the Garcin-Lévêque family.”
From the red hot Côtes-de-Bordeaux region, and the brilliant, Jean-Francois Meynard just outside Saint Emilion comes the 2019 newly released Roque Le Mayne. It’s rich and elegant Right Bank blend in its youth with vibrant fresh notes of raspberry, wild strawberries, forrest floor and blueberries, with a refreshing minerality and a touch of earth. It’s a classic, sleek Right-Bank blend that can be enjoyed with pretty much anything on a table but has enough body and depth to be enjoyed in a big Bordeaux glass by itself.
Year in, year out Château Turcaud produces one of the best white wine values in the world. It’s long been found on Michelin-starred wine lists in Paris and we’ve had it at the restaurant since Day 1. If you’ve ever tried this stunning, classic Bordeaux of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadlle, then you know why. The 2020 vintage has just arrived, and it’s a fantastic vintage in Bordeaux for energetic whites. This is world-class, as always.
From one of the best Loire wineries and one that Vinous recently dubbed, “a benchmark producer of Saumur-Champigny”. This wine in particular is coming off this month’s Eric Asimov New York Times ’20 Under 20′ feature, this is the newly released Saumur Blanc is a racy and lively treat. It mixes aromas of ripe apple and melon mingled with ginger and honeysuckle all elegantly lifting from the glass and leading to a concentrated core of peach and apricot flavors. The finish lasts forever– chalky, super crisp and as mineral as can be with a wonderful spice component that lingers.
93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 93 Points, James Suckling
The 2019 vintage represents Bernard’s highest-rated yet at Clos des Lunes with a litany of big-time scores. It received double 93 Points from both Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling but in addition to that, one of the most respected Bordeaux writers in the world, Neil Martin (formerly Wine Advocate, currently Vinous) chimed in with a huge 94 point barrel review in which he calls the wine an “excellent white” after pointing out the “lovely ginger/saline finish that urges you back for another sip.” This is a crazy good bottle of wine that shouldn’t be anywhere near this price.
This is a very rare single barrel Bourbon Whiskey to make its way to Jersey. Maple syrup, butterscotch, caramel & brown sugar with a palate of caramel apple, roasted almond, ripe banana and graham crackers. This one has a full mouthfeel with a nice creamy middle. The finish here lingers with just the right amount of burn. This was born on 2/3/2017 and bottled at 102 Proof. This is a great bottle of Whiskey.
This is the very first of its kind – a Reposado Rosa Single Barrel. Código has been working on a “Reposado Rosa” tequila project for the King of Country and wanted to age their juice in some crazy expensive wine barrels. Might as well get em from one of Napa’s very best. I can’t tell you the winery because they asked me not to but I can tell you that their bottles are on our wine list for north of $1,000 each. I managed to snag exactly one barrel away from the Hall of Famer- the only person who gets this exclusive Reposado. Super smooth with hints of vanilla, caramel, citrus & grilled pineapple. I’m the only one in the country who has this. Released just in time for Valentine’s Day – where a bottle of delicious pink Tequila with a bouquet of flowers sounds like a pretty great gift.
New York Times 20 Under $20 ‘Top Wines of Summer’
Led by owner Fabio Marchionni, ColleStefano has earned an incredible reputation both locally and internationally. They even are referred to as, “”The gem of Verdicchio di Matelica”. As Vinous points out, “[Marchionni’s]’s Verdicchio di Matelica is not just mineral and steely, but ages extremely well too (ten plus years).” This is a racy and vibrant white wine with ginger, peach and lemon zest flavors, peperry spring flowers and a complex mix of minerality, acidity and pure fruit. It dazzles the tongue with its vibrancy and the tension and structure are perfectly sound.
The second year of this elegant, silky smooth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir crafted by Bertrand de Villane of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fame. Again it comes from the gorgeous Winter’s Hill Estate about 700 feet above sea level in the Dundee Hills. All indications are that the 2019 is going to be one of the best for Pinot Noir since 1991. A flawless summer that benefited from very little rain mixed with cool, breezy summer nights. With a round, supple mouthfeel and a sturdy backbone this will age gracefully for a decade plus. Bertrand’s wines just have a signature stamp that is unmistakably his. This is phenomenal.
Joshi Goldschmidt’s Corzano’s Toscana Bianco is a racy blend of six varieties, native and French, drawn from vines rooted in the gravelly, clay and limestone-rich soils of Chianti. After a cold fermentation in steel, blocking malolactic fermentation, the result is a mineral accented white and yellow fruit core that finishes beautifully fresh with lingering acidity. This ‘White Chianti’ is a rare and elegant treat. It’s also a treat to drink outside on the deck over some grilled vegetables, fish or poultry.
91 Points – #61 Wine of the Year, Wine Spectator (2022)
The 2020 Damilano Barbera d’Asti is a force to be reckoned with, a big, juicy wine with a pretty modest price tag. Utilizing fruit from an 11-hectare vineyard in Casorzo, with the average vine age of over 30 years, their Barbera is inky black to the rim with great depth and lots of purple and black fruited flavors. The aromas are intense, a wonderful mix of black fruits, currants, macerated cherries and baking spices. And the balance and poise steal the show and seal the deal.
The Daulny 2020 Clos de Chaudenay is an absolute gem. Fine aromatically, with grapefruit and white peach fruit in the mouth and a crisp, saline finish. We never get to offer the rare Clos de Chaudenay, with most of the allocation going to the top Michelin starred restaurants of the world’s cities. The 2018 is complex aromatically, it’s truly classic Sancerre, with intense fruit, distinct minerality and vibrant acidity. Available at an outrageously good price today, the last few bottles stateside are up for grabs.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points, James Suckling – 90 Points, Wine Spectator
This Pinot Noir is a masterpiece piecing together fruit from a variety of exciting spots. In 2018, for the first time in years, fruit comes from Jane’s Vineyard in addition to the Petaluma Gap. It also gets its darkness and silky tannin from the warm Santa Rosa plains and a rich, savory and spicy component from the Middle Reach Neighborhood on West Side Road. The result is a zesty, yet silky smooth and giving Pinot that sings and speaks to the top quality of the single parcels that were chosen to make this all come together so well.
97 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 95 Points, Vinous – 94 Points, Wine Spectator
Like the Grand Cru belt in the Cote de Nuits, a strip of red, clay-rich Altamont soil runs across 5 hilltop plots at the Dehlinger estate. This is where the magic lay. The lots are fermented separately with a small number of whole clusters and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. The Altamont Pinot Noir is the Dehlinger’s flagship red wine and showcases the complexity and ageability that’s possible in the Russian River Valley. Needless to say the 2018 vintage saw one of the best ever versions of this wine.
96 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The gorgeous and full-bodied Goldridge Vyd Pinot Noir is made with fruit grown from 30+ year old vines and harvested in small lots before aging in 45% new French oak. It’s expertly blended to showcase the harmony of the fruit as well as the bright aromatics and luscious blackberry/red berry fruit that have made it a standard-bearer for the Russian River Valley.
94 Points, Wine Spectator (#30, Top 100 Wines of 2022) – 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
It doesn’t even shock me a little bit to see this perennial classic so high on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list this year. After tasting it two weeks ago, I totally get it. I’m just glad I got it before it had the accolade. I had to work hard to secure enough of this beauty to offer up to the list. Their D2 Blend offers a whiff of what Jeb Dunnuck calls, “a Pomerol-like bouquet”. It’s probably why Parker calls the winery the Chateau Lafite Rothschild of Washington. It’s a seamless blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot with bold flavors and a thick core of ripe, juicy fruit.
*Nicholas Exclusive*
This champagne is so good, it’s often a staple on the wine lists of Michelin two and three star restaurants. It offers elegant aromatics, pristine fruit and the crisp, mineral finish that screams for food. We loved it so much, we asked Jacques Diebolt to bottle a special cuveé for the restaurant– and he happily agreed!
This is crafted from old-vines rooted in deep limestone, and dry, limestone-infused clay. The limestone imparts the fine aromatics and crisp tension you find in his wine while the old-vines and clay provide a creaminess in the mid-palate, creating an incredibly balanced summer white. The 2020 Menetou Blanc from Domaine de Loye is loaded with aromas and flavors of white flowers, lime-blossom and citrus fruit. The mid-palate is generous, just great fruit and it finishes long and fine.
Winemaker Patrick Brunet’s tiny Domaine Robert estate consists of 50-60 year old vines, deeply rooted in the granitic soils of Fleurie. What I love about him is that every vintage brings something new but it consistently stays excellent. In the newly released 2020 vintage, Patrick produced a concentrated, structured Beaujolais that’s roaring out of the gates but with the bones to improve in the bottle over the next decade. This is a fantastic bottle to have around.
In the hills of Hautes Côtes, just west of Nuits St Georges, winemaker Pierre Laurent tends Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines rooted in the classic limestone soils of Burgundy. In vintages known for exceptional freshness like the highly touted 2021 vintage, Laurent’s wine in the Hautes Côtes shines above all others in the category. The Pinot Noir fruit here is almost crunchy – a bowl full of cherries, raspberries and floral components that meld together effortlessly.
Jean-Claude Janin’s Domaine des Terres de Chatenay estate has 7 hectares of naturally farmed, old-vine Chardonnay with his vines rooted in some of the most mineral soil in all of Burgundy. The resulting wines are electric renditions of white Burgundy, with high-toned, floral aromatics, a deep concentration of green apple and pear fruit and a laser-like finish that is stony, a touch saline and a mile long. The 2021 is an extra notable year – despite a lower than normal yield, the quality across the board in Burgundy is exceptional.
A textbook Sancerre Blanc from the village of Bué year in year out, this has become a little bit harder to get ever since it got a huge score in its first year of being reviewed. Now, our little secret isn’t such a little secret anymore. Drawn off the highest in elevation in Sancerre with the most calcareous soil, it is a chiseled, tightly wound and incredibly complex Sauvignon Blanc, which I’d argue is one of the best in the world and certainly from one of the best and most consistent winemakers in the Loire Valley.
In Burgundy’s new and highly lauded 2020 vintage, this is one of the bottles I’m recommending people load up on. It’s gorgeous. Don’t just take my word for it, this is what The Wine Advocate had to say about the wine: “Desvignes’s 2020 Givry Rouge delivers inviting aromas of dark berries, cloves and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate framed by powdery tannins and succulent acids.”
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is a Nicholas Faithful favorite. Even though it’s technically a non-vintage it was last disgorged in the 2019 vintage. La Cravantine, is a sparkling rosé of 100% Cabernet Franc, bone-dry, super fresh and with bubbles so tiny and fine, it puts most “real” Champagne to shame. Appealing strawberry and mineral scents are encased in a firm structure with a dry and spicy quality in the palate. This wine is incredibly versatile – perfect with just about any fish, fried food, or do like I do and enjoy it on it’s own.
91 Points, Wine Spectator (#64 Wine of the Year, 2022 Top 100)
A perfect Tuesday night wine that delivers an insane value every year, but thanks to a top 100 appearance in a great vintage, it becomes a must-have. It’s both juicy and fine loaded with aromas and flavors of red flowers, berries and anise. This is one of those incredibly food friendly wines coming out of the Rhone that seems like striking gold to stumble upon. An old vine Grenache-Syrah blend from vineyards planted at some of the highest points in the Rhône, this is a gift that gives every vintage but this year, it’s really a treat.
The newly released 2021 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin has some big shoes to fill as the last three vintages have earned 92-points or higher, but the early indications are that this is line with previous vintages if not even a little bit ahead at this stage. The problem is – there’s almost none to go around with much smaller yields. Still this is beautiful and crisp, with good focus, energy and depth. I get the signature green fruits on the nose, with some Asian pear, and a hint of jasmine blossom. There’s a beautiful mineral streak that highlights this one. It’s a fantastic White Burg for the price.
This is about as special as it gets for white wine. My other Leflaive is declassified P-M but this is the real thing from the best White Burgundy producer by far. The Leflaive family’s roots in the region date back to 1717, but the wines rose to prominence under the stewardship of Joseph Leflaive. For decades and decades, they’ve been the top dog in the region – even DRC will tell you who makes the best whites! Their 2020 Puligny-Montrachet is a gorgeous, effortless bottling with a fantastic mineral streak that cuts through the abundant pure citrus fruit.
93 Points, John Gillman (View From the Cellar)
Burgundy is famously rigorously reviewed with many of the best wines never seeing above 92 points. But today’s new release is worthy of the outrageous praise and has broken the barrier for the third straight year. John Gillman called this, “deep, full and tangy, with lovely mineral drive and early complexity, ripe, moderate tannins and a long, vibrant and beautifully poised finish” and gave a drinking window of 2025-2060. It’s a pretty special bottle of wine with depth and concentration and a lot of focus.
A large glass is necessary to capture the brilliant aromatics of Talmard’s Macon Uchizy. Aromas of ripe Meyer lemon, peach, honey and mint just blast from the glass upon pouring. The wine takes on weight with aeration, developing flavors of crisp green apple, juicy peach and lemon custard. The finish is long and fresh, so good with food. Roast some salmon, make sweet corn risotto, use it as an aperitif, it’s a great choice for a spring/summer-house white wine.
99 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2009 Dominus is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet colored, it rolls easily, sensuously out of the glass with evolving fruit notes of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves, mulberries and fruitcake plus underlying suggestions of charcuterie, camphor, chocolate-covered cherries and candied violets with just a touch of cast iron pan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in balance, with loads of emerging black fruit and earthy layers and a solid line of finely grained tannins, finishing very long with a perfumed lift.” – Lisa Perrotti Brown, The Wine Advocate
100 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck – 100 Pts, James Suckling – 99+ Pts, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Hands down one of the best wines made in the world in the 2018 vintage. This is a little slice of history in a bottle; a time capsule present for yourself – a rare shot at a perfect wine from an iconic producer. A double 100-point wine with Parker’s Wine Advocate all but conceding perfection in their glowing 99+ review. It’s everything you want in a Napa Cab and in a collector’s item. This will be drinking like a dream for the next half century. Don’t miss a slice of double perfection!
92 Points, James Suckling
Bursting with energy and inviting citrusy aromas of fresh squeezed orange juice, mangoes and papaya. On the mouth, good tension and a touch of minerality to perfectly balance the juicy stone and tropical fruits that await. The finish is super refreshing and makes you want to keep coming back. James Suckling called out the spicy finish which I think is right on the money. This is a really good selection from Southern Italy.
95 Points, Vinous
“The 2021 Syrah-Grenache is another fabulous wine from Tyler and Rachel Eck. Bright, savory, and vibrant, the 2021 bristles with energy from the get go. Lively acids run through a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, cloves and menthol. The 2021 is deep and full of flavor yet also light on its feet. Today, it is positively stellar.” -Antonio Galloni
Stephane Monnot’s 2019 Maranges soars out of the glass, with aromas of peonies, cherries, wild berries and baking spices. This is medium to full bodied Pinot, with a velvet-like mouthfeel and fine tannins. The finish is a mile long with just amazing fruit (like many of the 2019s) but with a mineral, stony streak that speaks to the steep, limestone-laden premier cru hillside known as La Fussieres. It’s absolutely fantastic.
This project has become one of my favorite things. Sending Eddie Russell’s Reserve Bourbon barrels down to Jalisco, Mexico to Espolon where fill them with their knockout Añejo Tequila. Then they send me back a barrel of our very own Tequila, with so many intricacies that separate it from any other I’ve tasted. All for a price that’s better than a regular bottle of good Tequila! Great on its own but surprisingly really enjoyable with food as well.
This is one of the rare, prized barrels I was able to snag on my January trip to Kentucky. It’s a 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley mashbill that blends seamlessly together. Notes of vanilla & cinnamon, and coffee on the nose with freshly baked bread, brown butter, fig and dark chocolate on the palate with a creamy toffee mid-palate and a smooth and delicious finish that lasts for a while. Watch out though… you never feel the heat!
Soon to be Rated
With Herve and Fabre Montmayou wracking up NYT features, huge scores, gold medals and lifetime achievement awards, I’m left with one choice: get in now or be left in the cold. Waiting for the scores to roll in is a luxury that we know longer have with Fabre Montmayou. Good for the winery, but not so good for us. Rest assured though, the 2020 Cabernet Franc Herve sent me is fantastic, and will surely be minted with the same kind of high-flying praise as the vintage before it. But by that time, you’ll only have a bottle or two left in the cellar.
92 Points, James Suckling
It’s hard to imagine a wine that delivers more bang for your buck and consistency than what Herve Fabre is able to produce from his 100+ year old vines each vintage. Last year, his Malbec Reserva landed on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Buys of the Year. I called a big score form this one and it has just arrived. It’s a big, full-bodied Malbec from the heart of Mendoza and has great tannic structure and primary fruit, giving it similar characteristics to a Napa Valley Cab. Inviting aromas of raspberry pie, sage, herbs and roasted mushrooms.
92+ Points, Antontio Galloni – Vinous
Piero believes that great wines are grown not made and his dedication to his 12 hectares of vineyards borders on the fanatical. Within 10 short years, their Chianti Classico had found a spot at #18 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year. This year, Wine Spectator hasn’t gotten to it yet, but one of the preeminent Italian wine experts, Antonio Galloni sure did. He came in at 92+ points, the highest score for any under $30 Chianti Classico (of which there are many) and emphatically ended his review: “The precision and pedigree here are just unreal.” I’m clearly not the only fan.
‘Tre Bicchieri Winner’, 2023 Gambero Rosso Awards
A Tre Bicchieri award is almost always an indicator of ridiculously high quality but this wine does not disappoint. Let me start by saying that it is not an exaggeration to say that the nose is one of the most expressive I’ve ever experienced in a white Italian wine. A bevy of fruits are present on the nose – apple, pear, as well as peaches which I expect will become even more pronounced over time. On the palate – a touch of honey kisses a core of apple, peach pit, lemon all riding a ripple of saline minerality. Drink now through 2033.
92 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
Made by Cristina Geminani, who Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called, “one of the best in all of Italy”. But even with that kind of press, I could always count on as much Ceregio Rosso as I needed. That was up until the 92-point Editors’ Choice review! With both brighter acids and darker fruit than Chianti Classico, the Ceregio is brilliant ruby color, with racy, black cherry fruit flavors, and probably the longest finish I’ve ever tasted at any where near this price point.
To keep in the spirit of giving, I am once again offering up a four pack that is priced like a misprint. Two exceptional Faust Cabs from the illustrious 2019 vintage, for an absurd price that can’t be matched anywhere. Three bottles of the 95-pt 2019 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet and one bottle of the flagship 96-pointer, ‘The Pact’ Napa Valley 2019. From 2/3 of the winemaking team at Quintessa, using the same vineyard sources and the same state-of-the-art wine production facility. The last of the four offers in this series is definitely the sweetest. $330 is the retail price for the 4-pack. But for a short while (until sell out), 32% OFF that or just $225. If you’re after a Napa Valley Cab bargain, four super highly rated bottles at this price is just silly.
(1 btl) Faust ‘The Pact’ Napa Valley 2019 (96pts, James Suckling)
(3 btls) Faust Napa Valley Cabernet 2019 (95pts, James Suckling)
Winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val) continues to excel even while others struggle. In 2017, he still managed to deliver a beautiful and opulent Napa Valley Cabernet that’s both dark and juicy. The wine hails from both Coombsville and Rutherford, giving it distinct characteristics and a lot of drive. Deep ruby to the rim with excellent concentration, notes of Bing cherries, raspberry pie and hints of vanilla. On the palate, big wonderfully jammy fruit with young but impressive tannins and great length. The finish leaves notes of black cherry, and baked blueberry pie. Fantastic Napa value.
The 2016 vintage in Napa was nearly perfect for winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val). With ideal weather all throughout harvest, he crafted the Faustini Money Road Chardonnay off the famous vineyard located in the coveted Oakville AVA. The picturesque vineyard off Oakville Crossroad is platinum rated, known for its ideal combination of soil & climate and the big A list names that routinely source fruit. Kian’s Money Road Chard is still youthful despite having a few years of age, probably as a result of its 18 months of slumber in 1/4 new Oak.
92 Points, Vinous – 91 Points, Wine Spectator
Fuedo Montoni has been one of the best producers in Italy for literally hundreds of years, most notably for their work with Nero D’Avola grape in Sicily. It’s a gorgeous expression at such a good price. The 2020 “Lagnusa” is the perfect pizza or Thanksgiving wine with juicy black fruits, grippy tannins and a wonderful, fresh and herbaceous finish. Vinous Media gave the wine 92 points and raved, calling it “remarkably fresh yet long, leaving the mouth watering while still resonating on hints of blackberry.” You’re going to love this.
Wines from this winery often go for FOUR figures; well over a thousand dollars per bottle and basic bottlings off this particular vineyard typically retail for $350. This is one of the great vineyards of Stag’s Leap – but somehow Ry Richards was able to weasel out six barrels – as long as he never reveals his source. This is a knock-out Cabernet Sauvignon, perfect with grilled beef or with just a hunk of cheese. And with a little help from Ry, Nicholas Wines customers can enjoy a price way, way below market value for a wine like this.
This is a super elegant Meursault from the family-run estate located in the village of Monthelie, between Volnay and Meursault in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune. It leads with nutty aromas of brioche, fresh butter and delicate citrus and is extremely well structured, long and stylish with great purity of fruit.
95 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast – 95 Points, James Suckling
“From an extreme coastal site at 1,875-feet elevation, this wine offers substantial underlying power within a context of elegance and refinement. Tension and grip persist in its youth, allowing nuanced layers of ash, mountain berry and earthy forest tones to build over time.” -Virginia Boone
Every year, this wine has proven to be a Nicholas Wines staple. The newly released 2022 Frenzy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a fabulous value white wine, loaded with green apples, pears and white peaches plus a hint of spice. It’s juicy and fresh, the perfect cocktail hour white. It’s what is referred to as the perfect ‘pool wine’. It’s great paired with just about anything or just enjoyed on its own.
One of my favorite places to look for great Tuesday nighters are the sandy, limestone-laden hills of Asti. Although it is better known for the Moscato, Cortese should be one of its calling cards because in almost no places of the world does it thrive like it does here. Gianni Doglia naturally farms a tiny estate in the picturesque hamlet of Castagnole Lanze. His Cortese is the product of old vines, vinfied without oak to preserve its incredible fruit. It shows that Gianna can do far more than make some sweet whites! It’s got great notes of white peach, lemongrass, tangerine, jasmine blossoms and honeydew with a little salty lime zest on the finish. A great choice for a house white and the perfect pair for a pizza with a white sauce.
Almondo Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie Le Rive (Gold Label) is made from the estate’s oldest single plot of vines within the already heralded Bricco Delle Ciliegie (hill of cherries). This is only the third vintage of this label but it’s already considered by many to be one of the best white wines in all of Italy. Juicy peaches, pears, and a hint of almonds on the nose. The mouth is dense and fleshy, full of bright fruit, minerality and salinity notes with a touch of spice that’s the highlight of a finish that lingers and lingers in the best way. An absolute treat.
The sandy soil of north Piemonte is home to the appellation Roero and the indigenous variety, Arneis. Stefano Almondo is a master of the rare variety, crafting aromatic and mineral wines that rival any of the best white wines in Italy. The newly released 2021 Vigne Sparse dazzles right out of the bottle; floral and fruity with juicy peaches and apricots yet with a chalky mineral streak as well. As always, it’s such a complex white and the kicker is its finish which goes on for a minute of pure joy.
91 Points, Vinous
It comes from Saint-Bris, a tiny village that borders Chablis – with the same kimmeridgian soil that makes Chablis so distinctive and unique. But since they’re just outside the official Chablis boundary, they can grow a grape those in Chablis can’t: Sauvignon Blanc. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc that is pure minerality – to a level that is usually reserved for far more expensive Sancerres from Chavignol. It’s a no-frills wine too (in a good way) fully certified biodynamic, hand-picked and fermented in stainless steel so that it accentuates the full aromatic and flavor profile that’s completely unique to Kimmeridgian soil.
Ever since we found this 96pt Super Tuscan of the Year that our importer friend didn’t know was scored, this wine has been ridiculously hard to track down. Grattamacco is arguably the hottest winery in all of Tuscany. In what is being described as a ‘5 star’ 2021 vintage, this is one of the very best values you can lock into. It’s always a powerhouse with a youthful charm you can enjoy now but with the structure to age for a very long time. When this one gets scored, it’ll be game over. Unfortunately, our bottles will be long gone by the time the critics wake up.
96 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 96 Points, Wine & Spirits
This wine continues to get mentioned amongst the Super Tuscan elite, Ornellaia and Sassacaia – and in a lot of the instances, people are preferring the wines of the “little guy”, Grattamacco. Their 2018 Bolgheri Superiore is the big brother of the wine that first Nicholas Wines by storm, and became our all-time Super Tuscan best seller. This is armed with two 96-point reviews from both Wine & Spirits and Parker’s Wine Advocate. The latter called the wine, “finely nuanced” as well as “quite elegant and crisp.”
95 Points, Decanter
The 2017 vintage really sets Groth apart from the other big name players in Oakville and in the broader Napa Valley. Why? Because it was a vintage that saw some big name wineries struggle, and Groth went ahead and made their highest ever rated regular Estate bottling. The 95-point score is actually from three separate Decanter judges, and represents one of their highest overall 2017 Napa Valley Cabs. It’s a great wine, in Big Bottle form for the best price anywhere online. No brainer.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“A tasty mix of crisp apple and warm butter and vanilla flavors highlight this medium-bodied and silky textured wine from one of Anderson Valley’s well-established producers. Pippin apple and lemon notes complement the buttery richness.” – Jim Gordon
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“This warm, plummy wine is relaxed in texture and nicely filled out by ripe black plums, dried cherries and light savory, woodsy accents. Soft tannins and a rich mouthfeel accompany a full body.” – Jim Gordon
I just re-tasted this beauty last week when it came in and was blown away by how this one turned out. It’s not that I’m surprised, but I’ve been waiting for so long, I almost forgot what I had chosen! Not only that, but I can’t believe this is nearly 123 Proof (122.7). You really never get any of the heat. I wouldn’t have thought it was over 105 Proof smelling and tasting it. It leads with inviting aromas of burnt caramel, hazelnut, and allspice mix with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, and light rye spice. The finish is warm and spicy with subtle and smooth notes of vanilla and oak. This is a great one.
Marie Jacqueson’s best red is a 1er cru from the vineyard Préaux. The vines are old here, averaging almost 50 years in age. The soil is a classic mix of clay and limestone providing for soaring aromatics of strawberry, black cherry, cinnamon and roses. The fruit is almost crunchy; incredibly fresh, juicy, really flat-out delicious. Those limestone soils gives the wine great length, with a mineral finish that goes a mile. Great now, great in 10 years, and qualitatively worth double the price. There are only 78 bottles available this year. Then we wait again!
This is a very rare beauty and one of the few private barrels that Jefferson’s does at 100 Proof. It leads with sweet aroma of warm panatone. Then the sweet delectable taste of fruit and honey. A warm burning at the end. And the flavor of this nectar stays on your taste buds more than a couple of minutes. Best consumed relaxing and enjoying on a holiday afternoon.
I’m lucky to have a few cases of this instant classic, immaculate and complex, this is a wonderfully pure expression of Chardonnay that is so distinctly Jermann. His extraordinary, multi-layered, extract-loaded whites are landmarks of contemporary winemaking. This one has a lot of nuance and depth, and finishes strongly with what Wine Spectator called, “A streak of tangy salinity.”
Double Gold Medal – San Fransisco World Spirits Competition 2021
Joseph Magnus is a big time name in the whiskey world. Bourbon people go nuts for it. For my money, the Murray Hill Club Bourbon is the most interesting one in the lot, a skillful blend that marries 18 and 11-year-old bourbon with 9-year-old light whiskey. It boasts rich notes of toasted oak, vanilla, butterscotch, honey and toffee with dried fruits, nutmeg and a peppery, spicy finish. This one was bottled at 103 Proof. Just a handful of bottles are up for grabs.
What would a Chardonnay collection be without something special from the master of Chardonnay, Steve Kistler? I was able to get a more cases to offer up at our lowest price. Les Noisetiers surrounds the Kistler winery on the Sonoma Coast. Steve’s brand new 2020 is bristling with energy juicy fruit and a mouthwatering mineral backbone. It is delicious wine, with lemon, honeysuckle and stone fruit aromatics leading to a full bodied, juicy core, loaded with flavors of peach, apricots, pineapple and pear.
“The last of the appellation releases, the 2014 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was brought up in 55% new French oak, which is slightly more than the 2013. Deep, rich and earthy, with notes of bouquet garni, smoked earth, licorice and dark fruits, it has full-bodied richness, a big mid-palate and is packed with gorgeous amounts of fruit. It’s a big, rich wine from this cool climate appellation, yet I suspect it will show more classic Sonoma Coast characteristics with a year or two in bottle. It’s a beautiful wine.” -Jeb Dunnuck
Winemaker Marjorie Gallet’s Effet Papillon Rouge is a terrific blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignane, harvested from the iron rich soil just outside of Rivesaltes at the base of Pyrenees. This one is a vibrant wine, with aromas of wild black raspberries and sweet spices. The mid palate is rich and velvety, with a core of sweet black fruit that finishes fresh, long and silky. At the price, it’s one of the easier no-brainer case buys we offer.
100 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 99 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is just about pure perfection and another example of Napa Valley magic. All Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 80% new French oak, it offers an incredible bouquet of pure cassis and blackberry fruits as well as textbook Pauillac-like notes of graphite, tobacco, toasted spices, and chalky minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, it’s one of those wines that somehow marries incredible intensity and richness with no sensation of weight or heaviness, perfect balance, and a layered, multi-dimensional style that’s hard to describe. It shows more tannins and chocolaty oak with air and needs to be forgotten for 4-6 years, and it will be a 40+-year wine. It’s heavenly juice.” -Jeb Dunnuck
Barely anybody gets this because it’s the most famous/best White Burgundy producer and has been for decades. I have exclusive access to a secret declassified Leflaive project that features fruit exclusively from Puligny Montrachet. But because the land is owned by relatives and long time friends the wines say, Leflaive & Associes instead of Domaine Leflaive. Same farmers, winegrowers and vineyard managers, just not the estate fruit. Made in the Leflaive winery with the same barrels. Still the same unrivaled class in a bottle. The same essential calcareous clay soil, the same team behind the best white wines in the whole world.
Just like Thea’s it is made from a blend of all seven 100% organic certified estate vineyards, spread across arguably the two best wine AVAS in the state, Dundee Hills and Yamhill-Carlton. But this is even brighter and fresher than Thea’s and presents in its infancy high-toned, succulent red fruits, cherry-cola and baking spices. It’s made partially with whole clusters which gives it some extra power and spice – but it’s still got the same balance and lift that make Lemelson Pinots so stinkin’ good.
With Makers you get to blend your own barrel using different different wood staves of varying levels of char & wood. In blending these barrels, there are 1001 possible combinations. For mine, I used 3 baked American pure, 2 seared French Cuvée, 2 Maker’s 46, 3 roasted French Mocha staves. It hits the senses with fragrant notes of toffee, caramel apple and coffee. Despite being high alc., it’s crazy smooth and seductive with vanilla and caramel notes and a creamy finish that delivers a super enjoyable slow burn. For me, this is hands down the best Maker’s Mark that I’ve ever tasted.
90 Points, Tasting Panel
Cristina Forner is a fifth generation winemaker who is trying to further the legacy of her family in Spain. The Brut Cava that she makes is simply unbeatable for the price. It’s got a ton of energy and lift from the tiny bubbles, leading with a bouquet of citrus fruits and notes of freshly baked brioche. The mouth is fun and round with great balance, harmony and structure.
Guess who is the first one to have the roaring new 2021 vintage for the Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay? That’s right! We’ve officially made it. This is one that Nicholas Wines readers can’t get enough of – it always delivers.. It leads with an inviting nose with fresh citrus and lemon notes. So juicy, bright and well-balanced – it’s classic Caymus, rich and hedonistic with a wonderful creaminess. Be the first one to lock into this great new vintage.
I once again found myself with one of the more and limited bottlings from the good people at Michter’s It comes in a round 111 Proof and is a monster from one of the best distilleries out there. This bottling is usually between 107 and 112 Proof but isn’t made every year (only in the good years). It’s oozing with seductive aromas of Cinnamon, rye spice, chocolate and freshly baked gingerbread. Cinnamon, dark chocolate, a hint of Cayenne pepper mixed with charred sugar and oak explode out of the bottle and greet you head on. I wish I had more than six of these beauties to pass out. Such is life.
All four of these were picked out by me, after tasting dozens and dozens of samples. You’re not going to find single barrel quality like this anywhere, I can promise you. Each Single Barrel 4-pack includes:
1 btl. Rebel Cask Strength Bourbon Nicholas Single Barrel Reserve #1 (Barrel #7653830)
1 btl. Redemption Nicholas Single Barrel Select High Rye Bourbon (105 Proof)
1 btl. Bulleit Nicholas Single Barrel Reserve #2 Bourbon Whiskey
1 btl. Maker’s Mark Private Selection Nicholas Barrel Reserve #3
93 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
The Pali Santa Barbara/Sonoma Pinot is the most burgundian in the winery’s lineup. Utilizing mainly the fruit from their foggy, coastal Santa Barbara vineyard, they produced a Pinot in 2020 that is highly focused and beautifully made and continues to pick up nuance in the glass. It really is a beauty. Wine Enthusiast wholeheartedly agreed, giving this modestly priced wine a whopping 93-point Editors’ Choice review that called out, “how distinct sides of the state can contribute to a complex wine”.
95 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
One of the best Lambruscos out there, this delicious, vibrant wine opens with enticing scents of wild red berry, yellow stone fruit, citrus blossom and a yeasty, comforting whiff of pastry dough. Made by carrying out the secondary fermentation in the bottle, the dry, delicious palate delivers pink grapefruit, crushed strawberry and tangerine alongside crisp acidity and a saline note.” -Virginia O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
96 Points, Decanter – #1 Rated American Pinot Noir (2020 Edition)
This is a gorgeous wine from Oregon’s top female winemaker, Lynn Penner-Ash and her winemaking team. In what was a cooler 2017 vintage, this Yamhill-Carlton based high-altitude really shines with incredibly beautiful and vibrant fruit. Bright, clean notes of red and blue fruits shine through, cherries, cranberries, blueberries and raspberry notes. There’s a seamless balance to this wine with a lot of poise and depth and absolutely no rough edges at all. This silky smooth Pinot represents some of the very best Oregon has to offer. It’s why it was the only 96-point score that Decanter gave in 2017 for an American Pinot. Total class.
95 Points, James Suckling
The 2021 L’Après-Midi is light gold in the glass as the bouquet of lime zest, lemon curd, pear tart, and gooseberry mixes with accents of jasmine and baking spices. A lively, juicy entry leads to flavors of fresh peach, grapefruit, apricot, and guava. The plush, textured mouthfeel frames this medium- to full-bodied wine, which finishes with accents of lemon meringue pie, acacia honey, and key lime. The 2021 ‘L’Après- Midi’ will continue to blossom in bottle for several years but is also approachable in its youth.
Think of this as like choosing the top one or two barrels from what is already a grand cru vineyard from arguably the greatest ever Piedmont vintage. The aromatics are so intense and noteworthy, that I was reluctant to even take a sip. Of course, I eventually relented. This wine is all class and harmony and I imagine more universally appealing than most cru Barolo. Despite the decade of age, this bottle has another decade ahead of it.
Richard Luftig’s Pied à Terre’s Sauvignon Blanc 2018 is a delicious, fresh, Old-World styled wine, much closer to Sancerre than what is typically found in California. Pair with anything from sea and anything with great richness or fat or on its own as an absolutely eclectic aperitif! The only downside of Pied à Terre is that this is still a work in progress when it comes to production. Just a few dozen cases made it to the East Coast this year, do not miss one of the most exciting American wines we will offer all year.
91 Points, Tasting Panel – 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Every year, Pierre Sparr’s Alsacian Riesling is one of the top scoring wines in the under $20 category. There’s a consistency there and consumers know they can count on a Riesling that is aromatic, fruity, elegant, clean and vibrant. Pierre Sparr wines are extremely food-friendly especially in the highly-regarded 2020 vintage where yields were down but quality rose to an all-time high. It’s a bone-dry beauty with layers of citrus fruits, framed by wet stone and mineral character that adds dimension.
Soon to be Rated
Every year, Pierre Sparr’s Alsacian Riesling is one of the top scoring wines in the under $20 category. There’s a consistency there and consumers know they can count on a Riesling that is aromatic, fruity, elegant, clean and vibrant. Pierre Sparr wines are extremely food-friendly especially in the highly-regarded 2020 vintage where yields were down but quality rose to an all-time high. It’s a bone-dry beauty with layers of citrus fruits, framed by wet stone and mineral character that adds dimension.
With seemingly infinite access to some of the absolute very best vineyards in the most choice AVAs in the valley, the Wagner’s set out to make Quilt– a Cabernet blend from a patchwork of the top sites in Napa (Oakville, St Helena, Atlas Peak, Coombsville, Calistoga, and Howell Mountain.) The brand new 2019 edition is a beauty – deeply concentrated, rich and a truly show stopping Cabernet. It’s a dark, hedonistic blend that combines elegance with power and pairs the two together effortlessly.
If you’ve never had one of José Manuel Martínez’s wines, you’re in for an absolute treat. Jose’s estate, Couselo is located in the northern tip of Portugal in Rias Baixas. It’s a coastal wine, sourced from old and savvy Albariño vines. It’s a terrific wine that mixes wonderful stony minerality with a creamy, long finish that makes it both fantastic with anything from the sea but also just as good with a pre-meal apertif. There’s no better under $25 Labor Day white.
For those of you looking for a semi-dry Riesling to pair with seafood, salads, pastas or poultry, you don’t have to look any further. Ratzenberger is a benchmark in the region and their consistency in making expressive, classy Riesling continues with the newly released 2019 Kabintt Feinherb. It manages to bring to the table savory, sweet and tangy acidic notes. It’s a versatile bottle of white, that’s for sure.
I’ve been waiting for this one to come in and I think folks are going to love it. It’s a 105 Proof beauty with a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% barley – a really interesting mix. The nose gives off scents of vanilla wafers, rye spice, with a hint of well integrated oak, cherries and even some black pepper notes. The best part here is the finish – it’s seamless with lingering notes of dried cherry, cedar and even a hint of mint. You don’t get any heat at all – just a lot of intricate flavors that keep you coming back.
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This is a beauty with some age to it in an outstanding year throughout California. From the vineyard brought to you by Marc Aubert and Peter Michael, this was made from three separate clones of Pinot Noir, that each bring a different element into play. Also, with a little whole cluster fermentation, this one has a bigger, juicier and earthier mouthfeel that offers new appeal each time you go back for another sip. This collector is in its drinking prime right now and should remain for the next 3-5 years. Enjoy it.
95 Points, Decanter
This is a treat from the oldest winery in Italy and one of the oldest family run businesses in the entire world. Their secret is they never stop innovating. This is the new release in the portfolio: their sleek Super Tuscan. It’s going to make a lot of people happy, especially as you start to look for things for the Thanksgiving table. Of course, this is armed with a 95-point review from Europe’s most respected wine critic, Decanter Magazine, who called out a “beautifully harmonious wine with lovely freshness on the finish.”
99 Points, James Suckling – 96 Points (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, all hitting 13.7% alcohol. As usual, it was aged in new American oak. It shows the higher Cabernet component and is deep purple-hued and tight and closed, with a primordial vibe to its dark blue and black fruit, smoked tobacco, vanilla bean, graphite, and cedarwood aromatics. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific overall balance, building, ripe tannins, a good sense of freshness, and outstanding length. It reminds me slightly of the 2018 with its more elegant, streamlined profile, but I expect this to build with bottle age, and it should have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.” – Jeb Dunnuck
It’s hard to beat a great value white wine and this one is a at least a cut above the rest. One prominant industry insider called the 2020 edition, “the best white wine by any within $20/cs of this price.” It’s super crisp with a great mineral streak, and was carefully picked by hand when the temperature is coolest and is kept cool all the way into the press. From there, the effect of the mineral soil takes over, providing great finesse and freshness in every bottle. This white blend has great backbone and a lot of juicy fruit coming through behind aromas of flowers and stone fruits. At this price, it’s a no brainer.
Carneros is well-known as a cool-climate region, perfect for growing Chardonnay. The newly released 2020 version has a delightful energy in its youth, with a pale straw color with lime hues. The aromas are of honeysuckle, orange blossom and creme brulee with layers of vanilla and a hint of toffee. The palate is lively yet soft with flavors of lemon cream pie and merange.
This is a rare release that has gone absolutely bonkers on the secondary market. My price is at least $100/btl lower than most. It’s crazy out here. This one comes from legendary Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who combine for over 100 years of experience crafting some of the finest bottles of Whiskey in the world. Each bottle of Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old is aged for a minimum of 13 years, reaching an ABV of 57.4% and promising a distinctive, rich, warm flavor. I know Eddie and Jimmy would say, “juice this good should be enjoyed right out of the bottle.”
If you could only visit one distillery, it seems crazy but I may recommend you going to Baltimore instead of Kentucky. This new Sagamore distillery is unbelievable. It’s like taking a tour of Wonka’s facilities. These guys are still in their early stages, but they’ve already thrown Whistle Pig off their, ‘Top Rye Whiskey’ thrown. The single barrel I picked out was aged 7 years and came from floor 1 and room 1. It’s a killer 100 Proof expression with all the Rye spices, fall notes, and molasses and a great long and warm finish that stays with you.
#24 Wine of the Year (2022), Wine Spectator
92 Points, Wine Spectator – 91 Points, James Suckling
“This supple red shows a core of cherry and plum fruit allied to olive, juniper and tobacco notes. Delivers well-integrated tannins and acidic structure, lingering nicely on the finish.”
93 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Wine Spectator – 92 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
San Giorgio Ugolforte is the sister winery of Poggio di Sotto. Their 2017 presents a dark core of red and black berry fruit layered with earth, leather, smoke, and herbs. It’s a complex and elegant expression, that presents a full mouthfeel that is firm in tannin structure. The refreshing acidity frames a graceful finish. Just a classic Brunello di Montalcino.
This is a super elegant Chardonnay with aromas of orange zest, ripe melon and honeysuckle. It’s complemented by tropical mango flavors and a slight nuttiness in the focused mid-palate. It’s a sophisticated yet refreshing cool climate Chardonnay with great acidity due to the ideal estate vineyard location. The 2019 Sea Smoke Chardonnay was aged for a total of 10 months prior to bottling with no fining and no filtration in exclusive French Oak barrels. She’s a beauty.
For only the second time ever, we got our hands on Sea Smoke’s elusive, exclusive and exquisite Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay. This is the famous cool climate Chardonnay that helped propel this tiny winery into the elite stratosphere and cult status that they enjoy today. Made with Dijon and Wente clones, they use stainless steel as well as French oak foudres and demi-muids to ferment their Chard, producing and elegant and laser focused Chardonnay.
93 Points, James Suckling (Top 100 Wines of Italy)
If you’re looking for arguably the best expression of Rufina each year, you can’t do any better than Selvapiana. Located right in the heart of Chianti Rufina in Tuscany, the producer has long been considered one of the very best. Wine Spectator declared a few years back, “Selvapiana would give stiff competition to first-class red wines from just about anywhere else in the world. It also shows that Chianti Classico does not have a monopoly on the quality of Chianti as a whole.”
96 Pts, Tasting Panel – 94 Pts, Wine Enthusiast – 93 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Pts, James Suckling
Critics were unanimous about this delicious Stag’s Leap District Cabernet that pays homage to the Vineyard’s uber-rare heritage clone (one of three in in the U.S. with heritage status). It’s a winner that got no less than 93 points in any of the four reviews it received. It’s a big, strong Cabernet that manages to remained focused and fresh. Wine Enthusiast called it out for having, “classic structure and graceful red fruit within moderated, balanced power and grace.”
This is an absolute beauty from Smooth Ambler that checked in at 118.6 Proof (59.3% alc). It was aged for 6 years and the mashbill and is coming out of the gates ready to go. It’s got an inviting nose of pumpkin spice, tobacco, fresh leather and chocolate with rich flavors of Caramel apple, toasted oak and cream of corn. It also has a great long and delicious finish that leaves you with notes of lingering spice.
90 Points, James Suckling – 90 Points, Neil Martin – Vinous
Today’s 2022 is the winery’s brand new release, so it remains to be seen if it will hit Top 100 lists like its predecessor, though it already comes highly recommended from a trusted source in Vinous’ Neil Martin. Martin called this Sauvignon Blanc, ‘great value for the money’ and gave a 90-point score for a wine he called, “attractive” and “well balanced”. James Suckling agreed with the score in his own review, making this double 90-pointer one of the highest rated young wines of the vintage. But the most important part of Neil Martin’s tasting note is when he said it can be enjoyed for the next 7-8 years, a hallmark of a great SB.
100 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 89.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc and 4.0% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs of lot of swirling to unlock the most gorgeous perfume of bright black and red cherries, fresh blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of roses, cinnamon stick and orange peel. Medium-bodied, elegant and tightly wound, the palate shimmers with SO MUCH energy, featuring layer upon layer of floral, savory and crunchy black fruit notes, finishing long and minerally. This is a remarkably poised, seemingly effortless beauty that cannot fail to make your jaw drop. Forget it in the cellar for a good 3-5 years, at least, to allow all those nuances to fully emerge and then savor it over the next 30 years+.” -Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW
90 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast
““Penetrating tangerine and lemon flavors are etched with hints of caramel and saffron in this thirst quenching, delicately sweet Riesling. Light bodied and lean, yet juicy and reverberating, it’s a fresh-fruited, value white to accompany soft cheeses and white meats.” (Best Buy)
95 Points, James Suckling
This rare Cab bottling is only made in exceptional vintages. The Limited Napa Reserve pulls from top vineyard sites from both Napa’s Mountains and the prized valley floor. It literally has it all – fruit from the estate vineyard in Stag’s Leap, Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain, St-Helena, Atlas Peak, Mt. Veeder and even Spring Mountain. All of that Cabernet is blended seamlessly into a single tiny cuvee. I bet they wish they had more of the 2019 because it is fantastic.
Those of you who trusted me and bought the Elbling this year have raved about the wine. Now we’re back with the bubbly version. Noticeably drier than most champagnes, the bouquet is an ever unfolding dance of pears & cranberries. On the palate, the wine is quite dry but juicy, and tight, inviting sip after sip. White peach with a touch of mineral salinity dominate.
90 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 90 Points, James Suckling
Last year, I did the 2019 before the big scores rolled in. That wine ended up on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Maybe that bought me some credibility. This is another super highly rated gem that has two 90-point scores attached to it. Sourced from 30 to 50-year-old vines in two renowned villages, Ogier’s new Cotes du Rhone release, his 2018 Le Temps Est Venu is easily the best value in a lineup of 18 outstanding Reds with his bottles being fought over constantly by serious wine collectors and Michelin-starred joints from Paris to New York City.
92 Points, James Suckling
The fruit here is so pure and expressive – a 100% Garganega made from all organically grown estate grapes. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Soave quite like it. That’s probably why Vinibuoni d’Italia (Italy’s top wine magazine) gave it a Crown, the highest distinction given, that less than 500 out of the 27,000+ wines tasted received. It also caught the eye of James Suckling who gave it a 92-points and labeled it “Textbook Soave.”
In terms of rare and unique bottles go, this Japanese Whisky is up there with anything in the spirits world. It’s a blended whisky finished in Sakura (cherry blossom) casks and Hibiki® 30 Year Old, a rare annual release that retails for $5000/btl. Hibiki is a gorgeous blend of ten various malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. It’s super aptly named as all of these flavors and smells mesh together beautifully, with no shortage of flavors and aroma.
This is obviously something very rare and very special. In fact, I only have one bottle and even that took some convincing. It’s worth it to a lucky collector though. This single malt is matured exclusively for twenty-five years in Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain. Laying undisturbed in the same casks for so long transforms this into a silky, luxurious single malt whisky characterized by its rich flavors of vanilla, dried fruits and ginger spice with a long finish and rich mahogany color.
Fresh off its feature as one of Wine Spectator’s ‘Exciting California Values Under $25’, winemaker Matt Cline looks to stay hot with his release of the 2019 Contra Costa Zinfandel. This one is a beauty crafted off old-vines that are now between 110-140 years in age. There’s a ton of darker fruits that drive this one with a dusting of baking spice. The fruit is pure, fresh and long making it both delicious on its own or terrific with a burger, BBQ ribs, or grilled leg of lamb. Crazy cheap for what is in the bottle, load up!
91 Points, James Suckling
This is a wine that is always amongst the wines slated to be doled out amongst some of the bigger restaurant players, but I always try to skim a little bit from the top for us. It’s such a great value for a Rioja. 91 points from James Suckling who called out the “juicy, fluid mid-palate, coated by supple, soft tannins and a creamy finish.” This is a super solid bottle of wine. Big and bold with spicy and smoky undertones, this is the kind of wine that screams for food and pairs well with everything.
97 Points (Best in Show), 2020 Decanter Wine Awards
This was the Cab that started it all. A gorgeous bottle that was the first of now 3 straight 97-point award winners from Decanter’s biggest international wine awards show. There are bronze medals, silver, gold and then platinum. Lastly, the true creme de la creme are awarded Best in Show, and that is where you’ll find the 2017 Trefethen Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet from the beloved Oak Knoll district. The wine is an absolute show stopper– dark and brooding with aromas of violets, black fruits and figs with notes of black cherry, raspberry, plum and chocolate mousse on the palate. Best price in the country for these Big Bottles.
Now some of the best Pinot Noir in the world comes from the Yamhill-Carlton District (this small neck of the woods has earned its own AVA) and specifically from Shea Vineyards. Big name wineries clamor for fruit: Antica Terra, Beaux Freres, Bergstrom, Penner-Ash, & Sine Qua Non, to name a few. This Pinot is lights out and even given the pedigree, drinks several echelons higher. Blueberry, Blackberry, Blue Cheese (?!?), chanterelle mushrooms, lavender, mint – I could go on. It’s literally got it all, but I won’t spoil it for you.
It’s been a while but it’s good to have one of the best for Zinfandel and Syrah back in the NW store. The 2020 Turley Judge Bell is named after the man who presided over the nearby town of Plymouth during its Gold Rush heyday. It provides a full-on aromatic fireworks show, with an array of bright red fruits, citrus, blood orange and floral notes. On the mouth, it’s a mid to full-bodied medley of red fruits and baking spice with smooth tannins, beautiful depth and precision. It’s the type of class you’d expect from Turley.
94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“This is a very well balanced Brunello with sharp and classic lines. The Val di Suga 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers attractive energy and brightness that is transmitted through the cherry fruit and wild berry aromas at its core. That primary fruit is surrounded by light spice, grilled herb and potting soil. There is a nice purity and linearity to this wine that reminds you of the natural depth and complexity of Sangiovese when given a little time to age.”
This is a very, very special library offer from our friends at Val di Suga and is also a very limited one. There are only a few of these amazing six-pack collector’s boxes for sale. Two bottles each from Val di Suga’s three single vineyard sites. Val di Suga is the only Brunello producer that controls three separate estate vineyards located in three specific climate zones in the appellation. Each vineyard site has its own unique exposure and geo-climatic features which expresses itself in every bottle. Not to be missed. *Original wooden boxes come included.*
Valéry represents the third generation of his family’s wine growing. His grandad must have been some kind of visionary as he was the first to plant Pinot Noir in the limestone laden vineyards of Reuilly. That limestone is key as it isn’t just sunny days that makes Pinot great. Limestone, like we find all over Burgundy, lends freshness and tension to Pinot that make it great with food and better with air, giving that all that generous fruit a real sense of crunch. The 2020 P’tit Renaudat Pinot soars from the glass, with a mixture of black cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose, gradually unfurling to reveal some aromas of rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a long, fresh finish that will keep you coming back for more.
The Tonelli family are royalty in this region, with four generations of grape growers leading the way and even establishing the local D.O.C. The family’s 2021 Ponente is 100% Sangiovese and is an absolutely incredible wine for the price. Comfortably less than $20/bottle for fleshed out, high-toned, zipped up Sangiovese? Count me in. It screams for pizza or summer salads, squash or a charcuterie plate. It’s about to be one of your new favorites if it’s not already from last vintage.
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The 2019 Wentworth Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is a beauty. Made with 100% Estate Grown, organically farmed fruit from Wentworth’s noteworthy Anderson Valley vineyard. It’s made from a variety of different clones: Dijon 115, 667 and Pommard 5, that seamlessly blend to make an exciting, full-bodied Pinot. You can taste the extra flair courtesy of the 1/4 wholecluster fermentation. This is fresh and juicy and fantastic to pair with food.
These days, I find myself going for more Rye than ever before. Towards the very top of the list for me is the Rye that father & son Master Distillers, Jimmy and Eddie Russell have been cooking up at Wild Turkey. Together, those two have been at Wild Turkey in excess of 100 years. Like all of Wild Turkey’s rye whiskeys, it’s made from their single-rye mashbill. It’s a 6-year, 90 Proof Rye that just seems to go above and beyond some of the more simpler ones I’ve had. Kinda like a hybrid between a high Rye Bourbon and a traditional Rye. It has a bold expression of caramel, vanilla, lemon zest and black pepper and is very smooth and well built. A great lingering spice on the finish.
Our special relationship with the red-hot Wyoming Whiskey has given us some incredible opportunities. We had a ‘Steamboat’ Whiskey that was previously only for the state of Wyoming as well as our own private barrel. Now, we’ve got their super limited production of Outryder Rye. It’s not a bourbon. It’s not a true rye. The result is a incredibly unique spirit that’s great for sipping or making cocktails. This Straight American Whiskey is a blend of two distinct mashbills, an almost Rye Whiskey and a High Rye Bourbon, that represents Wyoming Whiskey’s first use of Rye.
This is definitely one of the most unique private barrels of bourbon you’re gonna find anywhere and it comes from our friends at in Kirby at Wyoming Whiskey. They make their own whiskey in-house instead of getting it shipped to them and finishing it. In doing so, they use winter wheat to churn out a medium length whiskey with notes of honey, burnt sugar, cinnamon and caramel on the finish. It’s sensational – but I only have 120 bottles from this barrel to offer up.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship from Xavier is the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Anonyme, and in 2019 it’s 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and the balance a mix of permitted varieties. Partially destemmed and brought up in a mix of demi-muids and tank, it offers a beautifully pure, vibrant bouquet of black raspberries, white and black pepper, candied orange, and violets. Complex, layered, and nuanced, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has a seamless texture, and a great finish. It has both elegance and richness, and will keep for 15+ years.
The recently released 2021 Zanotelli Pinot Grigio Trentino is a vivacious Italian white wine. It is a high-toned treat, but still features fleshy fruit, a solid medium-to full bodied mid palate with great concentration and depth. Aged for six months in stainless steel, it comes roaring out of the gates with notes of orchard fruit, summer peach, green apple and pear with good acid due to the elevation of their steep vineyards at the SW foothills of the Dolomite Mts.
93 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Wine Spectator
“Another sensational appellation release is the 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands. Coming from an early vintage that was over two weeks ahead of average, it has tons of spice, black raspberry, currants and blackberry characteristics, medium to full-bodied richness, a great texture and no shortage of depth or length. Already impossible to resist, drink it anytime over the coming 7-8 years.” -The Wine Advocate
98 Pts (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast – 97+ Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Pts, Decanter
“From a benchmark vintage, the Biondi-Santi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a gorgeous appearance with medium concentration highlighted by shiny hues of garnet and dark ruby. The first thing you notice is the compact dark fruit and rather robust textural fiber and power presented here. You almost bite into this wine, and you taste some fine grain linked to the young tannins. That, with the fresh acidity that is the hallmark signature of this estate, guarantees long cellar aging, and I would put my money on this vintage for long-long-term longevity. The fruit is compact and supple with dried cherry, blue flower, iron ore and candied orange peel. There is tobacco, balsam herb and gardening soil in a supporting role, and the wine is beautifully fleshed out but also rich in this balanced growing season.”
