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
$125.00 $33.00
I love Chad Alexander and his yearly fleet of releases. But despite our success with the wines, there’s one bottle I’ve never managed to get my hands on in enough quantity for an email – the CHAD Private Reserve.
One big reason is CHAD doesn’t make it every year – only in select vintages where both quality and quantity abound. I first had it in the 2012 vintage– one of the best in Napa in a long time. The 2013 and 2014 Private Reserves, released in 2015 and 2016 respectively were the last of its kind. But the crown jewel of the CHAD wines program is back after a four-year hiatus.
An NDA protects the exact source of the wine, but Chad’s clue was that it sits high above Lake Hennessey and that the winery typically sells this for $125. That puts it among the Napa Elite. After tasting it, I have my guess. Either way – this is an absolute no brainer.
Out of stock
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
100 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Paolo di Marchi’s leaving present to Tuscany is this delightful 2019 Isole e Olena Cepparello. Cepparello is a blend of Sangiovese from different vineyards, selected by Di Marchi on the basis of “the best exposure, elevation, soil, genetics and age. I feel this adds complexity.” The first vintage was in 1980 when 100% Sangiovese was not permitted under the Chianti Classico rules. Those rules have since changed but the wine remains an IGT Toscana. It has a supremely enticing nose with cream and exotic spice, reminding me of Arabian spice markets. With the 2019 there is an added precision to the aromas, less heavy oak, and no greenness on the palate. It is concentrated with a rich velvety texture but without any heaviness and with a gentle unforced quality. The tannins are fine and very well integrated, in fact finer and better integrated than even the excellent 2016 vintage. It is of course very young now but it’s almost too delicious not to drink! Supremely graceful, it just gets better and better.” – Lisa Perotti-Brown
An amazing, once in a blue moon shot at acquiring all three of the single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from the family behind Caymus at a buyers-only price of $120 (27% OFF). Each single-vineyard in the Wagner portfolio is very different– each with unique soil, climate, region and even Pinot Noir clone. Each is from the 2021 vintage and is new and yet to be scored. Not to worry though, these always rack up big scores and Las Alturas was just #11 wine of the Year from Wine Enthusiast in addition to a 96-pt score. The 2021 single-vineyards are sure to rack up the big scores they always do– but we don’t have the luxury of waiting. Now’s the time for an awesome collector’s opportunity. Pinot and Caymus lovers, rejoice!
92 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast – 92 Points, James Suckling
Castello di Bossi’s 2019 Chianti Classico represents a particularly high note in a great year. Both James Suckling and the Wine Enthusiast awarded the wine 92-point scores, with the latter lobbing on a ‘Editors’ Choice’ designate and calling out the wine for its “savory, elegantly structured palate”. There really is so much to love about this wine. This one is beautifully concentrated yet manages to stay fresh and long on the palate, with long, silky tannins, a nice firm acidic base. The balance here is on point- with lots of fresh red fruit coming through amongst some bramble and sage.
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