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
$300.00 $250.00
Here’s the scoop: I snuck this out to a few dozen people in the middle of March once I got my hands on 18 bottles. I wasn’t sure how quickly it would fly out the door, and I was right to be cautious. It didn’t last long. It makes sense – this is a super rare release from two superstars and has two perfect 100-point scores. Not only that, but this wine has gained so much international attention, it is the newest U.S. addition to the Place de Bordeaux ala Opus One – a truly special feat. But because we sell more Leviathan than anyone on the East Coast(!), they sent us the last 30 bottles in the U.S. of this double 100-point gem as a thank you to the Nicholas Wines faithful. Absolutely insane!
Andy Erickson and Annie Favia have accounted for dozens of 100-point wines. But this isn’t one of those offers where they tell you about the other 100-point wines and then pivot to a different wine. This one saw double 100-point scores as well. But I guess that’s not surprising since together they combine for some of the best wines ever made at Bryant Family, Corison, Dalla Valle, Kongsgaard, Leviathan, Ovid and Screaming Eagle.
This beautiful age-worthy wine came from a site high in the mountains just east of Coombsville. This is where some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc is grown, and both of those varietals are the anchors of the Cerro Sur. It’s an old-vine cuvee with tons of energy and aromatics, and the flavors are all focused and laser sharp. All of this energy and tension is the result of a careful aging process that has the wine see 22 months of aging in 50% new French oak barrels.
Vinous started off the hit parade with a 98-point review and concluded it by calling it “An especially savory wine with strong cool-climate aromas and flavors that are so captivating.” Then Decanter came in with a perfect 100 and waxed poetic “Smooth and driving on the palate, crunchy, crisp flavors give a real bite to the palate – red berries, blackcurrants and raisins, all nicely integrated and balanced.” The International Wine Report also came in with a perfect score for this timeless classic calling it the “most polished and refined of this brilliant lineup, as it combines a gorgeous ripe dark fruit character, along with remarkable finesse and sheer class.” Considering the fire-power and perfect wines in the Favia lineup, that’s no small statement.
This is an age-worthy gem for the cellar. Double 100 points (again) from the best domestic winemaking duo by leaps and bounds. Of course, I only have a small amount, but if you’re a collector, you’re not going to do much better here. This one should age for the next 40-50 years… at least!
Only 2 left in stock
100 Points, International Wine Report
The 2019 Cerro Sur is a magnificent wine from Favia in this vintage. This Cabernet Franc based wine is the most polished and refined of this brilliant lineup, as it combines a gorgeous ripe dark fruit character, along with remarkable finesse and sheer class. It immediately begins to impress with seductive aromatics of ripe black cherries and blackberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, tobacco, espresso, florals, gravel and savory nuances all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is full bodied, beautifully structure and impeccably balanced. It all comes to a beautiful end, as it finishes with remarkable precision and poise. The Cerro Sur is an incredibly nuanced, utterly captivating wine that is striking today, however there is no doubt this will go on to evolve gracefully for many years to come.
100 Points, Decanter
The eponymous project of husband-and-wife duo; viticulturist Annie Favia and winemaker Andy Erickson. A beautifully scented nose full of rose and violet touches, the Cabernet Franc nuances leap from the glass – fresh and minty, full of herbal sun-kissed ripe fruit but pristinely delivered. Smooth and driving on the palate, crunchy, crisp flavours give a real bite to the palate – red berries, blackcurrants and raisins, all nicely integrated and balanced. This doesn’t feel super worked and polished, instead it gives crystalline iron-minerality, lifted acidity and fragrance throughout – real signatures of the terroir and the minimal interventionist winemaking style – the grapes speak more than the winemaking. I just love the sense of wildness, a smoked touch with blue fruits, Asian spices and slightly angular tannins but with ripe fruit giving the body and cool acidity giving the freshness. A stunning wine and welcome addition to the Place. Ageing in French oak barrels (50% new).
98 Points, Vinous
From a north-facing site at elevation, the 2019 Cerro Sur is a bold, savory wine loaded with energy. This Cabernet Frac-based wine is bursting with tension. Floral, spice and mocha accents lend striking aromatic top notes. I am so impressed with the wine’s elegance and total sense of finesse. This is an especially savory wine with strong cool-climate aromas and flavors that are so captivating.
This is a sensational single-vineyard Merlot made from incredibly tiny clusters, full of some of the most elegant, intensely structured fruit from high atop Sonoma Mountain. Beautiful weight and balance with aromas of blueberries, black currants, sage and a hint of cocoa. It’s got a full, plush mouthfeel, pristine and vibrant fruit and a wonderful smooth finish. Thanks to Chad’s big bet on himself, he was able to make a knockout Sonoma Mountain beauty, without the need for any middleman, helping us to enjoy one of his best creations at an outstanding price.
100 Pts, International Wine Report – 98 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 98 Pts, James Suckling
“The 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is truly sensational. It begins with striking aromas of fresh blackberries, blueberries and dark plums that are laced with fresh spring florals, mocha, sweet exotic spices, graphite and gravel nuances all taking shape. The palate is full-bodied and displays a remarkable combination of power and elegance throughout. This is beautifully structured and extremely expressive, as it possesses outstanding depth and concentration all they way through the long, finessed finish. Year after year, the Columbia Valley Cabernet is one of the most impressive wines, and there is no exception here, as it combines all the wonderful qualities of the 2020 vintage from Quilceda Creek into one expression. This is fantastic already and readers will be in for a real treat, as this simply marvelous wine will continue to deliver the goods for years to come.”
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 2021 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.
This is Joe Wagner and Quilt’s inaugural Red blend called Threadcount. It is a total knockout at the price point for this style of wine. It’s a big voluptuous wine and very fruit forward. The nose is straight up dark chocolate dipped raspberries and it tastes of fresh-baked blueberry pie, spice, and a touch of toffee. It’s the kind of quality blend that you’ve come to expect from the family behind Caymus.