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
$28.00 $22.50
An unmistakable presence with his large stature and long wavy hair, he achieved a mountain of success in his craft, as a pioneer in California, in general, and Santa Barbara in particular, where he proved to the world that Pinot Noir and Chardonnay could be made in a leaner more Burgundian style despite the constant Cali sunshine and warm weather.
By 1990, his winery Au Bon Climat was considered one of the best in the world and the awards flooded in. Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine, Winemaker of the World by Wein Gourmet, a James Beard Award in 2007. You name it.
Up until his passing, Jim Clendenen was making some of the best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays anywhere. I was lucky enough to lock into a small quantity of two of his classic Santa Barbara County wines.
His Chardonnays out of Santa Barbara are particularly special, with Chuck Wagner of Caymus fame, once declaring, “Jim Clendenen is the reason I came down [South] to make Chardonnay.” Au Bon Climat has long represented some of the best Burgundian style Pinots in America, flush with clean, vibrant fruit that’s not over-extracted like much of Napa’s bottlings, instead it’s got great acidity and depth with unmatched balance and precision. It’s full bodied with a creamy, citrusy middle and a long, bright finish.
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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 (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points, James Suckling
The winery could never expected their Tuscan Vermentino would become as integral as it has – even 25 years later, it’s still a key piece of the puzzle for Campo Maccione. It’s an unassuming wine with great viscosity and bright, savory flavors that way overdelivers for the price. James Suckling agreed, as did Wine Enthusiast. Suckling gave it a 90 and deemed it “an interesting take on Tuscan Vermentino.” Wine Enthusiast took it up a few notches, attaching a coveted ‘Best Buy’ designate to the wine along with a 92-point review for the wine “with a sophisticated restraint.”
This is truly of Sancerre’s greatest wines. It’s an incredible effort in a fantastic vintage for Sancerre in general, but even more so for my friend Dominique Roger. His single parcel ‘La Jouline’ is considered the Grand Cru vineyard of Bue. It’s crafted from 60-year old vines and given an extra year in bottle, adding incredible layers and complexity in the process. Tiny yields followed by partial barrel fermentation creates a wine with complex aromatics, explosive flavors, and a mineral-laced finish that makes it both incredible at the table with rich cuisine or a great candidate for short term aging.
The newly released 2022 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin has some big shoes to fill as the last four 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.
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