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
$85.00 $60.00
We’re all pretty familiar with Cakebread at this point – especially their Chardonnay which is made in an unapologetically Californian style. It’s enormous tasting profile and overt brashness is part of what has catapulted the brand to international stardom and brought with it hundreds of thousands of Cakebread acolytes.
Of all the Cakebread of recent memory, the 2018 Carneros may be the best of the bunch. Conditions were near perfect in Carneros. Early rains replenished the soils, and then conditions evened out into perfect harmony. No heat spikes kept growth nice and even – and then at the end of the season, the grapes were able to just be allowed to continue hanging.
The Carneros Reserve bottling cherry picks the family’s favorite lots to blend into a harmonious explosion – nearing a sensory overload. The nose is like sticking your face in a freshly baked peach/apple cobbler pie. Equally assertive flavors of melon, apples, and pears swim around the palate.
But the 2018 has a much more vibrant acidity than most vintages – probably due to the extended hangtime – making it the complete package. Everything you expect from a classic Cakebread but capable of pairing with rich dishes – creamy pasta, triple cream cheeses, or buttery prepared seafoods.
Out of stock
Gold Medal (Best in Show), 2023 Mundus Vini International Tasting
The area has also been isolated from the rest of Spain for generations, which has kept the wine prices far lower than wines of this quality would be anywhere else in the world. That’s why, despite having the Torres family name on the bottle and the consistent huge press (including the Gold Medal & Best in Show at the 2023 Mundus Vini International Wine Awards in Germany), these wines can still be scooped up for under $20/bottle. It’s like the Sancerre pricing of yesteryear.
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.
Our all-time favorite Chardonnay is back just as the summer heat wave is starting to wind down! The Wagner Family’s Santa Lucia Highlands slam dunk. 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. It’s always juicy, bright and well-balanced – it’s classic Caymus, rich and hedonistic with a wonderful creaminess. This is quintessential California Chardonnay.
Of the 9ha owned by Gerard Boulay, 8 of the hectares are on the slopes of Chavignol on Kimmeridgian or “terre blanche” soils (similar to the soils in Chablis), which he works manually and has farmed organically since 1990. The youngest vines at the domaine were planted by Mr. Boulay in 1972 and the average vine age is approximately 45 years old.
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