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
$15.00 $12.99
As we saw time and time again last year, great Tuscan bargains can be found if you know where to look– and right now, there’s no hotter neighborhood in Tuscany than its third largest DOC, Maremma.
There in the warm sun drenched vineyards along the Southern Tuscan Coast the wine regulations are a bit looser, attracting some of the country’s best winemakers to experiment with different varietals and combinations, hell bent on making the best wines possible.
In the miracle 2015 vintage in Tuscany, one that Italy’s most famous wine consultant, Carlo Ferrini called, “the greatest vintage of my career” both the tiny finds and the big usual “Aaia” suspects all produced some of their best work ever. The enologist has been a big part of the Maremma movement, consulting for as many as a dozen wineries in a single vintage! in the new region that was compared in the early 2000’s to the California gold rush of the 1840’s.
Millions of dollars have been pumped into the region with wines ranging anywhere from $10 to $300/bottle in the region. But if you’re looking for the top rated under $25 Maremma from the 2015 vintage in Tuscany, look no further than today’s 92pt La Mora Toscana from Cecci, which won’t cost you a penny over $13/btl today (not a misprint!).
The Cabernet blend, cut off of mediterranean quartz soils, provides a wonderful dark fruited, chocolatey mix that Wine Spectator’s former Italian Editor in Chief, James Suckling called “serious richness”. It’s a crazy food friendly wine, but I wouldn’t waste my time pairing this with a salad, this has pizza wine written all over it.
At today’s price, it shouldn’t need convincing, just some space cleared in the wine fridge.
Out of stock
92 Points, James Suckling
Plenty of chocolate and berry character with hints of walnut. Medium body, integrated tannins and a flavorful finish. Serious richness. Drink or hold.
94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
This is a historic estate that is one of the best and oldest in the region and arguably the first to bottle their own estate CDP. Their newly released 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is a total gem – a seamless blend of mainly Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah with a little Cinsault blended in. Wine Spectator called the wine, “silky” and elegant and Jeb Dunnuck took it up a step further when he declared the wine, “a big winner, with the vintage’s purity and elegance front and center” in his rave 94-point review.
100 Pts, Lisa Perotti-Brown (Wine Independent) – 98 Pts, James Suckling – 98 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”
Chad’s 2020 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is drop dead gorgeous and actually makes zero sense at all at this price. 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. It’s a delicious bottle of Cab.
The next great Big Red in the long line from the Wagner family of Caymus fame. Like the previous Quilt offerings, this represents Joe Wagner’s pick of the litter of available vineyard sources that puts his inimitable blending abilities into play. In a vintage as easy and as heralded as 2021, the only difficulty the Wagners had was finding things they didn’t like. So explosive and juicy on the palate with a lush mouthfeel and silky smooth tannins. A winner for Napa and Big Red fans alike.
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