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
$75.00 $66.00
Chateau Lagrange is one of Bordeaux’s ultimate comeback stories. The gorgeous Saint-Julien winery is one of just fourteen Third Growths from the historic 1885 Bordeaux Classification, and it boasts a long and illustrious history. It’s considered one of the ‘crown jewels of Bordeaux’ by many, but for a large portion of the mid-1900’s, it fell into a period of mediocrity.
Then, in the early 1980’s, the Japanese liquor giant Suntory bought the Chateau and decided to dump millions into the winery in an attempt to return it to its former glory. The French weren’t thrilled with the foreign interference, but no one could argue with the money they spent to fix the place up. Even with all the millions of dollars spent, their greatest decision was to give the winemaking duties to Marcel Ducasse. He immediately helped right the ship before launching the winery to never-before-seen heights.
Nowadays, there are few Chateaux in all of Bordeaux, let alone the coveted Saint-Julien AVA, who could boast a resume as impressive as these guys. In the 2018 vintage, their excellence was on full display with a hit parade of big scores led by a 97 from Jeb Dunnuck and a 95 from Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Only 6 left in stock
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2018 Château Lagrange is a more dense, backward, serious wine, offering an unevolved yet incredibly promising bouquet of cassis, blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and violets. A big, rich, full-bodied Saint-Julien, it delivers thrilling purity of fruit, plenty of background oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a great mid-palate. This is serious stuff, but it’s going to require patience. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades.
95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lagrange explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and baked red and black plums with suggestions of rose oil, cedar chest, pencil lead and hoisin. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic vibrancy for the ripeness, packed with juicy black fruits and compelling tension with a finely grained texture to support, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Nicely done!
94 Points, Decanter
Beautiful reflections through the body of this wine, with fresh acidity, and an attractive sense of uplift through the palate, although the actual fruit is a little subdued right now, which as it opens shows damson and bilberry. There is real tannic frame, and build-up on the finish as you see just how concentrated these dark fruits are. Drinking Window 2026 – 2044
The newly released Fiancetto Howell Mt. Cabernet is a dream – a gorgeous, elegant dark-fruited Cabernet Sauvignon that is it picks up time in the glass, unfurls its full signature of cedar laced cassis nose and mid palate of chocolate-covered cherries and savory spices. Only four palates of this (224 cases) were made off a gorgeous, sprawling high elevation spot 1500 feet above sea level. It’s full and plush and finishes fresh and oh so long. The price is crazy for Howell Mountain Cabernet but that’s what Ry Richards and Fiancetto is all about.
100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Needing plenty of air to show at its best, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is a sensational, gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet that delivers the goods like only this region can. Pure Cabernet magic on the nose, with deep blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, lead pencil, and a kiss of spring flowers as well as a beautiful Pessac-Leognan-like scorched earth character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It’s one of those wines that builds incrementally on the palate and it’s only after the second or third sip that you realize how special this wine is. It also offers that rare mix of power and elegance that’s the hallmark of all great wines. It needs a couple of hours in the decanter if drinking any time soon. Hats off to Paul Hobbs for an incredible Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.“
2019 WE CS #7
97 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
Far Niente’s beloved Napa Valley Cabernet comes from a who’s who of the best vineyard sites throughout Napa Valley. It’s a seamless Cabernet blend sourced from Oakville, Stag’s Leap, Diamond Mountain, St. Helena, Calistoga, Oak Knoll and the winery’s estate fruit in Yountville. The 2021 vintage is a particular high note – it’s a must-have for Big Red, Napa and Cabernet lovers.
This one comes from very old vines in eight different lieux-dits, with the largest portion coming from Le Fourneau. Harvest is all by hand, and this wine sees 18 months in barrels with only 10% new oak. Clement (rightfully) believes that keeping the oak primarily neutral here brings out the most authentic and intense expression of his Pinot Noirs. Take a sip or two of this and you will know exactly what I mean.