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
$25.00 $22.00
The magic of the 2019 vintage in France truly reveals itself in wines like my friend Valentin Moindrot’s drop-dead gorgeous Pinot Noir, Domaine de Loye Menetou-Salon Rouge. Throughout central and eastern France, an early-spring frost severely limited yields, the putting the fear of a difficult vintage at the front in the mind of every French wine-grower. But then Mother Nature gave back, as she often does, with a warm and dry growing season, slowly nurturing to near perfection in the few grapes that remained on the vine.
In places like Menetou-Salon, better known for electric white wine, this unique combination of low yields and perfect sun made for lights out red wine, Pinot Noir that just bursts from the glass. Valentin calls it the red wine vintage of his lifetime. One taste of his dark, concentrated Pinot with layers of fruit and a firm, fresh finish and I think you’ll agree. The frost limits the offer, Valentin could only make a couple of barrels in ’19. Click here to cash in on a Pinot that drinks like Burgundy twice its price.
As you know, to find value in any wine growing region, you have to get off the beaten path. So in January of 2019, I did just that, driving south and west from Sancerre and the Loire River to the gently rolling hills of Menetou-Salon. The best of our visits that day was with Valentin Moindrot of Domaine de Loye, an irresistibly happy guy whose wines will make you feel just about the same way! Valentin’s dad founded the estate in 1970 with vines his grandfather planted in the ‘50s.
These old-vines are rooted in deep limestone, and dry, limestone-infused clay. This mineral soil adds great vibrancy to their wines. Valentin says the special limestone imparts the fine aromatics and tension while the old-vines and clay providing the concentration in the mid palate, creating an incredibly balanced summer red.
Out of stock
The second year of this elegant, silky smooth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir crafted by Bertrand de Villane of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fame. Again it comes from the gorgeous Winter’s Hill Estate about 700 feet above sea level in the Dundee Hills. All indications are that the 2019 is going to be one of the best for Pinot Noir since 1991. A flawless summer that benefited from very little rain mixed with cool, breezy summer nights. With a round, supple mouthfeel and a sturdy backbone this will age gracefully for a decade plus. Bertrand’s wines just have a signature stamp that is unmistakably his. This is phenomenal.
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The 2019 Wentworth Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is a beauty. Made with 100% Estate Grown, organically farmed fruit from Wentworth’s noteworthy Anderson Valley vineyard. It’s made from a variety of different clones: Dijon 115, 667 and Pommard 5, that seamlessly blend to make an exciting, full-bodied Pinot. You can taste the extra flair courtesy of the 1/4 wholecluster fermentation. This is fresh and juicy and fantastic to pair with food.
99 Pts, Vinous – 97 Pts (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast– 97 Pts, Spectator – 97 Pts, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni called it, “hands down one of the wines of the vintage.” The Wine Advocate chipped in with “a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage.” Here’s what I’ll say: How could you do any better than securing a few bottles of a wine with 30-40 years of life left that is already showing better than giants such as Lafite, Margaux and Le Pin. There aren’t many years in Bordeaux’s history where one of the top 3-5 wines of the vintage was a $105 bottling and not one available at four figures.
Soon to be Rated
With Herve and Fabre Montmayou wracking up NYT features, huge scores, gold medals and lifetime achievement awards, I’m left with one choice: get in now or be left in the cold. Waiting for the scores to roll in is a luxury that we know longer have with Fabre Montmayou. Good for the winery, but not so good for us. Rest assured though, the 2020 Cabernet Franc Herve sent me is fantastic, and will surely be minted with the same kind of high-flying praise as the vintage before it. But by that time, you’ll only have a bottle or two left in the cellar.
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