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 $21.00
Year in and year out, one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs in the world is Vincent Ricard’s inimitable Trois Chenes. I love a maverick so if you remember the story, I apologize but it’s too good not to hit the highlights for our newer readers.
Vincent’s father – like all the grape farmers of the small village of Thésée-La-Romaine, did as they always had done – tried to produce as much fruit as humanly possible in the vineyard to haul down to the village cooperative and sell by the ton – quality by damned.
Young Vincent – protegé to the Silex-style of Dagueneau – who had just returned to the family’s estate had another plan all together. He would work all summer long, tending the vines by hand, aggressively trimming the vines, leaving profits to spoil on the ground. Each day the old men of the village would pull up chairs and watch him work – amused by all his hard work.
But the fun and games were all over once the wine bottled under the family name and finally released. It was sublime, completely out of this world – easily competing with the wines of Sancerre four to five times the price. So the old men sprang to action and they sued Vincent for making wine ‘too good’ or out of type for the region – knowing there was no way they could possibly compete.
Only 5 left in stock
Carneros is well-known as a cool-climate region, perfect for growing Chardonnay. The newly released 2020 version has a delightful energy in its youth, with a pale straw color with lime hues. The aromas are of honeysuckle, orange blossom and creme brulee with layers of vanilla and a hint of toffee. The palate is lively yet soft with flavors of lemon cream pie and merange.
The parcels here are situated on vast limestone deposits of lacustrine origin, a near-perfect mix of clay and prehistoric shells. On the surface, fine gravel left from when the river used to have a different route – keeps the vineyards super dry and incredibly distinctive. There are no other vineyards in the whole Centre-Val de Loire quite like them. The Sauvignon Blanc from here is pure, almost transparent with a touch of silver and features aromas of maritime salinity, lemon rind, and a touch of grapefruit. The whole mouthfeel is bold, fruity, and refreshing.
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.
Jean-Claude Janin’s Domaine des Terres de Chatenay estate has 7 hectares of naturally farmed, old-vine Chardonnay with his vines rooted in some of the most mineral soil in all of Burgundy. The resulting wines are electric renditions of white Burgundy, with high-toned, floral aromatics, a deep concentration of green apple and pear fruit and a laser-like finish that is stony, a touch saline and a mile long. The 2021 is an extra notable year – despite a lower than normal yield, the quality across the board in Burgundy is exceptional.
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