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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
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
$70.00 $55.00
I have something very special from the Russian River Valley. The media darling, DuMol and their Chardonnay Cuvee, Wester Ranch, featuring fruit from famed vineyards, Ritchie, Heintz. Lorenzo, Dutton, and DuMOL Estate. This one is a white wine masterpiece that is every bit worthy of the lavish praise it’s received. And lavish it has been.
This isn’t only Wine Enthusiast’s #1 rated Chardonnay in the world tasted from the 2018 vintage, it also is two full points higher than the next closest entry. A stunning feat for a wine that is almost three times less expensive than some of its fellow competitors at the top of the ranks.
Ever since their inaugural vintage in 1996, DuMol has led the pack in the Russian River Valley. But in the fabulous 2018 vintage throughout California- winemaker Andy Smith found an even higher gear, turning in a fleet of wines as formidable as the Spanish Armada.
I tasted a few a few months ago and was blown away. I wasn’t alone. Jeb Dunnuck who has been reviewing Dumol wines for two decades declared, “”This was easily the finest set of releases I have tasted from winemaker Andy Smith.” Vinous chimed in, calling Smith’s 2018’s “vivid and super expressive.” But it was the most notable critic, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, who took it even further declaring, “Some of the 2018’s [out of Sonoma] are potential career wines and the wines from DuMol are the best I have ever tasted.” Wowzers.
But the creme de la creme is today’s wine– which I’m able to bring to you for the best price around. From the remarkably cool-climate Russian River vineyard, Wester Ranch, comes this wine bristling with energy and precision. It’s got weight but also tremendous balance, perfectly structured with waves of lemon curd, butterscotch and citrus with bright acidity and a terrific high-toned mineral streak that finishes long and strong.
Out of stock
98 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Aromas are rich with oily intensity: white peach, tangerine, crystallized ginger, and hazelnut underpinned by an edge of steely mineral freshness. Stone fruits and deep citrus oil dominate the palate, broad and layered, full of intricate nuances. Tangy lemon curd and grapefruit notes combine with fresh acidity to bring energy and focus to the long, vibrant finish.
94+ Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Wester Reach comes from the Dumol estate plus fruit from Ritchie, Charles Heintz, Lorenzo and Dutton vineyards. It offers gentle scents of honey, oats, nuts and dried white flowers over a peachy core. The medium-bodied palate has an understated savory character, balancing yeasty and mineral touches and bright acidity, finishing long and mineral-driven.
94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
A wine that goes out to distribution only (as opposed to the winery mailing list), the 2018 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a blend of the Ritchie, Heintz. Lorenzo, Dutton, and DuMOL Estate vineyards and was brought up in 35% new French oak. It has a classic Russian River Valley vibe in its rich orchard fruits, pear, buttered citrus, and brioche aromas and flavors. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied wine that has the fleshy, supple style of the vintage yet stays firmly in the DuMOL stylistic camp with its vibrant acidity and focused finish.
92 Points, Decanter
The newly released 2020 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin is a knockout and easily one of the best wines I’ve had from this property. It’s not just me saying it either. The always stingy Decanter Magazine absolutely loved the wine calling it the “Best Saint Martin I’ve had” on their way to giving it a big time 92-point score. They also described it perfectly: “Classy, understated style of Chablis with a great balance between ripeness of fruit and powerful acidity.”
98 Points, James Suckling
The wine is absolutely gorgeous – more than worthy of the lofty 98-point score it received from James Suckling. The review called the wine, “Energetic and bright with tightness and structure” all of which I find accurate, but it’s also the pristine and weighty fruit with the signature Hyde Vineyard smoky-graphite tones that make this wine so unique.
Glistening pale yellow-green to the rim, infused with mouth-watering aromas of ripe apple, pear and quince, and crushed almonds with honey and rich creamy middle and a fantastic rush of acidity and minerality that are present throughout. A calling card of Bonhomme’s Vire-Clesse, if you closed your eyes and took a sip, it would have you convinced you were drinking Meursault at least a 3x price tag. This is a White Burgundy you’re going to want to snag up quickly, we’re not going to have it in very long this year.
Etienne Daulny is the latest in a very long line of Daulnys to farm Sauvignon Blanc near the tiny hamlet of Verdigny in the appellation of Sancerre. He is currently in charge of farming over twenty small parcels including some incredibly well respected fifty-year-old vines. This is a classic Sancerre, aromatically dynamic, with intense fruit, distinct minerality and blazing acidity. It’s the white wine we drink most often at home. Beautiful structure and length to this.
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