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
$35.00 $32.95
The trend continues today with perhaps the greatest white wine ever out of Argentina. You might assume it would be a Torrentes as I did when the bottle was dropped off by the importer with a note covering the label – “One of your faves just did it again. Not what you think.”
A few seconds after the first whiff, I knew this wasn’t Torrentes but something far more complex. On the nose alone, I could already tell… this was going to be one of the best Chardonnays we’re going to offer this year. I ripped off the note. “El Enemigo by Catena.”
On the surface, a $30 Chardonnay– underneath a whole lot more. This wine is insane– wild flor yeasts that develop naturally in the barrels, help give this wine an added layer of sophistication in addition to the aromatic fireworks show. Similar to Giovanni Almondo’s “El Rive”, the barrels in this Chardonnay help to round things out, giving a wine that typically doesn’t see any oak in Mendoza, a welcomed creamy component.
The El Enemigo is always a critical darling and 2018 is no different – except this year, we’ve got enough to offer – well almost enough. James Suckling gave this effort 97 points and called it “another rock star Chardonnay”.
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97 Points, James Suckling
This is another rock-star chardonnay from here with dried-apple, pear-skin, crushed-stone and peach-pit character. Full body. Creamy texture. Phenolic form and a long, flavorful finish.
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The textbook 2018 El Enemigo Chardonnay had varietal aromas and notes from the barrel, giving it a very attractive profile. But there is a secret: the barrels develop some flor yeasts in the style of Jerez (or Jura) and this gives the wine a spicy twist, hints of curry and white pepper. The wine is silky and the very high acidity is not noticeable. This is a great commercial success, and at the price, it offers great value.
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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.
The Zenato family has built up quite the reputation for delivering exceptional value with their red and whites in Veneto. Their Pinot Grigio is a particularly great value, punching way above its weight class. Delicately scented and soft on the palate, it offers classic citrus and floral notes in a balanced elegant style. It’s smooth and refreshing with a long, pleasant finish. Great with food.
Elena Walch’s newly released 2022 Pinot Bianco continues to be the best example of Pinot Blanc anywhere. She’s the undisputed queen. There’s so much energy in this new release. Super light in color, with a busy nose that boasts ripe aromas of citrus, granny smith apple with a hint of freshly mowed grass. Made entirely in stainless steel, the wine is expressive, fresh and finishes as clean and tight as can be. Definitely will continue the run of 90+ scores once this one is reviewed.
2022 was an absolutely perfect vintage in this respect and unfortunately, I think it will be one of the last, if not THE last. As winegrower Jean-Marc Brocard reported to Decanter: “When we taste the wines, we feel that the balance between acidity and ripeness is very good. It’s a classic style of Chablis. In the end, even after such a heat during summertime, we stay in a cool year reference.” He also alluded to the ageability of the vintage, saying “Let’s give them time, we must let nature do its work.”
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