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
$39.00 $21.50
One of the highlights of this great estate is their ability to make wines that are bright and fresh as well as their ability to make big, structured wines that take time in the bottle but have decades ahead. It’s truly rare to have both. Their ‘Barolos’ are easily amongst the top in all of Piedmont, but it’s the super fresh and elegant younger wines that sometimes steal the show.
The 2021 ‘Bricco dei Merli’ is excellent, far beyond what most can get out of Barolo bottlings double and triple today’s price. It’s aged in large, non-toasted Slovonian oak barrels that allow the wine to keep its authenticity, its aromas, and all its notes. It totally sings with high-toned cherry fruit, plum, and even some violet with a fresh minerally taste that is both well-balanced and as silky smooth as one could ever want.
Unsurprisingly, given the pedigree of the property, the winemaking talent, and the fact that you’re getting old-vine Barbera from on top of the hill of a famous vineyard, this one has a big score attached to it. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the most well-respected publication in the wine world, handed down a 93-point review in which they waxed poetic about this wine.
They called out the “beautifully fruity, almost juicy personality.” As if that weren’t enough, they went on to declare that “This Barbera does not show any of the excesses that can sometimes characterize Barbera when made in less capable hands.” That’s about as strong as a 93-pont review as you’re going to find.
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93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2021 Barbera d’Alba Bricco dei Merli shows a beautifully fruity, almost juicy personality that paints an authentic portrait of this grape. The Congo winemaking team has worked out its approach to elegant wines. This Barbera does not show any of the excesses, like sourness or too much acidity, that can sometimes characterize Barbera when made in less capable hands.
95 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Wine Spectator – 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The new release is here from outstanding winemaking team of Michel Rolland, Charles Thomas, Andy Erickson and David Jelenik. This one always represents one of the best quality-to-price ratios in all of Napa Cab and in the stellar 2021 vintage, this really stands out as one of the best the Valley has to offer. It’s a racy mix of Coombsville fruit from Atlas Peak that absolutely roars out of the bottle. Always one of Napa’s great bargains and a must have even as the price starts to sneak up here a little bit.
WS #4 2019 Wine of the Year, 96 Points, Wine Spectator
2016 was an incredibly special year in Napa Valley. It was essentially the 5th straight vintage of near perfect-conditions and a lot of the big boys produced some of their biggest, most elegant Cabernets to date. Groth’s was still one of the standouts in any group, a deeply concentrated, weighty Cab with sappy, juicy fruit and a carefully intertwined tannic structure. Absolutely gorgeous.
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.
#3 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021
96 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 95 Points, Wine Spectator
We are one of the very few folks who have Wine Spectator’s #3 Wine of the Year. This is definitely not one to miss. The 2016 vintage showcases this prized vineyard in all its glory; notes of wild black fruit, thyme, mint, eucalyptus, and bay are lifted and enjoyed with the polished tannin and mouthwatering freshness of this wine. Regarded as one of the best vintages in the last few decades, the 2016 Martha’s Vineyard has been aged to perfection for immediate enjoyment at release and will continue to reward for the next 20+ years.