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
$19.50 $17.50
“Sometimes the impact of a winery is so positive that it enriches a whole area with its quality, consistency and continuity. This is true of Fattoria Zerbina.” – Gambero Rosso
While the phenomenal Sangiovese producer Zerbina, is still small and family-run, I’m afraid I won’t be able to consider it as off the radar for much longer. After all, almost every bottle goes direct to the most elite restaurants in the country, their Gambero Rosso is a perennial ‘Tre Bicchieri’ award winner (some sort of record number of times in a row), and the press has caught on finally. I fear that the minuscule amount of her wine that does make it stateside will be cut and prices are bound to catch up.
The transformation of a very good winery to one of the best in all of Italy is overwhelmingly the work of the uber-talented owner/winemaker Cristina Geminani. After studying in Bordeaux – under Denis Dubourdieu, she returned and transformed not just the vineyard practices at Zerbina but arguably throughout the wider Italian Sangiovese landscape.
Out of stock
Fresh off its feature as one of Wine Spectator’s ‘Exciting California Values Under $25’, winemaker Matt Cline looks to stay hot with his release of the 2019 Contra Costa Zinfandel. This one is a beauty crafted off old-vines that are now between 110-140 years in age. There’s a ton of darker fruits that drive this one with a dusting of baking spice. The fruit is pure, fresh and long making it both delicious on its own or terrific with a burger, BBQ ribs, or grilled leg of lamb. Crazy cheap for what is in the bottle, load up!
It’s hard to beat a great value white wine and this one is a at least a cut above the rest. One prominant industry insider called the 2020 edition, “the best white wine by any within $20/cs of this price.” It’s super crisp with a great mineral streak, and was carefully picked by hand when the temperature is coolest and is kept cool all the way into the press. From there, the effect of the mineral soil takes over, providing great finesse and freshness in every bottle. This white blend has great backbone and a lot of juicy fruit coming through behind aromas of flowers and stone fruits. At this price, it’s a no brainer.
93 Points, Vinous
Almondo Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie Le Rive (Gold Label) is made from the estate’s oldest single plot of vines within the already heralded Bricco Delle Ciliegie (hill of cherries). This is only the third vintage of this label but it’s already considered by many to be one of the best white wines in all of Italy. Juicy peaches, pears, and a hint of almonds on the nose. The mouth is dense and fleshy, full of bright fruit, minerality and salinity notes with a touch of spice that’s the highlight of a finish that lingers and lingers in the best way. An absolute treat.
100 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Paolo di Marchi’s leaving present to Tuscany is this delightful 2019 Isole e Olena Cepparello. Cepparello is a blend of Sangiovese from different vineyards, selected by Di Marchi on the basis of “the best exposure, elevation, soil, genetics and age. I feel this adds complexity.” The first vintage was in 1980 when 100% Sangiovese was not permitted under the Chianti Classico rules. Those rules have since changed but the wine remains an IGT Toscana. It has a supremely enticing nose with cream and exotic spice, reminding me of Arabian spice markets. With the 2019 there is an added precision to the aromas, less heavy oak, and no greenness on the palate. It is concentrated with a rich velvety texture but without any heaviness and with a gentle unforced quality. The tannins are fine and very well integrated, in fact finer and better integrated than even the excellent 2016 vintage. It is of course very young now but it’s almost too delicious not to drink! Supremely graceful, it just gets better and better.” – Lisa Perotti-Brown
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