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
$49.99
If you’ve ever been out to the Napa Valley, Frank Family Winery is a must stop. It’s right off of Larkmead Lane in Calistoga along the Napa River, with an elevated tasting room overlooking rolling acres of planted vineyards. Unlike some of the other over-the-top Napa stops, Frank Family chooses to focus on their wines rather than all the bells and whistles. Most of the people who work there have been there for ages.
One of those people is winemaker, Todd Graff, who for the last 18 years has run the wine program at Frank Family. Unlike most, Todd has been on both the winemaking and the vineyard management side– giving him a decisive advantage over most of his Napa neighbors. Todd joined FF after stints at Joseph Phelps, Schramsberg, Artesa and Stag’s Leap Cellars. It’s as impressive of a resume as a winemaker can have. But even with all his knowledge, he still treats every vintage like its his first– carefully surveying the land and following Mother Nature’s lead. His wines are consistently fantastic.
If you haven’t made it out there yet and are unlikely to do so anytime soon, you can still enjoy the fruits of Todd’s labor today at Nicholas Wines. With restaurants temporarily closed down nationwide, the opportunity presented itself for me to get my hands on five cases of the 2016 Frank Family Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you’re a big red drinker, this Cab has your name written all over it. It’s deep, dark (almost black) in color with bold, rich chocolatey notes, black cherry and vanilla all smoothly integrated together with a touch of oak on the finish. It’s no wonder steakhouses across the country jump on this wine without thinking twice– it’s the ideal partner for any piece of red meat, poultry or lamb chop.
“Displays expressive notions of baked plums, warm cassis and licorice with hints of bay leaves and scorched earth. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with juicy black fruit and earthy sparks, finishing chewy.”
WINE ADVOCATE
The Mascot is a blend of Harlan, Bond and Promontory barrels, Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the most spectacular vineyards in the Napa Valley. It’s a bit steep, a Saturday nighter for sure. But when you consider Harlan Estate goes for about $1000 a bottle and Bond and Promontory come in around $500, the Mascot almost looks like a Tuesday nighter. Almost..
Winemaker Patrick Brunet’s tiny Domaine Robert estate consists of 50-60 year old vines, deeply rooted in the granitic soils of Fleurie. 2018 produced concentrated, structured Beaujolais, delicious today but with the bones to improve in the bottle over the next decade. Pretty remarkable for wine that comes in under $20/btl today on bottle 1.
What separates this Valpolicella from its peers is the grapes used were grown for this wine specifically. This isn’t Amarone seconds, it’s a precisely crafted and seductive rendition of the Corvina grape that will appeal to Red Burgundy lovers. Highly versatile and elegant, Ca La Bionda’s Valpolicella mesmerizes with red and blackberries, anise and Asian spices with serious depth.
94 Points, Vinous Media
“The 2018 Syrah Estate is a fabulous example of both the estate and everything Ballard Canyon is about. Fabulously deep and expansive, the Estate captures tremendous character. The flavors are dark, brooding and so rich. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice and dried herbs abound. The 50% whole clusters are nicely integrated, but the tannins are equally imposing, so a measure of patience is critical. All of the other Syrahs in this range are compelling, but to me the Estate is the most complete. It’s a reference-point wine for the appellation.” -Antonio Galloni
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