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
$105.00 $85.00
Rarely in the wine industry do you see such a powerful partnership. The legend of Burgundy and President of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Conti, Aubert de Villaine partners with his cousin, Larry Hyde “The King of Carneros“.
For the Belle Cousine project, the two get to really have fun with it and show off their winemaking prowess. Unfortunately for us, this ode to the Left Bank is the great Aubert de Villaine’s swan song bottling at HDV as the former DRC head looks to sail off into the sunset. Luckily for us though, the 2019 is an absolute stunner.
The name Belle Cousine is a reference to Pamela Fairbanks de Villaine, Larry Hyde’s lovely cousin who is the wife of Aubert de Villaine of Burgundy. It is Pamela who brings these visionary viticultural families from Burgundy and the Carneros region of Napa Valley together to make wines that express the character of place, with that rare minerality so dear to the Burgundian palate.
In an outstanding 2019 vintage in Napa, this one rises to the top. Antonio Galloni calls it, “one of the best wines” as well as starting his review by calling the wine “faboulous. Bright and focused.” It’s an age-worthy beauty with the kind of Cabernet Sauvignon backbone needed to help this one enjoy a gorgeous lifespan of at least 25-30 years.
This is a fantastic collectors item any year but given the rave review and it being Aubert de Villaine’s last ever ‘Belle Cousine’ it’s one of the ‘must-have’ bottles. I even got us a special price – the best in the country by a healthy margin!
Out of stock
Don't worry! Enter your email and we'll notify you when it's available again or if we have very similar products from this producer.
95 Points, Antonio Galloni – Vinous
“The 2019 Belle Cousine, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from Hyde, is fabulous. Bright and forcused, the 2019 bistles with energy. Strong Cabernet inflections give this mid-weight red tons of aromatic presence to match its mid-weight personality. Dark red/blue fruits, mint, blood orange, spice, leather and mocha are some of the notes that emerge over time. Like all the best wines here, the Belle Cousine offers outstanding focus, clarity and freshness.”
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
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.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
#24 Wine of the Year (2022), Wine Spectator
92 Points, Wine Spectator – 91 Points, James Suckling
“This supple red shows a core of cherry and plum fruit allied to olive, juniper and tobacco notes. Delivers well-integrated tannins and acidic structure, lingering nicely on the finish.”
90 Points, Wine Spectator
Domaine Jaume Vinsobres Altitude 420 is an old-vine Grenache-Syrah blend from vineyards planted in Les Collines at some of the highest points in the Rhône. The Jaumes have farmed these dizzying elevations at their estate in Vinsobres for 100+ years. The 2020 is one of his best yet, pristine and fresh, a bowl full of berried-up fruit yet with the tension and length that belies its humble price. Incredible bang for the buck, tailor-made for anyone’s house red, and a slam dunk for any kind of meat on the bone.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.