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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
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
$70.00 $65.00
Isole e Olena was formed in the 1950’s when the DeMarchi family purchased two vineyards in the heart of the Chianti Classico region and combined them into one. Since the 1970’s, Paolo DeMarchi has become a leading winemaker in the region by experimenting to improve the Chianti blends and by making wines from 100% Sangiovese (which he labels Cepparello). The goal is producing complex wines with good aging potential.
In a very hot 2017 vintage in Tuscany, it seems like no winery did better than Isole e Olena’s small but immaculately run operation. Paolo De Marchi is meticulous about wine, approaching it from a scientific point-of-view and trying to do as much research and experimentation as possible. Their flagship Cepparello racked up huge scores from all the big named critics, but don’t sleep on their Private selection Syrah. It’s an enormous, full-bodied beauty that is as big and expressive as anything you’re going to find in any region. It’s still in its infancy in terms of where it’s heading, but it’s a wine you’re going to want to have a few bottles to visit down the road. The problem is about 350 cases are made of this wine total, and only about 100 of those head to the U.S. With the 96/94 point scores from the two biggest critics and the reputation of producing some of Italy’s best wines, I was only able to get 60 bottles and that’s the only bite of the apple. Everybody who gets this one will be very happy.
Out of stock
96 Points- Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Isole e Olena 2017 Syrah is powerful, dense and savory. Readers should not plan on opening a bottle anytime soon. Black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, chocolate and leather build as this brooding Tuscan Syrah shows off its considerable character. The 2017 is a real powerhouse. Give it a few years in bottle.
94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Here’s a hot vintage Syrah from the heart of Tuscany. The Isole e Olena 2017 Syrah Collezione Privata opens to dark fruit aromas with toasted spice and charred earth. The wine hints at the heat and dryness of the vintages, but instead of jammy aromas (because there are none of those here), it produces seared or scorched aromas. Indeed, there is a defined note of barbecue smoked or burnt meat that lingers through to the end. The wine is rather tempered and measured in the mouth, with linearity and fine tannic contours. A mere 4,480 bottles were made.
100 Pts, Lisa Perotti-Brown (Wine Independent) – 98 Pts, James Suckling – 98 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”
The next great Big Red in the long line from the Wagner family of Caymus fame. Like the previous Quilt offerings, this represents Joe Wagner’s pick of the litter of available vineyard sources that puts his inimitable blending abilities into play. In a vintage as easy and as heralded as 2021, the only difficulty the Wagners had was finding things they didn’t like. So explosive and juicy on the palate with a lush mouthfeel and silky smooth tannins. A winner for Napa and Big Red fans alike.
100 Points (Bordeaux of the Vintage), Decanter
99 Points, James Suckling – 98 Points (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast – 98 Points, Vinous
Here it is – the perfect 100-point Troplong Mondot. It was one of only 5 wines(!) in the 2020 vintage to receive a perfect score from Decanter – joining the likes of Mouton Rothschild, Petrus, Chateau LC Haut-Brion and Trotanoy as the only 100-pointers. They weren’t alone in their lavish praise for this incredible bottling. Galloni called it “wonderfully exuberant right out the gate” and with “tremendous breadth and power” in his 98-point review. Wine Enthusiast also gave it a 98 with a ‘Cellar Selection’ designate and called the wine, “powerful and dense”.
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!
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