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
$35.00 $23.50
Call it a blessing and a curse. The truth of the matter is that I am always looking for a Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir that we can bottle under the Juliana Layla label. It’s my favorite wine to offer up, bar none. The only problem is that Juliana is my one and only daughter so for the wine to bear her name, I need it to be perfect.
The last time we locked into a Pinot for JL was in the 2018 vintage. We last offered it up 936 days ago. That was a beauty from a vintage that Wine Spectator gave 94-points. Then came the pandemic, then a tough 2020 vintage in Oregon so there haven’t been many candidates. But I got early word from a few friends in the Willamette that 2021 was going to be a very special vintage, so I’ve been putting out feelers, getting samples and making some calls.
Then one day I got “the sample” and I knew Juliana Layla was back on. What a special opportunity this is. Exactly two barrels of this wine were made and are exclusively for Nicholas Wines. This cuvee comes from two of Willamette Valley’s top sites with one having recently been recognized on the national stage.
Both sites have Oregon’s coveted Jory Volcanic soils, the red soil rich in clay content, iron and other nutrients that seem to perfectly aid Pinot Noir growth and help give it distinct earthier tones. That combined with the sites higher elevation and cooler landscape give this wine aromatics, depth and a high-toned touch.
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95 Points (Gold Medal), 2022 Decanter Wine Awards
The expert reviews on this incredible new release from Herve Fabre are insane. 90 points and a ‘Best Buy’ designate from Wine Enthusiast, 90 more from Suckling. Ditto from Vinous who called this “young, firm, with well-worked tannins and good structure”. But in a crowded see of nearly 20,000 wines at the Decanter Wine Awards in 2022 – this stole the show. The only 95-point, Gold medal Cabernet that you can get for under $20/bottle, its second straight year in the most rarified air.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Always the one with the most personality of the bunch, this is what Wine Enthusiast had to say about the 2021 release: “This extremely ripe and bold style of Pinot Noir will please those seeking such lushness. Dark in the glass, it begins with black cherry, toasty caramel and cola milk shake aromas.” The cool, coastal days and abundance of sunshine lines up perfectly for a wine that has a good natural acidic backbone, with bold fruit-forward flavors. In an easy 2021 vintage, Joe Wagner had a field day with this single-vineyard beauty.
Winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val) continues to excel even while others struggle. In 2017, he still managed to deliver a beautiful and opulent Napa Valley Cabernet that’s both dark and juicy. The wine hails from both Coombsville and Rutherford, giving it distinct characteristics and a lot of drive. Deep ruby to the rim with excellent concentration, notes of Bing cherries, raspberry pie and hints of vanilla. On the palate, big wonderfully jammy fruit with young but impressive tannins and great length. The finish leaves notes of black cherry, and baked blueberry pie. Fantastic Napa value.
93 Points, James Suckling
Avignonesi’s wines took Nicholas Wines by storm last year with their ‘Grifi’ SuperTuscan, a highly rated, highly delicious bottle that put the winery firmly on my radar. It’s a great bottle of wine, but at this price – it completely overdelivers which is exactly what you’re looking for.
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