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
$54.00
Selecting barrels during the pandemic has been about as challenging as you would think. This is where relationships with distillers becomes even more important. Now that the bourbon shortage has reached a fever pitch, they turn away 100 requests for single barrels for every one that they accept. Clearly I’ve been in the “one” category. Well that “one” isn’t good enough. You really want to be the first of all the “ones”. What the hell does that mean?
The master distiller will select his favorite 20 or 30 barrels for all of us “one’s” to select from. Obviously the first “one” to select will get the best of the best. This was the exact situation when I selected our Knob Creek single barrel of bourbon with Master Distiller Fred Noe.
All 20 that I tasted were outstanding, but I really think I grabbed the best of the lot before anyone else got a chance to taste .
The barrel I selected was born on 9/28/11 (yep, this is a 10 year old private barrel). It rested in what I call the “heart of the good stuff” in warehouse Z on floor 3. Bottled at 120 proof.
One other benefit of being first is I was the first to beg for a Single barrel of Knob Rye. Stay tuned next month to see how well I begged 😉
Tasting Note:
Nose: Toasted oak, vanilla, caramel and fresh baked banana bread.
Palate: Hints of leather toasted marshmallow, maple and caramelized banana. The finish is long and lingering with just the right amount of burn.
Out of stock
This is a sensational single-vineyard Merlot made from incredibly tiny clusters, full of some of the most elegant, intensely structured fruit from high atop Sonoma Mountain. Beautiful weight and balance with aromas of blueberries, black currants, sage and a hint of cocoa. It’s got a full, plush mouthfeel, pristine and vibrant fruit and a wonderful smooth finish. Thanks to Chad’s big bet on himself, he was able to make a knockout Sonoma Mountain beauty, without the need for any middleman, helping us to enjoy one of his best creations at an outstanding price.
Chad’s 2020 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is drop dead gorgeous and actually makes zero sense at all at this price. Dark purple to the rim with aromas of black fruits, violets, creme de cassis and a hint of spice. On the palate, full-bodied, round and juicy with elegance and the gorgeous, pure fruit– red and black currants, blackberries and a touch of sweet tobacco. It’s a delicious bottle of Cab.
92 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast – 92 Points, James Suckling
Castello di Bossi’s 2019 Chianti Classico represents a particularly high note in a great year. Both James Suckling and the Wine Enthusiast awarded the wine 92-point scores, with the latter lobbing on a ‘Editors’ Choice’ designate and calling out the wine for its “savory, elegantly structured palate”. There really is so much to love about this wine. This one is beautifully concentrated yet manages to stay fresh and long on the palate, with long, silky tannins, a nice firm acidic base. The balance here is on point- with lots of fresh red fruit coming through amongst some bramble and sage.
93 Points, Tasting Panel
The Don Fulano Blanco is a super lively, refreshing Tequila with a beautiful clear hue. It’s both floral and spicy with a little bit of grilled pineapple, dried mango and grassy aromas. It’s very smooth and dry yet still has good tropical fruit that comes through and plays nicely with a hint of minerality, white pepper and a slight citrus ending.
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