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 $29.00
Note: Nicholas exclusive first look on the East Coast. **This is a short vintage so this will be our first and last call.** 94 Points, James Suckling – 93 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
When I was at Lemelson a few years ago, they walked me through their one-of-a-kind gravity flow winery with a spider looking machine that looks like the movie Wild Wild West, and a three-story gravity flow operation that has the winemaking team walking up and down regularly to check on the state of things. It made me think that no winery can boast the kind of calves that Eric Lemelson and his team can.
It does make a difference in the wine though– no pumps, no machines, no additives — just the purest expression of Willamette Valley Pinot possible with virtually no human intervention. It’ll never pay off what it cost, but I’m pretty sure the Lemelson’s aren’t worried– the payout is in the finished product.
After my tour, I was treated to a tasting of the white flight followed by the reds. They really make some fantastic estate grown wines. My favorite of the bunch came early in the Red flight, a flawless Pinot Noir that I was told was called Thea’s Selection. It was an absolute knockout, outclassing many of their single-vineyard bottlings (an observation I chose not to share with their winemaker, Matt Wengel) – though he could easily tell how much I liked it.
Released at $35/bottle, the Thea’s Selection Pinot Noir is arguably the most well known in Lemelson’s impressive collection. It’s made from a blend of all seven 100% organic certified estate vineyards, spread across arguably the two best wine AVAS in the state, Dundee Hills and Yamhill-Carlton. A constant 92+ point getter, it’s graced Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list twice in its short existence and with its newest 94-point score, it may soon make a return.
Out of stock
94 Points, James Suckling
Aromas of ripe red cherry, plum, black tea, and a hint of lavender. Medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Bright acidity articulates the red fruit and berries with clarity and drive. Fresh cream at the finish. A total delight.
93 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
“Fruit for this wine comes from all seven of the winery’s estate vineyards. Freshly ground cinnamon, cumin, mineral and black-cherry aromas lead to a palate that is well-delineated and juicy. There’s plenty of structure wrapped around it all. It’s gorgeous. Best after 2024.”
Chad’s 2020 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is drop dead gorgeous. Those of you who were lucky to catch our sneak preview when we put it in our Gobbler Case can attest. 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.
93 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Wine Spectator – 92 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
San Giorgio Ugolforte is the sister winery of Poggio di Sotto. Their 2017 presents a dark core of red and black berry fruit layered with earth, leather, smoke, and herbs. It’s a complex and elegant expression, that presents a full mouthfeel that is firm in tannin structure. The refreshing acidity frames a graceful finish. Just a classic Brunello di Montalcino.
Winemaker Pascal Sirat consistently puts out some of the best value Bordeaux in the region but he may have outdone himself in the 2018 vintage. Just south of Pomerol, the vines at Panchille borrow deep in the soil. The resulting wines are ripe but fresh, with an aromatic complexity and stony finish usually reserved for wine twice the price. Daniel Boulud tells me it’s been the hottest bottle of wine at Bar Boulud for over a month, so I figured I’d better hurry up and secure my allocation! Don’t miss it.
Wines from this winery often go for FOUR figures; well over a thousand dollars per bottle and basic bottlings off this particular vineyard typically retail for $350. This is one of the great vineyards of Stag’s Leap – but somehow Ry Richards was able to weasel out six barrels – as long as he never reveals his source. This is a knock-out Cabernet Sauvignon, perfect with grilled beef or with just a hunk of cheese. And with a little help from Ry, Nicholas Wines customers can enjoy a price way, way below market value for a wine like this.
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