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
$60.00
Massolino is a treasure. They’re one of the few wineries that can say they have almost 30(!) wines on Wine Spectator’s annual ‘Top 100 Wines of the Year’ list, including last year’s vintage, the 2016 which I offered a few weeks before its #7 placement. As you could imagine, that made getting an allocation this year infinitely more difficult, but I was able to do so if I took it right away before Wine Spectator scores it.
Massolino is armed with three fabulous Cru vineyards, Margheria, Parafada, and Vigna Rionda – the former is considered by most to be the crown jewel vineyard of Serralunga. Together, the three vineyards producer some of the best wines in the world.
It seems like no matter the vintage, the winemaking team puts out beautiful Barolos but in 2018 the case has never been stronger for their Serralunga Barolo – as this one is a little bit different than in other years. An uneasy growing easy gave the winemaking team enough doubt to decide to take the best eight barrels that were earmarked for the Grand Cru bottlings and ultimately decided to blend them back into the DOCG Barolo, adding even more depth of flavor, power and complexity than in regular years.
Out of stock
96 Points (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast
In 2018 the estate didn’t make its cru-specific bottlings so the best grapes are in this straight Barolo. And it shows. It opens with heady scents of eucalyptus, pine forest, hay, new leather and lilac. Extremely elegant, the savory, vibrant palate exhibits red cherry, juniper berry and star anise set against taut, refined tannins and bright acidity.
93 Points, Wine Spectator
This red packs loads of floral, strawberry, cherry and white pepper aromas and flavors. Slim and fruity for the most part yet with a solid underlying structure. Austere for now on the finish, but well balanced overall. Best from 2025 through 2043.
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.
Marie Jacqueson’s best red is a 1er cru from the vineyard Préaux. The vines are old here, averaging almost 50 years in age. The soil is a classic mix of clay and limestone providing for soaring aromatics of strawberry, black cherry, cinnamon and roses. The fruit is almost crunchy; incredibly fresh, juicy, really flat-out delicious. Those limestone soils gives the wine great length, with a mineral finish that goes a mile. Great now, great in 10 years, and qualitatively worth double the price. There are only 78 bottles available this year. Then we wait again!
94 Points, Wine Spectator
The 2019 is a must have for any fans of cellar-worthy Italian red wines. It’s a structured Chianti Riserva, with a ton of character. The nose is intense with notes of leather surrounding a core of bright red fruits. The flavors are intense and the finish is long with lingering Bing Cherry notes that absolutely sing. Obviously, since we’ve got the first crack at it, not all the ratings are in and it probably wouldn’t matter anyway as these will not stick around for long.
92 Points, James Suckling
It’s hard to imagine a wine that delivers more bang for your buck and consistency than what Herve Fabre is able to produce from his 100+ year old vines each vintage. Last year, his Malbec Reserva landed on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Buys of the Year. I called a big score form this one and it has just arrived. It’s a big, full-bodied Malbec from the heart of Mendoza and has great tannic structure and primary fruit, giving it similar characteristics to a Napa Valley Cab. Inviting aromas of raspberry pie, sage, herbs and roasted mushrooms.
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