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
$18.00 $14.99
Out of a line up of over two dozen Tuscan wines – many costing fifty to seventy-five bucks and two in the three figures – this tiny gem from Mazzei came out on top.
Now I often talk about historic estates – but this time, I need to slow down and reset the scale. For 26 generations, the Mazzei has been producing wine off their historic Castello di Fonterutoli estate and are intimately tied up in the entire history of Tuscany. It was their name that was found on the first ever official document mentioning Chianti – all the way back in 1398.
Several generations later, family patriarch Phillip Mazzei was a winemaker, philosopher, arms dealer, and most importantly for us a close confidant of Thomas Jefferson. He influenced the future direction of the United States with his political writings which were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence – and maybe even more so by supplying the State of Virginia with the necessary arms to fight the red coats.
Now to the wine. Look – this wine would be good at three times the price. It was going to be great at my normal Nicholas pricing but on today’s mea culpa, it’s just a ridiculous deal.
The vineyard is located at high elevation within the heart of Chianti Classico. Mazzei could have easily just thrown the merlot in the dirt and bottled the Sangiovese alone for a much bigger pay day. I’m certainly glad they didn’t.
This is deep, dark and luscious with intense aromas of red berry and cocoa. Fresh and lively on in the mouth – and will be an excellent companion to any red sauce – yes, even pizza – pot roast, etc …
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93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Vignon’s 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape delivers even more than I hoped for based on a previous sample. Hints of garrigue, roses, cherries and raspberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, silky and long, with an intense, almost briny finish. The assemblage is 50% Grenache, 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus smaller proportions of seven other permitted varieties, while the élevage includes foudres, demi-muids, concrete and wooden tanks, plus terracotta amphorae.”
92 Points, James Suckling
Since the late 1990’s Penner-Ash has been viewed as one of Oregon’s top wineries making gorgeous wines in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. In the 2021 vintage considered to be one of Oregon’s all-time great years, the 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir that Lynn crafted is gorgeous, a silky tightly woven number that mixes red and black fruits with some sage and baking spices and a savory finish. It’s got some nice weight to it and structure which suggests it’ll age well for the next 10-15 years though it’s already drinking beautifully in its youth.
94 Points, Tasting Panel
This is a really exciting new release in the collection of single-vineyards from the Wagner Family, and arguably the most interesting one of the bunch. This is the only Pinot Noir in the Caymus collection that has the advantage of being from a natural Pinot Noir haven in the Russian River Valley. Dairyman Vineyard’s proximity to the pacific ocean, with its morning fog and afternoon coastal breezes allows for an even and elongated growing season, with super concentrated and expressive grape clusters that help make this Dijon clone Pinot Noir one that you need.
90-92 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 91 Pts (Editors’ Choice), Wine Enthusiast – 91 Pts, Decanter
The wines get consistent high praise but 2018 is truly something special. 90-92 from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 91 points and an Editor’s Choice designation from Wine Enthusiast. 91 more from Decanter who provides “There is so much to enjoy in the smaller appellations this year. Drinking Window 2022 – 2031” and another 90 point score from James Suckling. This is a home run value – especially for the price.
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