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
$540.00 $360.00
Melville is one of the few truly family farm operations left. As so many wineries have been snatched up by multinationals, it was refreshing when I called and Chad Melville himself answered the phone.
But don’t get me wrong, just because this is a family operation and all the fruit is estate grown on the family farm, does not mean that it isn’t world class, because it is. When Chad Melville took over winemaking duties – the wine press just seemed to up the ante with annual ratings now firmly in the mid-90s.
They’ve also become a fan favorite of the Nicholas faithful – easily finding a cellar spot next to the premier cru Burgundies. However, as if it couldn’t get any better, Chad’s 2021 Estate Chard just knocked the cover off the ball – coming in at 96 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
This one hits on all cylinders and is an amazing value to boot. It’s a must-have cellar selection for Burgundy and Coastal Chardonnay lovers alike. Taken from the sandy western slopes of the property, the vineyard is under constant bombardment by ice cold ocean winds.
Only 4 left in stock
96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is scented of white peaches and quince with savory undertones of salted almonds, meringue and lemon peel. Medium-bodied, concentrated and expansive, it offers slowly unfurling savory layers, refreshing acidity and a long finish driven by a pleasing touch of anchoring texture. This is juicy and appealing yet layered and intense!
94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
While just bottled eight days before this tasting, the 2021 Chardonnay Estate wasn’t showing any worse for wear and has a rounded, layered, medium-bodied style as well as beautiful honeyed minerality, some classic Sta. Rita Hills salty citrus-like fruit, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s a gem of a cool-climate Chardonnay from Melville that readers will love. It should represent a great value as well.
The sandy soil of north Piemonte is home to the appellation Roero and the indigenous variety, Arneis. Stefano Almondo is a master of the rare variety, crafting aromatic and mineral wines that rival any of the best white wines in Italy. The newly released 2021 Vigne Sparse dazzles right out of the bottle; floral and fruity with juicy peaches and apricots yet with a chalky mineral streak as well. As always, it’s such a complex white and the kicker is its finish which goes on for a minute of pure joy.
This is about as special as it gets for white wine. My other Leflaive is declassified P-M but this is the real thing from the best White Burgundy producer by far. The Leflaive family’s roots in the region date back to 1717, but the wines rose to prominence under the stewardship of Joseph Leflaive. For decades and decades, they’ve been the top dog in the region – even DRC will tell you who makes the best whites! Their 2020 Puligny-Montrachet is a gorgeous, effortless bottling with a fantastic mineral streak that cuts through the abundant pure citrus fruit.
If you’ve never had one of José Manuel Martínez’s wines, you’re in for an absolute treat. Jose’s estate, Couselo is located in the northern tip of Portugal in Rias Baixas. It’s a coastal wine, sourced from old and savvy Albariño vines. It’s a terrific wine that mixes wonderful stony minerality with a creamy, long finish that makes it both fantastic with anything from the sea but also just as good with a pre-meal apertif. There’s no better under $25 Labor Day white.
93 Points, Vinous
Almondo Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie Le Rive (Gold Label) is made from the estate’s oldest single plot of vines within the already heralded Bricco Delle Ciliegie (hill of cherries). This is only the third vintage of this label but it’s already considered by many to be one of the best white wines in all of Italy. Juicy peaches, pears, and a hint of almonds on the nose. The mouth is dense and fleshy, full of bright fruit, minerality and salinity notes with a touch of spice that’s the highlight of a finish that lingers and lingers in the best way. An absolute treat.
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