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
$45.00 $36.00
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.
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.
I’m lucky to have a few cases of this instant classic, immaculate and complex, this is a wonderfully pure expression of Chardonnay that is so distinctly Jermann. His extraordinary, multi-layered, extract-loaded whites are landmarks of contemporary winemaking. This one has a lot of nuance and depth, and finishes strongly with what Wine Spectator called, “A streak of tangy salinity.”
It’s hard to beat a great value white wine and this one is a at least a cut above the rest. One prominant industry insider called the 2020 edition, “the best white wine by any within $20/cs of this price.” It’s super crisp with a great mineral streak, and was carefully picked by hand when the temperature is coolest and is kept cool all the way into the press. From there, the effect of the mineral soil takes over, providing great finesse and freshness in every bottle. This white blend has great backbone and a lot of juicy fruit coming through behind aromas of flowers and stone fruits. At this price, it’s a no brainer.
This is crafted from old-vines rooted in deep limestone, and dry, limestone-infused clay. The limestone imparts the fine aromatics and crisp tension you find in his wine while the old-vines and clay provide a creaminess in the mid-palate, creating an incredibly balanced summer white. The 2020 Menetou Blanc from Domaine de Loye is loaded with aromas and flavors of white flowers, lime-blossom and citrus fruit. The mid-palate is generous, just great fruit and it finishes long and fine.
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