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
$30.00 $25.00
When Piero Antinori set out to create the benchmarks of Super Tuscans in Tignanello and Solaia, he knew that the land in the northeast corner of the Chianti Classico appellation was very special. Dizzying elevations and mineral, shale based soils were the perfect setting to coax great intensity, complexity and tension in wine.
The wines from these special hillsides have long walked the fine line of power with grace. From the original parcels that sourced Antinori’s famous Super Tuscans, the view of Giovanni Davaz’s gorgeous estate of Poggio al Sole is downright amazing. Location is everything in Chianti and I am definitely a sucker for it but for as much as I like to drink it, out of the 1000 or so wineries that exist in Chianti, I can count on my hand how many estates are really good. Poggio al Sole is firmly in that handful of quality, organic, traditional estates.
Their high elevation vineyards bring out the Burgundy-side of Chianti Classico, producing lush wines with just a touch of earthy rusticity and great length. That was more important than ever in a vintage like 2017. Only high elevation vineyards were able to contend with the heat. Estates like Poggio al Sole were picking 2-3 weeks later than those at lower sites, allowing Sangiovese grapes to finish ripening slowly, perfecting the aromatic complexity and fine grain of tannins that make this wine so special.
The newly arrived 2018 is a classic, with the high elevation sites of Poggio al Sole ripening slowly through the near perfect weather conditions of August, September and October. The resulting wine is elegant, with great aromatic complexity and length.
Out of stock
Fresh off its feature as one of Wine Spectator’s ‘Exciting California Values Under $25’, winemaker Matt Cline looks to stay hot with his release of the 2019 Contra Costa Zinfandel. This one is a beauty crafted off old-vines that are now between 110-140 years in age. There’s a ton of darker fruits that drive this one with a dusting of baking spice. The fruit is pure, fresh and long making it both delicious on its own or terrific with a burger, BBQ ribs, or grilled leg of lamb. Crazy cheap for what is in the bottle, load up!
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points, Decanter
Arguably their best quality to price wine is the Chianti Classico. It’s a bold and incredibly expressive Sangiovese that blends together a number of different parcels from around the estate. It’s got a beautiful silky smooth center with bright red fruits and even a tad of rusticity. A wine like this was just made to be enjoyed at the dinner table. With already a 90-point review from both Decanter and Wine Enthusiast, I’m assuming Antonio Galloni and company will come in with similar high praise, but I couldn’t wait around.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
99 Points, James Suckling – 98 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 97 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“This is an exceptional vintage of this exceptional wine, its foundation built around 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, with dustings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Beautiful in berry fruit, textured and refined tannin and hints of lavender, licorice and sage, it has complexity and energy in equal measure, lengthy and beautifully focused, a truly impressive achievement of site, vintage and winemaker.” -Wine Enthusiast
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