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 $38.00
Ridge is an iconic brand that’s hard to sum up in just a few quick sentences. They are constant critical darlings and have been on the top of just about every list you can imagine for well over 50 years. Maybe they are most well known for winning the second enactment of the 1972 Judgement of Paris where their Monte Bello not only edged out the Napa Elite but also topped Mouton, Montrose, & Haut-Brion.
The lesser told story about Ridge is probably the most important– the one that the winery can credit with propelling it to an entirely new level of prestige and that is the story of adopting a second pitch. Everyone needs at least two great pitches to be a Hall-of Famer… except of course for Mariana Rivera!
Up until 1964, the winery had spent it’s first 75 years only making Cabernet. The Cabs were really good– high acid, mountain Cab fruit. But it wasn’t until 1964 when Ridge would make their first Zinfandel, that the winery finally adopted a ‘2nd pitch’ ala Nolan Ryan’s devastating curveball after a fury of lethal fastballs.
By 1966, Ridge’s Zinfandel success had catapulted the brand into the stratosphere and they decided to make two very important steps. First, they expanded their search for the absolute ideal spot in the state for Zinfandel. That led them to an amazing discovery – ancient Zinfandel vines planted in 1882 in the coastal breeze blessed, sun-kissed Sonoma Coast. These grow on gnarled trunks – the size of a tree – naturally limiting yields. The second was the decision to hire Paul Draper to run the winemaking team. Those decisions made all the difference.
Today, those old-vines are over 130 years old, a tremendous asset when crafting one of the best red blends in the country. At their disposal, an embarrassment of riches– Geyserville has 23 different co-planted varietals for the winemakers at Ridge to choose from each vintage.
The 2017 Ridge Geyserville is one of the best Proprietary Blends coming from the Estate in the last quarter century. A layered succession of fresh fruits with cherries, plums, raspberries and blackberries. Medium to full-bodied with a mouthful of elegance- silky smooth tannins that show structure and age-worthiness and a finish that is as long as it is pleasant.
94 Points and rave review from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. $45 on release at the winery. Just $39/btl today at Nicholas Wines. Mix and match or add a full case and enjoy this wine at the best price per bottle in the country.
Out of stock
94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2017 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet, aged 14 months in American oak, 16% new. Medium ruby, it opens with lilac, chocolate box and stone fruit hints with warm blackcurrants, red and black cherries, cranberries, cedar, tobacco leaf and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it opens slowly in the mouth to pure fruits supported by fine, chalky tannins and integrated freshness on the very long finish. This is wound tight but has loads of potential and will require at least another few years in bottle.
92 Points, James Suckling
Double Canyon continues to prove themselves amongst the best producers in Washington State with their third consecutive vintage of at least a 92 point score for their flagship Cabernet. The 2017 Horse Heaven Hills Cab comes roaring right out of the gates with beautiful, clean red fruits. On the attack, the wine offers intricately woven youthful tannins that give the wine a delicious and slightly chewy taste. It’s a crowd pleaser – one of Nicholas Wines’ all-time customer favorites.
95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Once again, Fabio Motta knocks it out of the ballpark. The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Le Gonnare is another super rich and densely concentrated Tuscan blended wine from this classic vintage. This blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Syrah is soft and velvety. In fact, the wine plays its best cards in terms of the supple and soft nature of the mouthfeel and tannins. The wine is partially aged (only 20%) in new oak. Only 6,600 bottles were made total.”
98 Points, James Suckling #36 Top US Wine of the Year – 97 Points, Decanter
In 2015, the last of four consecutive drought years and one of Napa’s great vintages over the past few decades, it’sno surprise that one of Napa’s all-time great wineries turned in a flawless bottling from the legendary Martha’s Vineyard. Decanter absolutely gushed, giving it 97 points and declaring, “no Cabernet has the aromatic profile of Martha’s. They would even go so far to say, “There isn’t a more definitive Cabernet Sauvignon in the world, at any price.” James Suckling would go a step further in the points department giving the wine a 98, but if Wine Enthusiast had got their hands on it, this would be a 100-point wine yet again. Just 30 bottles of Napa winemaking history up for grabs today.
The Tonelli family are royalty in this region, with four generations of grape growers leading the way and even establishing the local D.O.C. Their 2020 Ponente is 100% Sangiovese and is an absolutely incredible wine for the price. Less than $20/bottle for fleshed out, high-toned, zipped up Sangiovese? Count me in. It screams for pizza or summer salads, squash or a charcuterie plate. It’s about to be one of your new favorites.
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