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
$95.00 $85.00
#9 Wine of the Year, Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2021
Dr. George Belden Crane was among the first visionaries to plant vines in the U.S. back in 1862. He made the sobering discovery that he would later document in his medical journal that there was far more money to be made in wine grapes than in medicine. If only he could have been around to see what his grapes fetch today!
Eventually, Ed Salvestrin’s family would go on to buy the Crane property in 1932. He and his wife, Suzanne would sell the fruit to the high-flying big name players in wine, such as the Beckstoffers (who purchased the vineyard in 1999), Paul Hobbs, Alpha Omega and Realm just to name a few. By the late 90’s prices had already began to swell into the $200-$300 range, with Dr. Crane Vineyard fruit commanding far more per ton than almost any other vineyard in the valley.
But like many of the best wines in the worlds, the Salvestrins finally decided to make their own Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet and bottle it under the family name. Ever since their inaugural vintage in 2001, they have become managed to stay a bit under the radar while consistently garnering big scores from arguably the world’s two toughest critics in Wine Spectator and Parker’s Wine Advocate.
But this one appears to be the greatest Salvestrin Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet ever made. Both critics lit up at this year’s bottling with Wine Spectator even including it in their Top 10 wines of the year in their 2021 Top 100 list. Due to our ongoing support of Salvestrin, I managed to sneak 24 bottles out of Napa Valley. Don’t miss them while they’re in.
Out of stock
95 Points, Wine Spectator
Bright and fresh, with lots of red currant, plum and black cherry fruit notes driving along nicely, while a subtle tug of iron runs underneath. Late floral and warm earth flashes on the finish add more range and contrast. Focused, detailed and really well built. Best from 2022 through 2035.
94+ Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it strides confidently out of the glass with notions of crushed black and red currants, ripe blackberries and black raspberries plus hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, tilled soil and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy black and red berries, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with loads of minerals and an herbal lift.
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!
91 Points, Vinous
“The 2018 Carema is a terrific introduction to these wines. Bright and airy in feel, the 2018 is laced with the essence of sweet candied cherry, game, licorice, tobacco, dried flowers and incense. In a nutshell, this is what Carema is all about. The 2018 is just a bit rustic and gamy, but it makes up for that with its personality and overall expression of the appellation.” -Antonio Galloni
100 Points (Bordeaux of the Vintage), Decanter
99 Points, James Suckling – 98 Points (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast – 98 Points, Vinous
Here it is – the perfect 100-point Troplong Mondot. It was one of only 5 wines(!) in the 2020 vintage to receive a perfect score from Decanter – joining the likes of Mouton Rothschild, Petrus, Chateau LC Haut-Brion and Trotanoy as the only 100-pointers. They weren’t alone in their lavish praise for this incredible bottling. Galloni called it “wonderfully exuberant right out the gate” and with “tremendous breadth and power” in his 98-point review. Wine Enthusiast also gave it a 98 with a ‘Cellar Selection’ designate and called the wine, “powerful and dense”.
94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
This is a historic estate that is one of the best and oldest in the region and arguably the first to bottle their own estate CDP. Their newly released 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is a total gem – a seamless blend of mainly Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah with a little Cinsault blended in. Wine Spectator called the wine, “silky” and elegant and Jeb Dunnuck took it up a step further when he declared the wine, “a big winner, with the vintage’s purity and elegance front and center” in his rave 94-point review.
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