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 $24.00
It’s crazy to think about, but I’ve known and worked with Pete Stolpman and his family’s wines for about 15 years now. He and his vineyard manager, Ruben “the Grape Whisperer” Solorzano, have paired up to make one of Santa Barbara’s most-formidable duos and some of the very best value in all of America with estate Originals Syrah, Uni White, and Sauvignon Blanc bottlings. The latter is the one I HAD to bring you today, as it is one of the best domestic Sauvignon Blancs I can recall tasting. The energy and tension in this Sauvignon Blanc is remarkable.
Antonio Galloni calls Stolpman “without question one of the most improved wineries in Santa Barbara over the last decade.” That’s pretty ridiculous praise when you think about what a critical darling this winery has been, even before Pete handed over the winemaking duties to Kyle Knapp. Previously, the uber-famous Saschi Moorman was at the helm. But somehow, the wines are only getting better.
Galloni credits that to the change in style from heavier, more concentrated wines to wines that now have “notable freshness and verve.” The key difference Galloni argues is now there is a “level of energy and vibrancy to these wines that was missing in the past.”
Today’s Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 Estate bottling from Stolpman, is absolutely bristling with energy. It’s relentless as soon as you twist open the top. It’s as fresh as could be with inviting aromas of peach, green apple, and citrus. There’s beautiful acid present in the first sip but plenty of fruit to greet you as well. There’s a minerality from crisp lemon-lime notes with some citrus and salinity that infiltrates the palate. It’s a gorgeous, medium bodied wine that absolutely puts to shame most of the past year in domestic Sauvignon Blanc I’ve had in the past year. This is 100% Ballard Canyon Estate fruit, and the price is just silly.
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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 2022 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.
Sonoma Coast is well-known as a cool-climate region, perfect for growing Chardonnay. That’s why it’s such a big deal for Route Stock to transition over for the first time from Carnernos over to here. The newly released 2022 beams freshness and comes packed with a delightful energy in its youth. It has a pale straw color with lime hues. The aromas are of honeysuckle, orange blossom and creme brulee with layers of vanilla and a hint of toffee. The palate is lively yet soft with flavors of lemon cream pie and merange.
Year in, year out Château Turcaud produces one of the best white wine values in the world. It’s long been found on Michelin-starred wine lists in Paris and we’ve had it at the restaurant since Day 1. If you’ve ever tried this stunning, classic Bordeaux of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, then you know why. The new 2022 vintage has arrived and it’s beaming with energy and pure stone fruits. This is a beauty as always.
Just in time, we got back Vincent Ricard’s all-time great white wine bargain. This is a crisp, clean and flat out delicious Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The protege to the Silex-style of Dagueneau – who over the last 15 years has produced flawless and beloved white wines that at last count were on the wine lists of over 36 Michelin-starred restaurants. This is a great house white and one that can surely hold its own with just about everything on the table.