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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
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
$110.00 $85.00
Val di Suga is a pioneer in the production of the terroir-driven Brunello and the only producer making three single-vineyards in three different estates: Vigna del Lago in the North-East, Vinga Spuntali in the South-West and Pogigo al Granchio in the South-East.
Today we have their creme de la creme in a New Jersey exclusive.
The Poggio Al Granchio is situated perfectly in the treasured southeastern corner of Montalcino. Every year it represents Val di Suga’s most interesting and elegant terroir-expression, but in the 2016 vintage it ends up far exceeding expectations.
Four of the major world wine publications came in at 95-points or higher, meaning one of the very best 2016 releases had to wait until 2022. Wine Spectator and Britain’s Decanter came in at 95, Vinous called it a “gorgeous expression of the vintage” and “classically structured and showing only a glimpse of what’s to come” in their 96-point review. But it was The Wine Advocate’s long time top European dog turned solo act Jeb Dunnuck who came in with the highest score, a 98-point review for what he described “as a super-pleasurable wine right out of the gate and will continue to be so over the next 20 or more years.”
98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Poggio al Granchio Brunello di Montalcino is aromatically expressive of perfectly ripe cherry, sweet herbs, dried flowers, and stony earth. There is generous purity of fruit on the palate, with mineral-rich earth, and it had the most balanced and harmonious structure in the lineup on this tasting, with present but fine-grained tannin. I love this wine for its darker mineral edge in counterpoint with crunchy and ripe fruit. It is a super-pleasurable wine right out of the gate and will continue to be so over the next 20 or more years.
96 Points, Vinous
A dark and rich expression of earth and black fruits, laced with crushed stone minerality and hints of sour citrus. There are depths of silky textures here yet also a lifted and cooling feel to the expression, giving way to zesty wild berries, savory spice, mint and inner florals. It’s classically structured and showing only a glimpse of what’s to come after time in the cellar, leaving an impression of poise and purity. A gorgeous expression of the vintage, hailing from the Southeast of Montalcino and refined entirely in large Slavonian oak.
95 Points, Wine Spectator
Black currant, cherry and plum flavors abound in this red, accented by licorice, tar, menthol, iron and tobacco notes. Pure, detailed and harmonious, with spice and mineral elements lingering on the long aftertaste.
95 Points, Decanter
The Poggio al Granchio vineyard lies on schistous or ‘galestro’ soil, which accounts for this Brunello’s iron-tinged, meaty succulence. The tannins have an engaging thickness, plumping up the fruit without colonising it, allowing the flinty flavours typical of this vineyard full play.
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!
Soon to be Rated
With Herve and Fabre Montmayou wracking up NYT features, huge scores, gold medals and lifetime achievement awards, I’m left with one choice: get in now or be left in the cold. Waiting for the scores to roll in is a luxury that we know longer have with Fabre Montmayou. Good for the winery, but not so good for us. Rest assured though, the 2020 Cabernet Franc Herve sent me is fantastic, and will surely be minted with the same kind of high-flying praise as the vintage before it. But by that time, you’ll only have a bottle or two left in the cellar.
93 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Wine Spectator
“Another sensational appellation release is the 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands. Coming from an early vintage that was over two weeks ahead of average, it has tons of spice, black raspberry, currants and blackberry characteristics, medium to full-bodied richness, a great texture and no shortage of depth or length. Already impossible to resist, drink it anytime over the coming 7-8 years.” -The Wine Advocate
Wines from this winery often go for FOUR figures; well over a thousand dollars per bottle and basic bottlings off this particular vineyard typically retail for $350. This is one of the great vineyards of Stag’s Leap – but somehow Ry Richards was able to weasel out six barrels – as long as he never reveals his source. This is a knock-out Cabernet Sauvignon, perfect with grilled beef or with just a hunk of cheese. And with a little help from Ry, Nicholas Wines customers can enjoy a price way, way below market value for a wine like this.
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