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
$68.00 $60.00
Our friend Xavier Vignon constantly fiddles with each step of his winemaking process. He’s never content with his work from the previous vintage, however great it may have been. It is that ‘mad scientist’ approach and attention to detail that has helped Xavier earn consistent and overwhelming praise from the most notable wine publication in the world, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Formerly a perennial Nicholas Wines favorite, we haven’t seen Xavier Vignon’s flagship wine, the Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Anonyme, for a few years now. It’s an incredible bottling that has NEVER earned the talented winemaker less than a 94-point score from Parker’s Wine Advocate and fittingly is always the toughest allocation for us to secure. Some of that is demand. Some of that is because in truly great vintages like 2016, Xavier always holds back a few barrels, looking to tinker a bit more and blend a few vintages together for his non-vintage specialty ‘La Reserve.’
But seeing as it has been so long since I’ve been able to bring Xavier’s flagship wine back, I asked if he had anything special. I remembered his quote from a few years back when he told The Wine Advocate that “2016 was just like a dream. The best autumn I’ve ever seen.” So I figured, what the hey, and asked the master himself if he had 2016s that he was willing to part with. Xavier paused for a few moments before relenting. Okay, I could give you a few cases of the Cuvee Anonyme.
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95+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme is the flagship and is mostly Grenache that was sourced from numerous terroirs throughout Châteauneuf-du-Pape and brought up in a mix of tank and barrels (some new). It offers a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, lavender, Asian spices, and graphite. Like all of Xavier’s 2016s, it has purity, freshness, and richness, yet still packs ample richness and depth. Give this full-bodied, elegant red another few years, and it will keep for a decade.
95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The striking 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and the rest minor varieties (there’s no Syrah). Aged in a mix of foudres, demi-muids, barriques and concrete tanks, it shows hints of mocha and toast on the nose, but the blackberry and red plum fruit is mouthwatering and fresh, richly concentrated and spicy. Full-bodied, it manages to be ripe, silky and concentrated, while remaining crisp on the lengthy finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
A perennial favorite, this wine constantly garners the accolades it deserves. It’s a terrific wine– one of the best to come from Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Weight | 2 lbs |
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Great with red meat, poultry or even some carpaccio or tuna tartare.
It’s always nice to be in good standing with one of the most beloved wine brands in America! These won’t last long! This is an opulent, powerful dark-fruited Cabernet with tightly woven tannins, that is just raring and ready to go. Textbook, full-bodied, revved up and ready to go, this new Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet is the definition of a crowd pleaser.
94 Points, Tasting Panel
This is a really exciting new release in the collection of single-vineyards from the Wagner Family, and arguably the most interesting one of the bunch. This is the only Pinot Noir in the Caymus collection that has the advantage of being from a natural Pinot Noir haven in the Russian River Valley. Dairyman Vineyard’s proximity to the pacific ocean, with its morning fog and afternoon coastal breezes allows for an even and elongated growing season, with super concentrated and expressive grape clusters that help make this Dijon clone Pinot Noir one that you need.
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown
The oft 100-point winemaker, Jayson Woodbridge had this to say when tasting his 2021 ‘Stargazing’ Sonoma Pinot: “The wine is vibrant and complex with subtle dark fruits and berries, grandmother’s cherry pie, minerals, and a slight touch of rain-soaked earth, intertwined with a balance and very pleasing easy-going luxury. Should have been priced higher but what the hell.” I have no doubt this clerical error will be addressed in the vintages moving forward. But for now, this is a cult Pinot for under $100/bottle.
Winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val) continues to excel even while others struggle. In 2017, he still managed to deliver a beautiful and opulent Napa Valley Cabernet that’s both dark and juicy. The wine hails from both Coombsville and Rutherford, giving it distinct characteristics and a lot of drive. Deep ruby to the rim with excellent concentration, notes of Bing cherries, raspberry pie and hints of vanilla. On the palate, big wonderfully jammy fruit with young but impressive tannins and great length. The finish leaves notes of black cherry, and baked blueberry pie. Fantastic Napa value.
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