HOLIDAY

WALK AROUND WINE TASTING

Thursday, November 16th
7:00pm
$75 per person 
(tax and gratuity not included)
RESERVE: 732.345.9977

Tis the season! We are hosting a walk around tasting that showcases 12 "must have" wines for the 2017 holidays. Nicholas chose these wines with your holiday entertaining in mind, showcasing crowd pleasing varietals that complement holiday meals and cocktail events.

Fifty dollars of the $75 fee is put towards your first wine purchase.
Our world class hors d’ oeuvres will be served.

TASTING WINES

Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Champagne Selection Nicholas NV 
This Champagne is made entirely from Jacques Diebolt’s Chardonnay holdings in the villages of Cramant and Cuis. This unique cuveé was first blended specifically for Restaurant Nicholas in 2006. It is uncommonly fine and aromatic, reflecting the mineral character of the chalky soil of the Côte de Blanc. Pair Diebolt-Vallois Selection Nicholas with smoked salmon, tempura dishes, and sushi.
Morgassi Superiore Gavi del Commune di Gavi DOCG Tuffo 2016

Sisters, Marina and Cecilia Piacitelli, naturally farm Cortese vines on the limestone-laden hillsides of Gavi. Mineral soil and low yields produce vibrant wine, with an intense bouquet of white flowers and citrus rind. On the palate, it’s fruity, bone-dry with a long, stony finish. Pair with anything from the sea or enjoy as a great aperitif.

Elio Grasso Chardonnay 2016 
Barrel-fermented Chardonnay of finesse and opulence, this wine shows Elio Grasso’s feather-light touch in dealing with an international grape variety. This is Chardonnay of sweet lemon-zest and vanilla aromas followed by a lush and fine palate. Complex and fresh, it matches well with roasted whole fish and poultry dishes.

Domaine Terre des Velles Puligny Montrachet 2015
The husband and wife team of Terre des Velles craft mineral, taut Chardonnays from The mineral soil of Puligny Montrachet produces wines that are aromatically complex, deeply concentrated and very, very long. The ’15 features an expressive nose of chalk, peach and white nuts. The wine is concentrated and full-bodied yet has the vibrancy to insure it age gracefully in a proper cellar for at least 10 years. Very, very fine Puligny Montrachet, drink now-2025. 225 cases produced.

Château Turcaud Bordeaux Blanc Cuvée Majeure 2015
A dynamic blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and the rare Sauvignon Gris (long abandoned in most of Bordeaux) this classy Bordeaux Blanc features a green-gold color and exotic fruit aromatics. On the palate the wine is full-bodied yet sleek, with complex flavors of grapefruit, ginger, and dried apricots. The finish goes for a mile, with a great mineral streak. Pair with anything rich

Weingut Freiherren Von Heddesdorff Riesling Feinherb 2015
The spectacular, steep terraced sites of Freiherren von Heddesdorff seem to rise vertically from the river Mosel. The old vines are rooted in rocky soil over a deep bed of slate. This tiny estate produces aromatic wines with weight, traditionally fermented in large oak barrels. The 2015 Riesling Feinherb has an elegant bouquet of minerals, wet stone and ripe fruit. On the palate, the wine’s slight off-dry component is beautifully balanced by the steely acidity typical of the Mosel. Drink now-2025.

Benoni Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo Petit Grains 2016
The 2015 vintage was superb in San Luis Obispo, one of California’ emerging sources for world-class Pinot Noir. The Benoni vineyards produce tiny berries, packed with flavor, their thick skins allowing for firm structure. The 2015 Petit Grains offers the perfect combo of dark red fruit and elegant structure that is generally reserved for Pinot twice the price. Benoni Pinot has a great nose with restrained aromas of rose petals and earth. The flavors are deep and rich yet the wine is very fresh as the finish is long and stony. Just a dynamite bottle of American Pinot, priced to drink every day.

Domaine Louis Boillot Gevrey-Chambertin 2015
“…As the scores and commentaries confirm, Boillot did fabulously well in 2015, indeed I would go so far as to say that they are among the best wines that I have ever seen from him….There is a hint of the sauvage present on the kirsch and earth-scented aromas. The rich, full-bodied and intense flavors possess both ample minerality and muscle before terminating in a gorgeously textured, long and impressive complex finale. Villages level Gevrey rarely gets much better than this. Highly recommended”….Allen Meadows, The Burghound

Poggio al Sole Chianti Classico 2014

Poggio Al Sole sits on a dozen hillside hectares in the northwestern corner of Chianti Classico.  High elevation, organic farming and low yields create wines with complex aromatics, silky fruit and fine tannins. The Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese, vinified in big barrels. The fruit here is clean and pure, almost like Burgundy but with more earthy backbone.  The wine is packed with spiced red cherry and wild berry flavors. This is aromatically dynamic Chianti Classico, an almost perfect food wine, as great with simple pasta as it would be with a roast of beef.

Ettore Germano Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna della Madre 2013
It’s no surprise to me that Sergio Germano has emerged as one of the best producers in Barolo. His dad, Ettore, was long recognized as a master grafter of vines. Producers all over the appellation paid Ettore by the vine to replant their vineyards. Sergio took over in ’93, marrying his formidable technical winemaking knowledge with his family’s great terroir, old vines and incredible tradition, creating a domaine that has become among the very best in Barolo. Across the board, Sergio’s wines enjoy an incredible vibrancy. They are big wines with such a streak of elegance, a quality rare in any part of the wine world and one that I hold as important as any when sourcing wine. Sergio’s 2013 Barbera Vigne della Madre was fermented and aged oak creating a complex, layered wine. Pair with holiday roasts.

Ca La Bionda Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2014
This “baby Amarone” is sourced from old-vines of Ca la Bionda’s estate vineyards which yield perfectly balanced Corvina grapes (with a bit of Rondinella) and produced dynamite wine in ’15. The wine is intense, featuring aromas of black cherry, licorice and spice. Valpolicella is the perfect match for ribs, grilled beef, and hard cheeses.

Beckman Vineyards Grenache 2015
The organically farmed vineyards of the Beckmen estate enjoy high elevation and the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean which allows for long slow ripening of their grapes. The Grenache is silky, full-bodied and wildly aromatic, reminiscent of raspberry, tar, white pepper and smoked meat. Really concentrated, fruit-dominated wine like this demands a big glass to capture the aromatic intricacies.

Ojai Vineyards Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard 2014
“The 2014 Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard is defined by its implosive, reticent feel. Inward and totally shut down, the 2014 will need quite a bit of time to be at its most expressive. Today, it is the wine’s persistence and sheer thrust that stand out most. The 2014 was done with 75% whole clusters. Drops of co-fermented Viognier round out the blend.” 94 points, Antonio Galloni

Château Tournefeuille Lalande de Pomerol 2014
The view from Emeric Petit’s terrace at Ch. Tournefeuille is really something else. Turn left, there’s Ch Trotanoy. Average price for the 2014…..200 bucks. Turn right, hello, Ch Lafleur-Petrus. Average price for the 2014….$125. Then, straight ahead lies one of the most prestigious estates in the world, Ch Petrus. Average price for the 2014….brace yourself….$1800. That’s per bottle. I don’t know where Emeric’s ancestors were when they drew the line between Pomerol (Petrus, Trotanoy, Lafleur-Petrus) and Lalande-de-Pomerol in 1780, but they definitely weren’t at the table. Emeric definitely misses out on some $$$ but gains a legion of dedicated, die-hard customers because when you taste his brilliant 2014, it’s clear that Tournefeuille belongs in that neighborhood. The nose is off the charts in 2014, be sure to drink this wine in a big glass. Violets and blackberries just blast from the glass and continue to evolve….if you can resist, try a bottle of over 3 days. Incredible.

Fiancetto Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Gravelly Loam 2014
Ry Richards refined his hand crafting complex, vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon under the tutelage of Phil Titus at Chappellet Vineyards. At Fiancetto, Ry’s new brand, the goal was the same…crafting lush Cabernet with fine tannin that speak to its place of origin. The Gravelly Loam cuveé comes from two well-drained vineyards on the Valley floor, loaded with pebbles and gravel. That gravelly loam is key here, roots dig deep in poor soil, bringing terrific minerality and freshness up to the grapes. The vineyards position on floor guarantees excellent sun exposure allowing for superb concentration. The result is a knock-out Napa Cabernet, loaded with fresh, juicy red fruit, perfect with grilled beef or with just a hunk of cheese. 840 cases produced.

Fabre-Montmayou Gran Vin 2013
“The top of the range is the 2013 Fabre Montmayou Grand Vin, which is a blend of mostly Malbec from Vistalba, with a little 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from the old vines around the winery, their oldest vineyard. This is a classical Bordeaux blend with superb balance and elegance, with very good acidity and some spicy oak from 16 months in French oak barrels. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This is ready now but has great concentration, freshness and balance for a slow and positive development in bottle. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2015.” 94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

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Nicholas  |  160 Route 35 South  |  Red Bank NJ 07701  |  732.345.9977