I have seen many of the labels you reference quite frequently at retail in SF over the past couple of years. I think that there are plenty of Carlisle SC Zin, Bedrock Evenghelo, Alban Patrina to go around, and it isn’t exactly a new trend.
Its one thing to see them in SF, its another to see them in the Midwest. I have never seen Bedrock, Alban or Booker at retail here only in the stores that sell older wines like Flickinger, TCWC. HDH etc
Many domestic producers sell through distribution or to restaurants as a function of their marketing. Sometimes these are their allocated wines, sometimes they are a wine bottled primarily for retail/restaurant. Booker is selling a particular bottling to distribution that isn’t sold through their tasting room or mailing list I believe.
A lot of retailers get allocations of some popular mailing list wines and then pass them through to retail customers. Easy to find Bedrock, Carlisle, Copain, etc. Not always the “prized” cuvees, but some really decent stuff nonetheless. Options for a consumer are a good thing.
I dont think this is a new trend, at least not on the east coast . . . bought my first Carlisle at wine library more than 10 years ago, and often see Carlisle, Bedrock, Tablas Creek and others you mentioned at retail here in NJ.
Turley is similarly available locally. But like all of the above (at least Carlisle and Bedrock), the most highly allocated stuff is not on the shelves.
Despite what some wineries may think, retail presence can be very helpful. The truth is, that 3,200 mile trip from Napa to NYC loses quite a bit. There are incredibly smart wine people who don’t know Carlise; it happens. (this is not just Carlisle either, there is an endless supply of interchangeable names that can go there).
I get that discounting, and low ball pricing is an issue that they don’t want to worry about, but that’s an issue with their distributor. Wines should not be allocated as “leverage” for other business, but to accounts that know how to sell the wine. Novel concept, eh?
One that surprised me that started showing up at Binnys a couple years ago is Abreu, even Thorevilos…don’t think it sells all that quickly at their pricing but was surprised that it gets out into distribution in Chicago enough to get on the shelf at a couple stores. I think I’ve seen others at the high end like Aubert, Colgin, Schrader and others out on the shelf in their cellar rooms.
Be nice to see even MORE “mailing lists” wines at retail than currently is the case. I think it broadens exposure to more people, not simply the cognoscenti, and also helps those of us who merely want to buy a single bottle of a wine instead of beholden to purchasing massive quantities of the same thing.