I did a quick search and didn’t find a post on this, which didn’t surprise me since it’s tough to be a “hot” winery when you’ve been around a couple of decades.
I know they are not everybody’s style and the price point has climbed. The offer:
I will say the bottle shape makes storing a modicum more difficult. But I just had the '02 Lorraine, '05 Forsythe and '06 Grenache on my birthday weekend in Paso/Lompoc/Edna… and they all had many years of life ahead. Huge aromatics and balanced. They are great wines to share (since drinking a bottle alone would be fairly intoxicating)
Isn’t shipping like an additional $15 a bottle? I was on the list a long time ago and love the wines, but eventually dropped off, in part, due to the ridiculous shipping charges.
So they have two releases a year? I’m assuming that the other release has Reva, perhaps Patrina, and their Roussanne? Correct or not?
What was the price of Lorraine and the Grenache last time? That Grenache is now one of the most expensive out there domestically - probably second to Sine Qua Non . . .
I didn’t get an email, but a letter instructing to order online (or fax)
I’m in CA so shipping is $17 for 2, $2/bottle. So $25 for a six pack. Mag is $22. That’s the rate for the western 6 states, double or more elsewhere, which can be quite prohibitive (heavy bottles? GSO?)
Reva was $98
Pandora was $145
They have two releases a year, and Larry got it right (No Los Olivos this time, I made a right on the 101 instead of a left and visited Brewer Clifton, Arcadian and Stolpman)
BC - I like these wines also and have had some older Revas that really make me want to pull the trigger but the pricing is definitely getting up there especially given all of the other offers currently out there.
I gave up with them when they flunked customer service 101. The '05 Reva I got before they kicked me off the list for not ordering something I was never offered is outstanding.
FYI: I was able to see the order page by following the 2016 email’s link, but without an access code I was unable to order.
After I inquired, Glenn from Alban emailed me this:
Hello Eric,
The allocations are still being finalized and you will receive a PIN within the next couple weeks if any of the wines are still available. Rest assured you will receive the summer offer around mid-year.
I had the “flash” PIN a year or two ago. You’ll get an email with the number, but by the time you look at the offer and contemplate the cost, the wines are gone. So if you get an email and want to buy, jump on it right away.