2011 Lewelling save the date email

WINE TALK
1

Anyone else on the list notice this weeks email indicates the offer will be for the 2011 Cabernet not Cabernets as in the past. Looks like they are only producing one wine for 2011. Wonder if this is just a vintage thing or if it’s a new direction they will be heading in.

2

I believe they have done this in the past where they didn’t feel the wine was up to their Wight Vineyard standard or that the wines weren’t different enough to bottle seperately.

I’m pretty sure in excellent vintages for them, they’ll continue to have both bottles. I wish they would bottle their Cab Franc. That would be fun to try.

3

All I noticed is that it’s still first come, first served [swearing.gif] Hopefully I’ll make it to the computer this time, wasn’t so lucky last year…

4

I do wish they would allocate. We teachers sometimes have a hard time getting past the filters on our school computers.
Especially with a class watching [snort.gif]

5

I wonder if 2011 might not be a good year to buy this wine. Has anyone tasted this wine(s?) yet?

6

They claim they feel bad that people lose out because of their first come first served policy, then they set the start time to purchase at 9am. I guess they don’t like selling to people who have a job.

7

My lack of tact notwithstanding, they may re-think the start time.

8

Scott you could provide a friend who has a more flexible job your login info and they could order for you. And a few for themselves too, since they are still on the waiting list.

9

So, it’s now up. Who is in for this one?

$42/bottle

10

I took a flyer on this, maybe 2011 will give these things the restraint they need.

11

Here’s the mailer:

Fall 2013 greetings to all our mailing list members! We are proud and excited this season to present our 2011 Cabernet.

The 2011 growing season was one of the coolest in recent years, with 40 inches of winter rain and a cool, wet spring that hindered bloom and fruit set and resulted in a smaller crop. This was followed by mild summer temperatures and generous fall hang time. On October 22nd, we were thrilled to harvest beautifully balanced grapes with complex fruit flavors and lower Brix levels. The resulting 2011 Cabernet, that was bottled in August from this Bordeaux-like vintage, exhibits enticing aromas of cassis, blueberries, and raspberries intermingled with highlights of espresso coffee, flowers, and allspice. On the palate, black cherry, blackcurrant and brambleberry flavors are followed by notes of dark cocoa, mineral and exotic spice. With a multi-layered personality, silky, mouthfilling tannins, slightly lower alcohol, and a long, lingering finish, the 2011 Cabernet is a gorgeous expression of our vineyard.

Occasionally, we have chosen not to produce a Wight Vineyard Cabernet from a particular vintage, and 2011 was one of those years, due primarily to the smaller crop. In fact, we bottled only about half of our usual production. Our favorite barrels, those that would normally have gone in to the Wight Vineyard bottling, went in to the rich and beautifully balanced 2011 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet instead.

As a result, the number of bottles being offered to each of our mailing list members is about half that offered in previous vintages so that we can spread the available quantity to as many of our regular purchasers as possible. This year, instead of offering pairs of Cabernets, the offering is for bottles of the 2011 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet, for delivery in November 2014. Priced at $42.00 per bottle, we believe this wine is a remarkable value, even more so since we have not raised our prices since the 2005 vintage.



They can easily sell their cabs for higher but I’m glad they haven’t raised prices.

12

Yes, the pricing makes this an easy buy. Ordered the 3 I was offered.

13

I know a few here have been very vocal about their heartburn with the '07 wines, and others seems to dislike what they perceive as a stylistic change toward overly ripe. Me? I’m left scratching my head at anyone passing on what I feel remains one of the very best values in Napa cab. I’ve enjoyed so many terrific bottles of this wine over the past decade, that it remains an easy call to continue supporting this winery. All in again.

14

Lewelling is to me…the #1 bargain for top flight cabernet. The wine is lovely, and the Wights’ are among the nicest and most down to earth people in the Valley. I gladly took my 6 bottles and look forward to picking it up next year.

Cheers!
Marshall [cheers.gif]

15

Damn! Sold-out already.(!) That is absurd.

Just logged-in to double-check; it must have literally sold-out while I was placing my order, b/c during my first attempt I had 3 bottles allocated; now, 3 minutes later on my second attempt, there are 0. Bummer. I had high hopes for this particular vintage.

16

I got shut out on some vintages too but when their demand far exceeds supply, how would you fix it?

If they did guaranteed allocations, it might be a bottle per person?

Raise prices?

Marshall, how long have you been on the list?

17

I recently tried a 2010 Wight, which was my first Lewelling, and it was completely undrinkable… leaden, obscenely overripe, just a mess. And like I said on the other thread I normally love ripe Cabs like Hall, Insignia, etc. Maybe the heat wave got away from them that vintage.

18

Less people on the active list.

and, Yes, I do realize that they’ve probably passed the point where they can do that.

19

Couldn’t happen to nicer people. Congratulations to the entire Wight family on another successful release.

20

Ouch. My first ever Lewelling purchases are on their way to me. 2010 regular and Wight. Maybe they need to cellar a bit? Or decant a while ? Or both?