Scarecrow shows 1600 cases for 21’
1,340 for 22’
1,800 for 23’
Can anyone report if they’ve been invited back to the list after being dropped? If so, how long was the wait? I last bought the 2019 vintage, two 3-packs to boot, in March 2022 but did not purchase the 2021 vintage. Of course, it’s been crickets since although I’m not worried as I don’t think I’d buy but am just curious if I’d ever be invited back.
It is curious that the usual resellers that used to ask for Scarecrow around release time here no longer have an interest in Scarecrow. They were not interested in the 2021 even at cost as they had no demand.
Same for me. I have two 3 packs of the 2019. I thought about coming back in 2021 but passed. I haven’t drank one of my scarecrows in several years. Have you had any of your 19?
I received a mailer today that I can buy the 2023 offer this month. I last bought the 2016 vintage. Passed on the weak 2017 vintage and was immediately dropped. Or moved to the back of the list it now seems.
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I have never purchased, but have been offered M. Etan numerous years.
I received a letter today offering a 3 pack for 600/bottle. Also offered the magnum.
Knowing 2023 is a great year, it’s difficult to pass up but I’m going to. Too many other great wines and these are just too expensive for having never tried them.
I’ll fess up and admit that I passed my 2019s along to a reseller so I have no experience with tasting them. I do have 2 bottles each of 2015-2018 in my cellar but it has been many years since I’ve cracked open a Scarecrow. Thinking about opening one up for either my birthday in March or my wife’s in April.
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Yeah, I have older ones also that I have tried, but I’m still sitting on six bottles of the 19. Thinking I might try one this summer for my birthday and hopefully it shows great.
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We drank a 2012 this past weekend and it was excellent, but still pretty young.
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Well, now it looks like I have to open one for Jason L up above. I didn’t realize who he was until he texted me, but he’s my next-door neighbor‘s best friend.
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Seems weird , Scott as you would think they would want to onto long time buyers or bring them back into the fold.
I also see the perspective of offering to new buyers instead. But a response would have been nice. “Thank you for your inquiry, our policy is…. We can read you to the waitlist, etc.
obviously, they don’t want cherry pickers at this juncture. But they may get there at some point with their list churn rate these days.
Now more than ever, wineries need to pay attention to their customer base. A flex plan option may be a good tool. Skip 1 vintage in 5 years, your spot is saved. Skip 2 vintages, back if the line or eventually a last day free for all for wine not sold out. That day is coming sooner, rather than later IMO.
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When you pass on an allocation, they automatically put you on the back of the waiting list
Is there even a waiting list anymore ?
I bought for several years (16-19, I think) and then haven’t heard anything since. I did buy them for immediate sell-tge resell market seems to have basically disappeared.
I signed up less than 2 years ago and haven’t gotten an offer for this release, only M Etain
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I passed one year and emailed them about it, and then also emailed them when the next vintage came out. They helped me out and I received the same allocation as before (I don’t think I was ever first wave, but wasn’t the last). Maybe email them again now and let them know you had to skip for whatever reason.
I found that out yesterday when they confirmed that skipping the '22 put me to the back of the 3-year waiting list.
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I was a buyer of the 2013 through 2016 vintages. I skipped the 2017 vintage and was sent to the back of the wait list. I recently got the offer for the 2023 vintage, so the round trip back to the allocation list was 6 years. Based on Kevin’s post above, the wait list has been cut in half. I’m not sure if I will buy or not. I can afford it, but my cellar space is full and I don’t have the time horizon to wait till this reaches prime drinking age. Probably a pass for me. I still buy the MacDonald though and there is plenty of great back vintage Bordeaux available for less.
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We had a 2012 at a group dinner last month and we all thought the same. Really, really good and hardly showing any signs of age. Nicely integrated, slightly softer tannins than dead fresh, but still tons of black fruit.
My first offer was the 07, which I bought as a 1 and done since the 08 didn’t get a Parker 100 and I was far too broke to be considering regular purchases of wine at that price (yes, even at the 2009 price). I was invited back on the list for the 2012 vintage and I’ve bought every 750ml bottle offered to me since, including the random offer in 2018 for 2x 3 packs that never repeated. I’m really looking forward to this one and I’m considering grabbing the mag (for my retirement party in 25 years) or wish listing a second 3 pack.
That said, its probably going to be tough to look at the stack of OWCs next year and think “yes, I definintely need more of this” unless I see very glowing comments from critics on 2024.
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I’m honestly on the fence about pulling the trigger. For one, I’ve largely stopped buying wine. And now that I’m retired, I’m much more conscious of spending — I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable laying out $2,000 (with shipping) for just three bottles.
When you factor in shipping, the release price isn’t that far off from the current secondary market, which makes the decision even murkier.
On the other hand, these are two of my favorite California Cabernets — arguably at the very top of the category for me — so it’s hard not to be tempted.
Have to get in the virtual line to purchase. Don’t recall this happening before
First time, but only took a couple of minutes
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