Anticipating the first release from Roy Piper Cellars

WINE TALK
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In anticipation of the inaugural release from Roy tomorrow, I took time to look back at my tasting notes on his wines. I have been fortunate to taste his 2010 twice, his 2011, and his 2012, over the past year. It’s always fun to look back at what I wrote at the time, and compare it to my current recollection. I thought I’d take the time to post a summary and reminisce.

My recollection is this: the 2012 is awesome, the 2012 is awesome, the 2012 is awesome! The 2010 is so much different than the 2011. The 2010 is much darker fruit profile with a plusher feel. The 2011 is more light and elegant, but still with nice complexity. I actually prefer the 2011 to the 2010, which according to vintage ratings, seems backwards. The 2011 just hit more of my switches on that day. In hindsight, I rate the 2010 93-94 points, the 2011 at 94 points, and the 2012 at 96+ points.

Then I looked at my notes from the actual day and was surprised at the difference in recollection from reality. I think that is because I tasted the 2012 most recently and was so impressed with the wine that I dropped the others in my mind. In reality, I liked them all quite well, and had the 2011 close to the 2012.

In summary, although all wines are different in their own ways, they all have great qualities. I’m very excited to finally OWN these wines and want to wish Roy a hearty congratulations! Its about frickin’ time you release some wine. [dance-clap.gif]

Previous notes below:

2010 Roy Piper Cellars Cabernet: Pop and pour.
Very fragrant, dark lush fruit, blackberry, black cherries, violets, little leather note. Espresso bean. Spice. Full mouthfeel, silky tannins, great long finish. The midpalate really filled out with air showing its great structure. Went fantastic with my Coq au Vin. Very lush fruit profile but has the great structure to hold it all nicely, without being over-the-top. Loved it. 95pts

Piper Cellars
2010. Big blue fruit. Good tannins.
Acid seems a bit restrained. Takes forever to open, but once it does its great. 94+ points

2011: much more restrained elegant fruit, hint of hay, great mid palate, sweet tannins, great mouthfeel. 95 points.

Piper 2012
Pretty fragrant, lovely back/blue berry, espresso, hint of spice,
Full mouthfeel, long finish, complex, great acidity. Fantastic! 96+ points.

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Anyone know if this has gone live?

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Roy said on Parker forum that it should go live around 12(PST).

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Order in!

5

All the luck in the world to Roy but this wine is out of my league.

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It’s live and I just ordered a 6 pack. Looking forward to trying it !

7

The price?

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You have two purchase options:

  • $600 for two mags
  • $750 6 pack

Both options split between 2010 and 2011.

I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed in that I cant buy a single bottle or two but I have no doubt he will sell out quickly.

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I’ll be in for six 750s, wish I could afford a mag set now too but it just isn’t going to happen this year. Maybe next?

10

I have dropped all my cabs in anticipation of this offer. I am very pleased to be included and am looking forward to enjoying the wine.

This and Rhys on the same day…that hurt a lot.

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+1

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I only knew of the release because of this thread, and I figured, “eh I’ll take a bottle just to be on board,” but no, I’m not taking six.
Someday perhaps I’ll be 125 bucks worth of excited about cabernet again, but this is not that day.

Best of luck to Roy, that’s the important thing.

13

I totally get the problem with having to buy a lot of bottles. My case is a bit unusual in that people are essentially buying two releases at the same time. Never the less, I understand that situation.

Just for edification purposes, a one bottle sale is very, very hard to do because with any winery because the price of shipping a single bottle is often as much as for 3 and that can really add up quickly, and completely wipe out the entire profit margin of that bottle wine (I am eating some of the shipping costs.) That is why most wineries has a minimum of 3 bottles for orders.

14

Roy was super helpful, still love a good Cabernet.

Ever post your own tasting notes of your wine Roy? Probably harsh on your own work, I know the type.

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Has this been opened up to more than the first wave? Just wondering if I will make the cut this year.

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Eric,

I believe that Roy said first wave would have a week to purchase and then would open up to next wave.

Brian

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Yes, offer for Wave 2 goes out Tuesday. A reminder for W1 went out this morning.

It will be a little trickier in this wave, as less than half the wine is left, so I am going to try to make W2 the right size so it does not sell out before giving everyone in that wave a fair shot, but it gets hard to nail it down.

I am picking Wednesday and am gonna try to have the release wrapped up by then, so I don’t go batty.

If anyone here is already signed up and really wants to get the 10+11, let me know via PM, and I will make sure to put you in the second wave. Eric, you are already in wave 2. in fact, you missed W1 by just ten slots.

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I’m glad the sale is going well, Roy.

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Thanks for the update, Roy. And glad I made it.