Providing preferred customer status is prevelant in EVERY industry. Airline frequent flier program (when is the last time a <25k flier got an upgrade?), any winery that allocates product (how many people on the Macdonald list waiting for an offering?), B2B pricing structure (business that buys 100k gets a better price than the guy buying 1k). Hell, I just got 10% off my Culvers order because I’m there every Friday. Guarantee the guy behind me didn’t. No issue what so ever on Cam’s business model and how he could offer some lots to his top customers and not the entire list. Take care of the customers taking care of you.
I purchased #59, and I did not get the e-mail. This thread may be the best marketing tool Cameron has.
Speaking as someone who has bought 39 cases (11 delivered) from Cam I appreciate a little consideration for my loyalty. Having said that, I was too late on #60 and I talked myself out of #59 so maybe I’m on a road to recovery? It has to stop.
Over the last month I have asked for wine to be shipped ahead of Oct. (mild Sept. in Midwest) in the interest of staggering to avoiding embarrassment from my UPS guy and my neighbors, and shock from my wife. At times I was told sure, then told, weather too hot in CA, then told sure again, but now I see Napa is going to be very hot next Monday and Tuesday which is normal shipping window so I think I’ll be waiting for Oct. 12 and beyond like everybody else.
I find it a bit of an interesting argument to use as a reason not to purchase from de Negoce. I’m not sure who would be left to buy from if you took issue with every winery/retailer that tries to find a way to provide additional perceived value to their best customers. Even Total Wine allocates based on spending and I guaranty that every smaller and local merchant does so.
Alternative theory: These are somehow not desirable in terms of oak % or ABV, and didn’t want to be bashed on this thread and elsewhere when generally released due to not disclosing these facts upfront, so he figured his top 200 customers wouldn’t ask any questions and just pull the trigger regardless (like I did). So maybe we are the losers here and he is saving the general public from buying these to maintain his reputation!
The joke will be on us when they come back at 19% ABV with copious use of MegaPurple and oak chips.
You had me at:
we are the losers
if i could figure out a way to strikeout “the” i would have done it
ANyone have a spreadsheet link?
I looked through all the Mt. Veeder AVA Winemakers. No maker has a combination of: Mt. Veeder vineyard over 2,000ft + ~$150 price + Sleeping Lady (or even Yountville) offering. Newton has a Mt. Veeder, the price point, and a Yountville offering, but the elevation on Veeder is 900-1,200 and there is no Sleeping Lady reference for Yountville.
99% sure we’re looking for a winemaker that sources their grapes for both 59 & 60 and 90% sure its Nicholson Jones.
Based on what little description was provided, it was not clear to me that both wines were destined for the same label. All it said was was that they were both crafted by a consulting winemaker for boutique winemaker clients (or something to that effect).
Requested to ship two cases two weeks ago and was told the shipment would go out Monday 9/14. They have not arrived yet. Why? UPS did not send truck after shipment labels created! I blame myself for creating additional work for dN knowing it’s a lean operation.
Definitely a possibility I didn’t fully consider.
Edit: Looked through the wines I could find from Sleeping Lady Vineyard, only a few are made by consultants, and only Julien Fayard also has a Mt. Veeder offering (both at the same label). That’s not to say all the information is out there or is up to date.
J. Patrick,
Reading the email from Cameron again, I get the feeling these are two different producers? Note the plurals.
These are very small boutique producers and quantities are extremely limited at less than 200 cases each.
On offer today are two Cabernet’s produced by one of Napa Valley’s prominent consulting winemakers for their clients. Both are sourced from legendary vineyards
And, while these are not inexpensive by De Négoce standards, given the producers price points are both well over $150/bottle,
I see your point on Nicolson though.
From Nicholson Jones’ website:
The obvious question remaining is…who is the Jones? Jones is the maiden name of Cal’s wife, Pam, the love of his life.
So clients could be a husband and wife! Also, Cam could just be trying to throw us off the scent. Either way, I’m sticking to my guns unless someone can convince me otherwise!
Just went on the site and saw #37 viogner available. Grabbed a case immediately as I missed the offer and love viogner. Went back to the link and it was marked sold out again. Not sure if there was only one case and I grabbed the only one or if there were a few and people grabbed them. Either way kind of interesting and not the first time I’ve seen the odd offer appear back on the site for a short amount of time.
Glad to hear Cam said that in email about $150 a bottle. I was really flying blind last night buying it from word on the thread. Bought #59. How many years you think we have to stash #59 before popping? Sounds like one you definitely have to cellar…
Well done on nabbing 37. I was looking for a second case of that one. If only there was some kind of app where people could look to get more or less of a specific offer, preferably with people within a bounded geographical area. I think there’s an opportunity to create something there.
Sleeping Lady Vineyard producers I could find, other than Nicholson Jones:
Fait-Main - Winemaker isn’t a consultant, but rather the proprietor.
Zeitgeist - Husband and wife proprietors/winemakers
Sterling - Not a consultant winemaker. Grapes from Yates, which is only 1,100.
Accendo - Winemakers don’t appear to have made a Mt. Vedeer. Cab is Napa, not Yountville AVA.
Ad Vivum - Winemaker doesn’t seem to have made a Mt. Veeder.
Provenance - Can’t find a ton of info on their Sleeping Lady. Bigger shop, probably don’t use a consultant winemaker.
Roam - Appears to be a proprietor-winemaker.
Five years? I am stunned by how soon people plan to drink these, but if you like how the first one tastes, open more. I definitely think people hold wines way too long when they know they really like them at present. My experience with big cabs is that they’re really good for a year or so after they come out of bottle shock, then they shut down for a couple of years, then they slowly turn into what they were made to be. Does anyone know if these corks work with Coravin?
David,
Mount Veeder Cabs: 8 years from vintage date to enjoy the wine without burly tannins are typical. As Cam said, barrel samples needed 5 days to unwind for tasting notes.