How long were you on the Monte Bello waiting list?

Mattstolz · August 4, 2019, 2:02am

looks like price on the estates are pretty standard. obligation is one 750 each of the estate cab, merlot, and chard I believe.

Craig_G · August 4, 2019, 2:11am

As the Estate Cab has become more popular, Ridge’s pricing has looked better and better. We used to find it discounted at Safeway we’ll below Ridge’s price (even at 20% off pricing) but recently it has been difficult to find better prices than the winery’s sales. I’ve just started buying it up there at the MB events.

I’m not a MB futures buyer but I talked a friend into it

He was one of those who had purchased a couple of futures vintages without any waiting list but was denied 2018s. Hopefully that is just a one year glitch.

Mattstolz · August 4, 2019, 1:28pm

I just wanna know who was on the waiting list for 5 years before being offered the chance to purchase MB… and what the story was!

Neal.Mollen · August 4, 2019, 1:54pm

If I understand the question, I’m going to say that that is the null set. The “waiting list” is a new phenomenon. I signed up and immediately got offered the MB, bought for a half dozen years and then just aged out of it.

R_Frankel · August 4, 2019, 2:07pm

Data point: I joined the MB list before the 2015 vintage offering (March, 2016) and was given an allocation that year. I’ve bought every vintage since then, and was given the same allocation for 2018. My estate obligation is 3 bottles - usually 1 each of the estate cab, Merlot, and Chard. All 3 very nice wines, but if I could I’d just get the estate cab, or indeed swap in some Zins. Hah! I’ve never asked and should. At $55 the estate cab is great QPR.

Philip_G · August 4, 2019, 2:22pm

for anyone else who was watching this:

I actually signed up two days ago and got a call from Ridge as a welcome the next day, which was pretty great. The way they explained the “waiting list” was basically as assurance because 2018 had been such a short vintage. Sounds like most years they do a pretty good job covering the entire list but by calling it “waiting list” it gives them a little room to play with any shortfalls in the selection process and supply. Sounded like theres a pretty strict 1/3 of the production that goes to futures vs distributors, which I could imagine being a little frustrating if you are denied a chance at futures when 2/3s of it is still going to a distributor unsold. She sounded pretty confident that 2018 was a rare vintage where that might happen though.

This is good information and I think if Ridge had shared this with list members who were denied MB futures this spring they may have been more understanding. I finally signed up last year after years mooching and trading for a bottle here and there off a friend who’s been on the MB list for more than 20 years so also didn’t get the futures offer. I have a nice mostly single bottle scattered vertical going back to 2001.

Neal.Mollen · August 4, 2019, 2:34pm

for anyone else who was watching this:

I actually signed up two days ago and got a call from Ridge as a welcome the next day, which was pretty great. The way they explained the “waiting list” was basically as assurance because 2018 had been such a short vintage. Sounds like most years they do a pretty good job covering the entire list but by calling it “waiting list” it gives them a little room to play with any shortfalls in the selection process and supply. Sounded like theres a pretty strict 1/3 of the production that goes to futures vs distributors, which I could imagine being a little frustrating if you are denied a chance at futures when 2/3s of it is still going to a distributor unsold. She sounded pretty confident that 2018 was a rare vintage where that might happen though.

This is good information and I think if Ridge had shared this with list members who were denied MB futures this spring they may have been more understanding. I finally signed up last year after years mooching and trading for a bottle here and there off a friend who’s been on the MB list for more than 20 years so also didn’t get the futures offer. I have a nice mostly single bottle scattered vertical going back to 2001.

Absolutely no question they botched this from a communications standpoint. Historically, they have had outstanding customer service; they failed here. One hopes they learned from the event and from this post it looks like might well have

Mattstolz · August 4, 2019, 2:43pm

for anyone else who was watching this:

I actually signed up two days ago and got a call from Ridge as a welcome the next day, which was pretty great. The way they explained the “waiting list” was basically as assurance because 2018 had been such a short vintage. Sounds like most years they do a pretty good job covering the entire list but by calling it “waiting list” it gives them a little room to play with any shortfalls in the selection process and supply. Sounded like theres a pretty strict 1/3 of the production that goes to futures vs distributors, which I could imagine being a little frustrating if you are denied a chance at futures when 2/3s of it is still going to a distributor unsold. She sounded pretty confident that 2018 was a rare vintage where that might happen though.

This is good information and I think if Ridge had shared this with list members who were denied MB futures this spring they may have been more understanding. I finally signed up last year after years mooching and trading for a bottle here and there off a friend who’s been on the MB list for more than 20 years so also didn’t get the futures offer. I have a nice mostly single bottle scattered vertical going back to 2001.

given my experience over the last week I’m surprised they had such a communications oversight, but it sounds like they really did botch it like Neal said. I still would understand the frustration given that in 2 years I will still be able to walk into a Total Wine and buy 2018 MB for $200 yet was skipped over on the futures offer.

C_Paunicka · August 5, 2019, 1:09am

I double checked my 2018 of Monte Bello futures release and I got everything that I’ve asked for previously. So I wonder how they decided who didn’t get everything they requested and who got their allocations.
I’ve never been on a waitlist and I uppped my allocation starting with a 2016 release to account for the birth of my daughter.
Regardless, Ridge is always a top-notch wine. Estate, Monte Bello etc they never seem to disappoint. If it wasnt so wonky to ship to Indiana, I would buy more.

William_Anzalone · August 5, 2019, 1:42am

I signed up for the futures in January of 2017. My first vintage was the 2016 Monte Bello, which I received this past spring. Unfortunately, the cutoff point for the 2018 futures was December of 2016. Everyone on the list prior to 2017 were granted their future allocation for 2018. I missed it by 1 month. Hope this helps!

Scott_Jameson · August 6, 2019, 5:18pm

The email is out … The “sticker price” is $225/750, although Ridge club members get a 10% or 15% discount, depending on the quantity purchased. Shipping is also included for this “members only” pre-release. The futures cost for the 2016 was $115/750 …

joeduncan · August 6, 2019, 5:45pm

That reminds me I need to try to increase my futures orderbeyond 2 bottles. Great discount!

Mattstolz · August 6, 2019, 10:32pm

at this point, its probably better to hope it shows up at my local Total Wine and use a coupon on it…

Andrew_A_r_n_t_f_i_e_l_d · August 6, 2019, 11:18pm

Neal, exactly the same situation here. I signed up about 6 years ago. There was no waiting list and I’ve been offered 4 Monte Bello each year. I dropped off the list after buying my 2018 allocation because in 62 and I’ll be 80 before the 2018 is even remotely close to being ready to drink.