Suppose you’re interested in a wine that you nor people whose palates you trust have tried before, that you know has cellaring potential. Do you buy a single bottle (either backfill or on release) just to try to see if you want to get more, or do you go all out with a few bottles to follow its evolution and see if you want to buy more in subsequent vintages or backfill further? Curious to see what the typical Berserker behavior is around this.
I’ve gone in on a couple hundred or so PGC . . . .
Okay, actually, probably a case+ to set the hook. And the hook initially was “set” through the purchase and experiencing a number of 2013s I picked up from Courtier. Then I was able to revel in the slaughter of those 2021s @ChrisJames . . . and there’s been no looking back since.
My methods have definitely changed over time. In my early days of berserk over-excitement if something was interesting but highly likely (from reliable or multiple sources) very good, I might buy a case, though more commonly 3-4 bottles. As I learned what I loved (and my cellar overflowed) I have slowed down. Now that category typically earns a single bottle to try before diving in. I’m trying much much harder to avoid even that as I focus on known producers. I still experiment with single bottles, but my cellar has far more of those waiting to be sampled than I can probably ever get to.
It really depends. If I have high confidence I’m going to like it (e.g. my style of winemaking from an up-and-coming producer in a region I know), probably 3+ with the intention to drink one young and cellar the others. If it’s something I’m not familiar with at all, I’m more likely to backfill a bottle to try it with age.
I answered 3, but it really depends on the type of wine, who recommended it, where it comes from, etc. If it’s a local flyer that I can restock easily it’s usually 2-3 bottles. I sometimes buy things from Garagiste that I can’t get easily in Portland and if I’m buying from them I usually order 6 bottles of something since you can’t reorder them most of the time.
Obviously it depends. On the pricing. On the wine. On who is recommending it. Typically 1-3 bottles if I’m not familiar with the wine. But for well-established producers in good vintages, in styles that I’ve liked, I’ve done 6 or even 12 for the right price.
Vintage is key for me (obviously in general, but especially on flyers). I echo Ryan’s comments in that I’ll definitely be in the 6-12 range if price & vintage lineup. Without Vintage? The price/recommendation will have to be truly outstanding for me to take a flyer.
If it’s a BerserkerDay newbie, usually 3. If recommended by another BD business, then up to 6. Other than that, if I can’t taste first, I’m not buying. I’m 65 and I’ve got plenty of wine already.
I answered 3-4, but then I thought about my Berserker Day behaviors where I’ve typically bought a 6-pack to sample a producer. But usually that is at least 2 different wines, which gets me back to 3.
If we’re talking something truly out of left field, one bottle. If it’s something I haven’t had but in a style I’m generally familiar and that I think I’ll like, then three.
