Wow. I bought some of everything last October and got no allocation of the pinots this time. That sucks.
I went back and checked my records and it looks like I somehow missed last years spring release however still purchased my full allocation in the fall. They clearly must maintain two lists, as I wasn’t offered any SC or RR pinot, but I was offered the other two bottlings. One and done…
Dan, that’s no way to treat your old buddy in Texas! 
Same here which caused me to sign-up for this blog. Very loyal KB customer, a case a year since 2006. Today’s allocation for the 2011’s (not a very good year) is no PN guarantee and no requests unless I purchase the Chards. And, a failure to purchase the Chards means no 2012’s next year. I am not a Chard fan. This is arrogance on KB’s part and I feel I have been dismissed. Sent an “I’m concerned” email to KB and not expecting a reply other than a “sorry about that.” Well, so am I.
Huh. I was offered 6 of the RR and 6 of the Sonoma Coast but no Chard. Go figure. While the vintage of 2011 has been knocked, I have found lots of 2011 that were quite good.
I was offered a whopping 15 bottles (after 9 last spring and 8 the prior spring). 4 chards, 4 RRV, 4 SC and 3 SLH.
I’ve never been able to make much sense of who gets what in their allocation system, but it appears from the experiences above that (a) the fall and spring lists are mostly accounted for separately from each other, and (b) you get sent back pretty far if you don’t buy one year.
Bob M, did you miss an order last year (I wasn’t clear which thing(s) you were referring to when you said “same here”)? And in either case, would you be so kind as to loop back and share whatever response you end up getting? I’m curious what they have to say. Thanks.
I got a response from KB that said since I did not buy the last two times from the Spring Release that I got nothing this time. Irregardless of my massive order in the fall. So it looks like they treat each release with a different brush.
What is the SLH?
I have always bought my full Spring allocation, and got 3 chard, 6 RRV, 6SC and 3 SLH.
Santa Lucia Highlands. Not sure if this is the answer you were seeking.
Santa Lucia Highlands
This is the second vintage for KB of a SLH pinot noir, which is a blend of five vineyards: Garys’, Pisoni, Rosella’s, Sierra Mar and Soberanes, according to their website.
First time on the list, got 2 RRV, and 2SC… at $58, are they worth the coin?
vs say a Rhys Family Farm/Horseshoe?
Also first time on the list for me, and not sure if I’m going to get any of the 2 RRV/2 SC.
Mark, if you like the style, they’re well worth it at that price. They are also super crowd pleasers to serve to company, if that matters to you. The disdain the wines get from the WB and AFWE crowds is based on what KB wines were like in the early years where they made a big splash, plus a general backlash to the big splash itself, but they have substantially moderated the style since then and now hit quite a nice sweet spot with bigger fruit, good crunchy acids, and medium alcohols now (14.4% and 14.5% for the current release).
They’re very different than Rhys, though. I don’t know whether you bring that up because you have dollars you need to allocate to one or to the other, or if you’re just using it as a reference point. If you’re looking to buy more wines in the general style of Rhys, you should probably look to different producers like Arcadian, Copain and Mount Eden.
For someone who appears to be as into wine (and as open minded about wine) as you are, I’d say buy the four and check in on them before next spring, to see if you want to stay with it or not. You’re not going to find them at retail without a big markup over the release prices.
So, if you have been a customer for years and passed on a few releases you get nothing. But if you are a newby you get some wine. This sucks.
Thanks Chris.
Yah decent CT score, decent price, worth a shot… in for the 4 pack… which one is better to try early? the SC or RRV?
Offered 4 each of the RRV and SC. Not bad at all.
Put differently, someone who hasnt had a chance to buy their wine gets to, and someone who has had a chance, but didn’t buy any, does not.
There’s no perfect system with allocations, but I’ve always thought kB is transparent about what’s required and fairly balances existing customers with those looking to become customers.
As for me my RR dropped from 9 to 7 despite buying full allocation last year. Is production down?
Production was down for KB.
The problem I have with this is my investment in buying KB wines over the years is pretty substantial. I don’t mean deprive someone new from getting the chance to buy some but they don’t have as much skin in it as I do. I am not greedy but nothing sucks.