Hi all,
I’m headed to CA wine country this weekend, and would like the opportunity to try wines that actually taste good. Of the icon producers, be it traditionalists like Heitz or cults like Screagle, which ones (if any) will actually give you a pour of their top bottlings or mature vintages? Also, if I’m looking to buy Cabs from the 60’s-80’s at competitive (at or below W-S low) prices, are there any stores or contacts you’d recommend?
Both Beringer and Mondavi have reserve tastings and they offer library wines on occasion.
If you want to try some of the young guns, go to Acme or 750.
If you have a helicopter, you can arrange to land it at Screaming Eagle.
When I visited Corison three or four years ago, they had a couple of back vintages (5-7 years old) open and available for sale.
Oh, I was thinking more like the 1947-1994 period.
For those vintages, try Alpha Omega, Kosta Browne, or Futo.
Does anyone have any hookups to visit smaller producers (e.g. Schrader, Harlan etc.) that don’t have public tasting rooms?
are you interested in any Sonoma producers?
Check with Phil Ente. He did some research on a similar topic.
Yes, I am indifferent between Napa and Sonoma. Any excuse to take that drive over the mountain range on Trinity and Dry Creek Roads between the valleys is greatly appreciated.
some Sonoma producers you might be interested in:
REPRIS
Sojourn
Hamel Family
B Wise
Kamen
appointments necessary, though no “hookup” needed to get in. i’m not sure if they have back-vintages available from 17+ years though.
I knew this was coming
Generally, wineries you can walk into without an appointment will result in the most current selections being poured. Older vintages will likely be limited out of the library and not available for tasting, or expensive if Coravin has changed this last situation, yet doubt you would find many libraries of much depth. Freemark Abbey, Caymus, Heitz, Beringer, Charles Krug, Louis Martini, and Rubicon (Inglenook) likely have some depth.
Dan- it’s highly unlikely you’ll find many producers who have library vintages for sale. Seavey does release them to their club rooms. There are many small producers who don’t have tasting rooms that are great to taste with. Usually no fees but the expectation is if you like the wines you’ll buy them. We tasted at Forman and Bressler last week and had the 06 from both and both have them and Bressler also has the 05 for sale.
A few years ago, at least, Freemark Abbey had a tasting that went back to the 70s and you could purchase old library wines at reasonable prices. I think it was about $50 pp with good pours.
Dan - I don’t want to be a jerk but this is a little surreal. You’re asking for places that will treat you really special - are you? Why would people open old vintages of expensive wine for someone they never heard of? Because if you were special, would you be asking for help from unknown folks on a wine board?
Honestly, I’m not trying to be an ass here but if you go to most wineries and engage the people in conversation that displays your interest, whether you’re in the business or not and whether you’re a big time collector or not, they’ll very often show you special treatment. And even if you’re a big collector, if you’re buying older wines that they no longer have, it’s not doing much for them. So you kind of have to sell yourself. You seem to know the area, so why not just go with that?
I had a taste of '88 Monte Bello at Ridge the other day.
When wineries sell library vintages it’s often pretty expensive, several times more than at retail. Chappellet was selling one of their early Cabernet bottlings for $3000. Also, retailers rarely have old bottles (as old as you’re looking for) sitting around. They’ll usually buy a collection, send an email and sell most of it very quickly. I don’t think wineries have as deep libraries as people think, at least not more than a couple of bottles and I doubt it’s on site.
Go to Bern’s.
Just out of curiosity, does 750 Wines have older vintages?