It may be that they need to sell at $140 to make the economics work. It may be that there is insufficient demand at $140 to make the economics work. I hope, for their sake, that neither statement is true.
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I am curious how well this offer sold. I doubt we will find out, and that’s fine, it’s their business.
Anyway, early indications are they made a very nice wine. I hope it finds its way to people who appreciate it and can afford it. It would be a shame if a lot of it were stuck in their cellars due to the price point.
I tasted with Brian a couple days ago, and he’s a good friend. I didn’t ask how the release has sold, but a couple things i can definitely tell you about the project…
Total production was only 200 cases, so not much to go around.
The wine is called “If And Only If”, because they said they would only make their own label “if and only if” they came upon some truly special fruit, which this is. Planted in 1982 with Shot Wente Clone. It was the source for Marcassin’s Upper Barn Chard, and Peter Michael’s Mon Plasir Chard after that, and it was the quality of this fruit that made them decide to finally make the jump to their own label.
While I did agree that the pricing off the rip seemed a little over zealous, this wine also represents what will eventually be the top of their lineup. Brian said that with the 2023’s, as was said in the OP, that there were additional vineyard sources added, and those would become 1 or 2 more reasonably priced “appellation-style” wines going forward. Also, I have to assume that creating your own label/business out in Napa/Sonoma, especially at this quality level, isn’t cheap.
FWIW, I personally like this better than Aubert. I’ve always felt that the Aubert Chards were a too thick and oily for my taste, whereas this is a bit more linear and focused, but still showing that Cali concentration. But to each their own. Brian and Laura have impeccable pedigree and experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing where their project goes.
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Kyle,
Thanks for posting this. I’ve had this wine on my mind for a few weeks now and was thinking of posting a follow up to the above. I can say without hesitation that this is the best chardonnay I have had since taking a trip to Burgundy in November of 2022!!
Stylistically my USA preferences are Aubert, Marcassin, Ferrin, Maxem, Peter Michael, Kongsgaard as well as some of the usual suspects from Oregon (big fan of Morgen long). Spherics reminds me of some of those but with a little more brightness/focus and precision. The fruit has nice lift and there is great balance of acidity, weight & texture. Not overdone or oaky whatsoever…Was a truly captivating wine for me.
If any of you like some of the names mentioned above, it would be worth your while to check out this project. While I agree that $140.00 is a lot, I am sure the fruit costs a mini fortune.
I look forward to others feedback once the wines get out there.
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See Golden Gate Wine Cellars has this by the bottle for $165 plus T&S. At least don’t have to commit to the 3-Pack price. Might have interest in a single bottle if was near the area for pickup?
Any time line on the lower priced wines and what those might be comprised of? I would certainly be in if they came in under ~$85
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I didn’t ask, but if I had to hazard a guess, it’d be next spring. I know one of the vineyards is in Carneros, across the street from Hudson, behind Domaine Carneros, I can’t remember where he said the other one is.
Just received the upcoming Save the Date notice. Did not purchase from initial release. Notice shows three wines being offered. CT is showing all three 2023’s (barrel sample) with the newly released “overline” having a quote from the reviewer of $60 for this bottling, along with high reviews.
Not certain about purchase decision yet, but will look at offer along with shipping details when published on January 22, 9:00.
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Removing price from the discussion as I wanted to provide quick impressions from my tasting last year of the 2022 If and Only If.
IMO This is one of the best domestic white burgundy/chardonnay available on the market today. While the owner and winemaker have the pedigree of winemaking at Aubert, this wine for my palate fills in the more Burgundy aspects with a California influence versus Aubert which is much more CA (heavier, more opulent, possible more sugar:acidity, etc. This was a Whoa CA Chardonnay for me and one I would love another shot at, especially with some age. It was that good. Now how does it stack up on price to budget to US to France- that is an individual decision.
Side note: I do plan on buying a mixed case this year.
any idea on prices?
Last year I paid $140 for “if and only if”. At that price point and for a wine that had only the reputation of the winemakers (and fruit) this was a bit of a risk but one I’m really glad I took.
Popped a bottle last weekend and by far it was (young but) wonderful. Comments above suggest influence from Aubert profile but its own animal and I for sure agree. Not a daily drinker given price point so I’m curious to see what new release will hold. At same time I’ll re-up on these for sure when things open up again next week.
good to know, I’ll dip my toe in the water if they have anything ~$80, Aubert is my high water mark for domestic white wine and even then I limit it to less expensive bottlings.
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I agree – I’m probably interested at the reported $60/bottle or so.
digging into the reviews on CT they feel a little scammy, some folks giving 100s and copy and pasting the same reviews, kind of strange
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Honestly, I never entirely trust reviews from people that tasted the wines at intimate tastings with the owner/winemaker/etc. or barrel sample, etc. I want to trust them, but how many people are going to have a dinner, private barrel tasting, etc. with the winemaker and then go on CT and say “it’s solid but doesn’t stand out vs. the competition - 90 points” or something like that? This isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate the notes, but I think most people would have a hard time writing something lukewarm, let alone negative, in that situation.
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I passed last year and then learned that was a rotten mistake after I met and tasted with them at Inspire Napa last month. The 2022 flagship wine was equal to or better than all of the Auberts i’ve had over the years (many)! I’m ordering this year.
It also doesn’t hurt the owners are a very nice couple and easy to get behind of.
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Not to suggest anything untoward, but I’ve noticed a lot more of this recently: astroturfing on CT and even on this forum. I get it, it’s super hard to start a new brand, particularly at the high end of the price range, especially in these market conditions. But the over-the-top enthusiasm may actually have the opposite of the intended effect, as it makes me a bit more skeptical of whether the praise is real or not.
I’m glad that the new release will have some bottles at a more affordable price point, that might provide an opportunity for a wider audience to try the wine and assess on their own whether they like it.
Edit: to me, a 100 pt over-exuberant review on a just-released wine is a strong anti-signal. Either the reviewer is not capable of impartial assessment, or they are being intentionally manipulative. The fact that they are written like a freshman marketing student with a brand new thesaurus makes me substantially less likely to purchase.
People ITB who are also chiming in with positive reviews are similarly suspect.
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John, did we miss you at Inspire? man o man we should have connected!!
As i said up thread - this really is special stuff. I will refrain from speaking about wines i haven’t tasted (and i have not tasted the two new upcoming vineyard offerings) but I have consumed 3 bottles of the upper barn released last year and i am all in on what they are doing. And…they couldn’t be nicer people!!
I will for sure be a buyer again and am excited to try the new vineyard sources.
RE: Cellartracker - I have only had a couple wines in my lifetime that i would give 100 and none have been whites so i cannot really comment on the scores on CT but I can say that I have not been this excited for a domestic chard producer in my wine collecting journey!
Chris- not sure if those comments are leveled in my direction but I have zero connection to the wine, brand, people, etc etc and my only ITB is as a wine collector and drinker- and for fun help with a badass wine program in AZ brining jn my favorite chateaus from around the world for unique experiences (not paid) like Cheval Blanc, Margaux, Ducru, etc etc. This wine is not sold in or offered to distributors and I own zero bottles as of today.
I personally know two of the high score reviewers that get zero benefit from their reviews or are ITB- and say what you will about the score, the review content is factually correct for their experience which can obviously differ than everyone else’s.
My palate is white burg through and through with very little domestic Chardonnay appreciation. I don’t even remember where I heard of this wine but I had an open slot last ~May and was very curious to taste after the Aubert tasting the day before. While I enjoy Aubert it is not in my style but I will always enjoy a glass or two when I am in the mood (same for a Napa well made wine).
My zero influenced not compensated impression was exactly what I wrote- and the reason I took the time and now adding to it was it really shocked me on how damn good it was. Do with it what you will but perhaps it’s worth sharing a bottle with some folks and see what you think. This is not the lush, thick over ripe and extracted Nap Chard - rather something else .
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Dustin,
I stopped by briefly, but didn’t want to monopolize your and Renee’s time after the amazing private tasting at your house earlier that day. Nonetheless, I took your recommendation from that morning and made a point to try Sphaerics which was also recommended to me a year earlier by Cassandra Grassi (who has spousal connection to La Pelle, small world Napa!). Outside of La Pelle, Sphaerics is the only other domestic Chard I plan to buy with 100% certainty this year. It is playing in an expensive sandbox, but it was that good.