If you know, you know. Specifically, you know that these prices are just ridiculously great deals. Per the email, prices are good through December 10. Also, “…spend $200 on any combination of sale and regular priced wines you will receive complimentary shipping . Use code DEC25 at checkout.”
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Nate, any idea how that 2015 Syrah and 2013 Grenache are holding up? I used to purchase some of those bottlings years ago, and loved them, but haven’t bought any for well over a decade. Thanks!
No idea. I hope to get out to the tasting room to try these, as they say they will have them open. In general, Bill’s wines age very gracefully. 10 years on his Syrah is like 3 or 4 years on most CA Syrahs.
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Bill’s wines are meant to age - in the same way Bob Lindquist’s are . . .
Cheers
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Larry, I think that’s a pretty apt comparison. Both of them absolute legends in my book.
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Re: the Grenache, I just had a 2011 L’Autre from Terre Rouge, which is about 2/3 grenache. It needed some air but was gorgeous and a huge hit at Thanksgiving.
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I was gonna post this sale earlier. Prices are great but I think these are mostly over the hill. Bill likes his wines with some age ( I think he goes too far sometimes) but I think the Barbera, L’Autre, and. Zin are suspect at this point. I’ve never cared for the L’Autre. The Syrah can hold. Notes on the Barbera (including mine) are in CT. It’s easy to put together any combo of his wines to get to $200 for free shipping. Anyone ever had the Ascent?
Interesting comment - so you are saying that Bill likes his wines been over the hill? Or is your interpretation of aged in his different?
Cheers
I kind of had the same response. I visit the winery on a semi-regular basis, and it’s very common to have wines 8, 10 years of age or more open in the tasting room. Bill often doesn’t even release the wines for several years. I’ve joked with him that he must love carrying an inventory. He says that’s just when the wines are ready, and he won’t release them earlier.
The wines in the sale are a bit older on average, but, honestly, buying his reds at 10, 12 years, that doesn’t even give me pause.
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Of course Bill knows his wines and sites better than I. And I love that he holds onto them a bit before release. I’m mainly talking about his Zinfandels. I like them best middle aged about 8 years from vintage. I got some 2018 Amador after release 4 years ago and it was way too young and today still not ready. When they go tertiary or I like to say claret they’ve lost their fun zinful appeal. it’s a matter of preference I suppose. I was actually looking to drink the Barbera he has listed on sale last week but couldn’t find it in my cellar. His Syrahs can go the distance,
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I actually went to his Ascent seminar last month - it was awesome. The '01 was INSANE. So youthful for 24 years of age. I had to snag a bottle!
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He often seems to have the same wines on sale. Not sure if that is because of a backlog(maybe poor vintages) or that’s what is current and ready in his eyes.
I found this odd. His 2018 Amador Zin got some noteworthy press in the Wine Spectator 4 years ago or so. So he releases it to them for review but not the public for an additional 4 years. Very few are going to remember that review. He was kind enough to send some to me then as I asked to taste it on the young side.
My guess is that he did release it then - and perhaps he made a lot of it or it just did not sell quickly.
As we all know, wineries up there are truly out of the spotlight - and I have to think that makes sales more challenging in general.
I’ve never tried any of his wines, but love california northern rhone styles with a bit of age (just had a lindquist-era Qupe bien nacido syrah 2016 from a magnum and it was gorgeous). It looks like they don’t ship to PA but if I can find a way around that then what case would you guys recommend I construct here? I’m thinking 6 Syrah, 4 l’autere, 1 barbera, 1 zin? Or do you guys think even less of the barbera and zin? I do see a bad WE review of the 2013 l’autere, but I hesitate to put much weight on it since it’s from 2016.
I loved his wines when I first joined his club. I think the honeymoon may be over for me. Not bad by any means, I’ve just had it all.
I’m on the website now. Looks like some have already sold out but he has added others. I see the 2014 versions of the Barbera and Zin.
I dig his Côtes de l’Ouest Syrah for $35. It’s the baseline Syrah but great now and can hold. Not in the sale mind you.
The Garrigue is a fun Cabernet/syrah blend.
4 Syrah, 2 Garrigue, 2 Zin, 2 Barbera, 2 Autre. With the duplicates you can track over the next year or 2.
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His Cooper Barbera is one of my favorites in his lineup. Reliably delivers in most vintages. His Zin is iconic in my book. I would put it up there with Bedrock and Biale (different flavor profile, but the quality is there).
I just opened a 2013 Monarch Mine Syrah. Details to come!
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Is Easton or anyone else still making anything from Monarch Mine?
Good question. I haven’t seen any of Bill’s in a while. I don’t get up that way as often as I should. I have no idea who else sourced from there.