I have been a loyal customer from the beginning and consider Ultramarine my favorite wine but I have to pass this time. Prices have gone beyond my comfort zone for what I consider a weekly drinker. I may reconsider when my two case stash gets low but for now…
Talk about biting the had that feeds you.
I think this face says it all.
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This is my experience. Had a bottle of asparagus juice and emailed to see if it was an off bottle or if that’s just how the wine is supposed to show that vintage but no response. I also had a less disappointing but not great bottle that a had a distinct lambic note. However, most other bottles I’ve had are really great and also somewhat distinct from what I find in Champagne, especially at the price point. I feel like UM has 2 to 2.5 strikes against me, but I’ll buy until I experience a third.
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This thread had me between a larger swat at my allocation or none based on some sentiments, some from people who’s opinion I respect (experience and/or perception of value). Went with a simple 3 spot, Heintz BdN, Heintz Rose, and Heintz Rose LD. Have not had anything terribly blow up on me so will keep them above the line unless things change. Unfortunate reading the experiences others have had.
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Just got the welcome email after signing up in December of 2022. Looks like the mailing list is thinning out.
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I just got my second and also a note that if I don’t buy, I’m off again.
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To bring the topic back to the release, got this off the wishlist: Charles Heintz Vineyard Rosé Late Disgorged
anyone have any notes/thoughts on this one? looks like CT doesn’t have much either
Interesting, I was September 2022 signup, but still no offer.
I also go a bottle of the LD rose off the wishlist.
It took me ~2.5 years (Oct '21 to Mar '24). If you get one later in this cycle, it would indicate things are thinning out, but I’d guess you’ll get one next March unless the list is bigger.
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First post on the board here because I finally have something to add: I actually just signed up for the UM waitlist this last winter (Dec 2023) and just got an email today. Decided to go for 2 bottles to dip my toe in. BdB & Hirsch Rose.
Edit. Actually was March 2023. Sill only a little over a year.
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I should have signed up 2.5 years ago when I first heard of this project (finally joined the wait list earlier this year).
I’m expecting to wait 3 years, but it looks like there’s no rhyme or reason in the process for new members receiving an offering.
First time offer…order in for 2 Heintz BdB and 2 Heintz Rose.
Nah, i bet youll get an offer really soon. As you can see from this thead alone, it seems like quite a few people are dropping.
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Perhaps they’re dropping because of the funk I consistently see on their CT tasting notes and the lack of responses from the team.
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first time offer after joining the waitlist back in May of '22. Went with some Heintz Bdb and Rose. Didn’t pull trig on the Hirsch Rose after seeing the mixed reviews on Cellartracker
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Went back and forth on whether to take first time allocation. Those passing (for pretty compelling reasons) and the smoke year is absolutely noted.
Given that I have not tried yet and secondary availability at release price is moot, I went with 2 Heintz Rose which should be accessible soon enough to make a long-term determination on where this list is headed. May have been covered in the smoke taint thread, as lack of perception of smoke taint now might now does not mean that it won’t appear later on, especially if the sparking wine needs cellar time. What in the world does that mean for Sparkling? Wonder if Schramsberg has any data on it or Oregon sparkling producers?
Fingers crossed, and looking forward to tasting to decide to stay or go
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MatMc - interesting to hear your take. That is exactly the vibe I got when I called to get more info…I was researching for an article on CA sparklers and thought Ultramarine would rank above the best. Email exchange was perfunctory, if not cold…no tasting room, no tours, no info, no nothing. Just had a '17 BnN which was stunning, so they can hit it out of the park, but some variation on cuvees makes me wonder. You can want fame and riches, but it sounds like riches are the only consideration here. I will buy again but hope they can learn to graciously accept some praise once in a while.
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It’s pretty hard to get smoke taint in white wines because the vast majority of the smoke compounds are in the skins. You can measure smoke in the berries and then in the corresponding wines and you have to have A LOT of smoke exposure for any significant amount of impact to be seen on the wines.
You can measure for smoke marker compounds and if they aren’t there, smoke won’t appear later. In most white wines, they simply aren’t there. I would imagine that in traditional method sparkling, with its very delicate pressing, you would be even less likely to retain any smoke impact. I am not an expert on sparkling wine production but I would be very surprised if these wines were impacted by smoke.
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I passed on my first time offer (before seeing the above) because I didn’t care for the price point.