I got an offer for that very recently, I’ve never had it and was wondering if it’s worth the bump in price. My local store offered all the Jaq 09’s (Avize, Vaulzelle Terme, Dizy) but man they’re at my definite squeal point, plus that would get me a lot of Laherte’s wines which I’ve enjoyed as much as anything I’ve opened this year.
Feel you, Craig. All of those small parcel Jacquesson are very expensive. I’d rather drink Laherte too. I picked up some more Autrefois and Rose de Meunier this week. There is so much great grower stuff out there, for me I just don’t see why we have to plunk down $200+ to get really good Champagne in our glass.
Store in Dallas is holding some Laherte ‘Les Empreintes’ for me to pick up next week. Btw, those Jac 09’s were more like $250 to $310-I’m not 100% sure about this but they said they were the only bottles of these available in Texas. I’m sure KJohn bought the 3 cases they had.
I live with a budget. Spending that kind of coin on wines is not my thing and I have learned to know where my own sweet spot is with Champagne, who those producers are and the joy they bring. They don’t cost $200+ either.
I spread around a bit more this year, trying to get piedmont and rhone a little more balanced, catching them up some to larger holdings of red burg and riesling.
20% Piedmont
16% Rhone
15% Germany
12% Burg
12% Bdx
2021 was pretty much a net zero for me in terms of the overall cellar. I am ending the year with about as many bottles as I had in January.
The big outgoing shift was Burgundy- I do not have a single bottle left. In future when I need one for a specific event, I will buy what I need when I need it. At current prices and with such availability of older bottles, it just makes more sense to take a Just-in-time approach. I also got rid of a lot of young Bordeaux and Italian wines for the same reason- I can get them real time, with age, when I need them from reliable sources. So why tie up all that capital long term buying young vintages by the case at prices not far off from older bottles in many cases?
Countering that- the big inflow was Germany. Huge amount of backfilling on GGs now that I finally have developed a taste for them after 10 years of trying (Magdelaine was the same for me- it took me over a decade, but once I fell for them- it was all over.) And also a fair amount of backfilling on favored producers that are starting to go up in price.
The second inflow was more Magdelaine as I continue my quest to have a lifetime supply plus see the amazingly positive reaction when I open it at tastings- even among big CA Cabs. Not only a wine I love, but one I can serve frequently in a variety of settings and everyone likes it.
And finally the third major inflow was champagne- mainly 2012 tete de cuvees and 2014 grower wines.
My goal for 2021 was to increase purchases of German Riesling. Prior to this year, I was at c. 10% of purchases (German only, Riesling total higher when including Austria, Alsace and the odd New World). This year 26% of my purchases were German Riesling. Goal met. But I still need more Riesling, German and otherwise!