What Is Everyone Buying These Days????

WINE TALK
1

I know we are in a small slump in the global economy, but as wine lovers, I assume we are still collectively purchasing some juice. What is your strategy?

Me…I am letting most, if not all, mailers from CA go straight to the shredder…save a couple of favourites like Carlisle, Alban and the like. Definitely no '08 BDX futures and no '06s when they start hitting the shelves. I also have been bargain hunting for BDX favs from '00 onward. But on the whole, I would guess my purchasing has dropped off about 50% vs. last year.

2

I just placed my order for my first ever allocation of 2007 Sea Smoke pinot (6 bottles). I thought the 2007 allocations were offered months ago so they must not have sold out. I’ve been doing the same thing as you with other mailers.

Looking at CT reports my purchases are down 25% from last year and I expect that decrease to be larger once June is over…

3

Good question Bill.
My purchases have fallen off too. Maybe 50%.
I’ve gotten much pickier about Cali lists I still buy from. Windy Oaks, Arc, Rhys, Kutch are about it for now. Still doing my share of damage on WineBid and buying my favorite Rhoners when I find deals. Been value hunting '07 CdRs too. All about bang for the buck these days

4

I bought a couple of cases of close out 2005 Cos d’Estournel and some close out 2005 Pavie at the Washington Costco this past week. I’m waiting for Richard’s return from bordeaux, and his take on the vintage before I commit to any more 2008 futures.

5

Winebid has been very hard to avoid b/c there are some great prices on a lot of good wine there.

6

Yeah, it tapered off for a bit, but the last couple of weeks have seen some deals for sure.

7

Agreed.

And I almost forgot, I am bidding on a couple of the charity auction lots in CC…I guess that counts as “buying”, right?

8

I’m not buying from mailing lists either - I’m more into buying value wines (Soave Classico, Rose, Wine Berserker Exclusive deals, etc) and finding bargains on near-vintage wines, particularly from Rhone. I’ve taken advantage of a few sales on Italians, which has been nice to find (thanks, Ken Vastola), and while I’d like to say that my purchasing is down 50%, I’m afraid to look at CT to find out that it is not.

9

My 06/07 Cali cab purchases will be limited to Match, Neal, Maybach, Robert Foley, and Switchback Ridge.

After that, I’m probably going to drop off the lists, and spend my retirement (in 3+ years) enjoying the spoils.

I’m buying a lot of Pinot, and have gotten several excellent deals on WineBid (for daily drinkers).

10

12 2005 Ruston Cabs
4 GoFigure cabs
4 K Vintners Royal City Syrah
4 Charles Smilt Kung Fu Reisling
1 K Vintners The Boy
8 K Vintners Motor City Kitty Syrah
2 Charles Smith Red Devil Merlot
1 2004 Buccella Cab


Slow couple of weeks and K Vintners is my new non cab producer.

I buy Maybach, Jones, and Realm.
I buy Lucia Syrahs from list as well.

11

Lots of cheap rose and whites to enjoy in the summertime heat. The only wines I’ve bought to cellar recently have been a few cru beaujolais.

I’m trying to keep my budget intact for some champagne purchases this fall.

12

Thanks to the brilliance of CT, I did a report on my purchases in 2009.

I noted a vast change in my buying habits over previous years (also included):

2009

Italy - 56 bottles
France - 43 bottles (doesn’t include the WB-Exclusives BDX yet)
USA - 40 bottles (12 of which were Cabot!)
Germany - 8 bottles
Spain - 5 bottles


2008

France - 98 bottles (BDX and Rhone, baby!)
USA - 93 bottles
Germany - 7 bottles
Italy - 3 bottles
Portugal - 3 bottles
Spain - 1 bottle


2007 (you can REALLY see a difference here)

USA - 274 bottles
France - 31 bottles
Italy - 17 bottles
Chile - 11 bottles
Australia - 5 bottles
Spain - 1 bottle
Portugal - 1 bottle
New Zealand - 1 bottle


2006 (check this out!)

USA - 199 bottles
Australia (11 bottles
New Zealand (5 bottles
Spain (5 bottles
Argentina (3 bottles
Chile (2 bottles
South Africa (2 bottles
Portugal (1 bottle
France (1 bottle
Italy (1 bottle

13

What did you buy from South Africa?

14

Wines on sale in LA. Some Cali chardonnay and Donhoffs this week.

15

Like everyone else, I’ve cut way back. I’ve cut back on mailers and am kicking tires on “bargain Bordeaux” (oxymoron?). Most recent purchase was 05 Montrose from Costco.

Strategy for the rest of the year will be to increase purchases from standby mailers that offer exceptional value (Carlisle, Scherrer, maybe Core, Copain, Dehlinger and Villa Creek), while cutting back on the more pricey mailers. I’ll maintain purchases of local Santa Cruz Mt. Favorites (Rhys, Big Basin, Windy Oaks).

I suspect that many excellent producers are probably getting squeezed about now.

16

That plonk ‘Goats Do Roam’ that everybody was lovin’ on for a while.

17

How does all that fit in your Le Cache?

18

It’s beautiful to watch a young Europhile grow up [d_sunny.gif]

19

663 bottles consumed, the report says!

20

impressive Mr. French!