Eric White 
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9625
 | | 10-04-2008 08:41 PM |
| Offer just arrived via snail mail, Selct Customer offer:
(6) 2005 Beckstoffer To Kalon Barrel-Select - $75/btl (6) 2005 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Barrel-Select - $75/btl
I was not allocated any mags, but those are priced at $155
A price reduction for a Napa Cabernet?!?!? Whoa!! And one of this quality???
I'm all in.
| | | 2008: the end of an error |
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Dave
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5831
| | 10-04-2008 09:11 PM |
| Man, great price. I passed on the 2004's so I've been dropped. I would have bumped someone (KB) for that! [Whoops, looks like this isn't the Reserves of old. So, a lower price for a different wine (my guess is that the selection is less rigorous and the production much higher).] | | | |
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saut
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1107
| | 10-05-2008 01:53 AM |
| Any further information on this would be greatly appreciated. I have some reserves of old, and often purchase their wines at retail. I noticed their 2005 on the shelf (regular cab) for $60 and thought that was an increase. I will have to check out their website to see if they can clue us in to what all this nomenclature means.
FWIW, I don't like the term "barrel select". Every barrel is eventually "selected" for something. It's a pointless term...like "limited edition" lithographs. Of course it's a limited edition...because it is not possible to produce an infinite amount of them... | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9625
| | 10-05-2008 11:54 AM |
| FWIW, I don't like the term "barrel select". Every barrel is eventually "selected" for something. It's a pointless term...like "limited edition" lithographs. Of course it's a limited edition...because it is not possible to produce an infinite amount of them...
FWIW, in the case of wine, "barrel select" does have significant meaning. If you've ever tasted the same wine barrel to barrel you know there can be significant differences. Another example is Lewelling - the "Wight" vineyard is the same wine, from the same vineyard as the regular cab, just a selection of the best barrels.
My sense is that they've removed the "reserve" for this vintage, but kept these as single vineyard wines, thus the designation and the price. | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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Vine
Milwaukee, WI
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1162
| | 10-05-2008 11:54 AM |
| wow.....awesome pricing, would have to purchase if I was on their list! | | | |
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tgenn
Pleasanton, Ca.
Grape Sorter
Posts: 397
| | 10-05-2008 04:04 PM |
| I agree with Eric that barrel select is very significant. Some barrels can be way better than others even though the wine comes from the same vineyard. One of the most interesting things about winemaking is that every barrel tastes uniquely different. One of the skills a winemaker must have is the ability to taste the differences in the barrels as the wine matures. Reserve wines are almost always barrel selections of some degree, and many vineyards also establish certain blocks of the vineyard as reserve blocks. The best tasting barrels are usually put in the reserve or flagship brand. Barrels that don't make the cut are usually put into the second wines, which are generally blends. Barrels that don't make the cut can also be sold off.
So I am thinking this KL barrel select release is a very good deal. I know the winery was very concerned about their customer's ability to buy all 4 of the 2005 individual vineyards bottlings they made at the $110 reserve price if they released them all this fall. So it looks like they are releasing the To Kalon and Dr Crane now at a new "barrel select" price that is in between their blend price and reserve price. I believe they plan on holding the Morisoli and Herb Lamb releases back until spring, and hope to release those as reserves. I have not tasted the 2005 To Kalon or Dr Crane bottlings, but I expect they will be well worth the $75 tariff.
Eric - the Lewelling vineyard is a little complicated in that it while it is basically one continuous vineyard, it is divided into 3 sections in terms of family ownership. Dave and Doug Wight share in the ownership of the overall vineyard with other members of the extended Lewelling family. The Wight vineyard belongs to just them. It is right next to the house where they host their tastings. So, as I understand it, Wight vineyard bottlings come just from the Wight vineyard. I don't think they ever put any barrels from other parts of the Lewelling vineyard in it. In years where the Wight vineyard barrels do not stand out, they just put it all into the main blend (1999). | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9625
| | 10-05-2008 06:02 PM |
| Hi Tom,
You may well be right about Lewelling, I'll have to ask Dave next time I'm up that way, but I distinctly remember him telling that the Wight was just a barrel selection - I remember, because I was somewhat surprised at the time, thinking that it was a separate plot as you describe. Its possible that I misunderstood I suppose - good excuse to head up for a visit! | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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Vine
Milwaukee, WI
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1162
| | 10-05-2008 06:36 PM |
| Anyone wishing to share please PM me. Just incredible pricing when you consider the pedigree of each vineyard. | | | |
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saut
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1107
| | 10-06-2008 01:09 AM |
| Thanks Eric and tgenn. I did not want to come across as catty (well, perhaps a little), but my point still holds...that we don't really know what that means. We assume it means "the best barrels", but I've seen "barrel select" as being a generic blend...we all have. So I'm still curious about what's in the bottle and the pricing.
Was the wine not good enough for a reserve? Did they use some to beef up the regular cab and this is a best of the best? Or is this a selection of barrels that show the best "terroir" aspects? I would have to see their literature to understand, but I'm just curious as to why a winery would have a regular cab and reserves, and then release a midprice wine called "barrel select".
All of their wines are values, IMHO. They drink like wines twice their price. But as a wine afficionado, I want to tell the right story when drinking these. Hopefully we will find out. Young vines? I'm just guessing... Less than stellar vintage? I do get the idea of best barrels...KB 4 barrel and Peter Micheal Point Rouge are both "barrel select" by this definition. | | | |
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ttepper
Wine Thief
Posts: 2533
| | 10-06-2008 01:22 AM |
| I agree with EW, the Wight Vineyard is really just a barrel selection....Good stuff | | | |
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tgenn
Pleasanton, Ca.
Grape Sorter
Posts: 397
| | 10-06-2008 03:46 PM |
| Eric I do remember that Taplin, Wight, and Lewelling are all separate blocks of their overall vineyard. I also remember that the Wight is all Clone 7. I didn't ask exactly how he makes the Wight, but I would think it would be a barrel selection from the Wight vineyard. So now you have me curious and I will ask when I go to pickup my 05.
But this was a post on the Karl Lawrence anyway! On that one I do know that Michael felt that the 2005 vintage was superior to 2003 and 2004, and the best barrels of To Kalon, Dr Crane, Morisoli, and Herb Lamb were bottled separately - as he always does when he makes a reserve. I also know that they were very concerned that if they released all 4 wines as reserves this fall, their customers would be stretched to pay for them in a down economy. Staggering the release of the 4 wines, and pricing the first two at $75 certainly does help their customers. I am curious so I will ask when I pickup my wine there - but my guess is that in a stack ranking, Michael may have felt the Herb Lamb and Morisoli were a little better than the To Kalon and Dr Crane in 05. But I am not at all worried about getting my money's worth on the To Kalon and the Dr Crane. They are not waxed dipped, and they don't say reserve on the bottle - but they will be a noticeable step up from the 2005 blends.
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Seamus Campbell
Portland, Oregon
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 441
| | 10-06-2008 05:11 PM |
| I bought the regular Napa bottling for the first time this year, and I just got an offer for one bottle of each, at $85. | | | |
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saut
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1107
| | 10-06-2008 11:08 PM |
| Wow. A winery that lowers prices in an economic downturn. I think I"ll sign up for that list!!! These guys rock. | | | |
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Budman
Philly Suburbs
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 23749
| | 10-07-2008 02:36 AM |
| Posted By Seamus Campbell on 10-06-2008 05:11 PM
I bought the regular Napa bottling for the first time this year, and I just got an offer for one bottle of each, at $85.
I thought I had ordered for the previous 3 years off the regular list, but I received the same allocation that you did.
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3177
| | 10-07-2008 10:30 PM |
| I got an offer for one each also at $85... | | In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is...
.ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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William
Grape Picker
Posts: 10
| | 10-09-2008 06:28 PM |
| Wow! Looking forward to getting home today from work. Hopefully I will be offered. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3576
| | 10-10-2008 01:57 PM |
| Don't know about the SV, but anyone have any thoughts about the regular KL bottling for the 2005 vintage? | | | |
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GATC
Wine Lover
Posts: 4741
| | 10-10-2008 08:08 PM |
| Eric, I forgot that you have been on the list for a long time. I only get a few and at a higher price. | | | |
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William
Grape Picker
Posts: 10
| | 10-15-2008 06:17 PM |
| To follow up on my previous post. Fortunately, I was offered two bottles of each at $75 but no mags. | | | |
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rickym13
los angeles
Wine Thief
Posts: 2933
| | 10-15-2008 08:19 PM |
| forgot about this....i was offer 3 each and 1 each of mag....but the way things are going, i may have to pass on this :( | | | |
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