Brent Null  
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2194
 | | 02-25-2003 04:25 AM |
| Someone on the RP/Squires BB posted this question: Quote:
I've seen various postings alluding to 2001 Calif. Cab. futures. The local merchants I've dealt with don't offer this (I don't think, anyway), so I thought I'd throw this topic out there for those with experience in this field to share. Thanks to all.
And here is my reply:
Quote:
There aren't many wineries in Napa that provide futures. Most of their allocations are provided through a mailing list.
Is this true or am I way off base here? I am unaware of many producers that provide 'futures' the way the French do. Maybe I'm crazy...  | | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5168
| | 02-25-2003 05:02 AM |
| | Off the top of my head, I can think of Ch Montelena, Phelps Insignia (must be a Club Member) and Viader. These all offer "futures" to people without being on an allocated mailing list. The Montelena is a good deal, but Insignia and Viader can generally be had for the same price or less on the open market. Other wineries like Hourglass have mailing lists and allocations, but sell their wine a year or so ahead through the use of a "futures" system. If you pre-order, you save $5 to $10 per bottle off the mailer price several months later. | | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 02-25-2003 05:17 AM |
| I talked to Montelena today. Taking some people to the '99 Release Tasting Saturday at 9:30 AM.
Anyway, they said that the '01 futures will go up on the website Monday 3/3 in the afternoon. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 02-25-2003 05:21 AM |
| | 2001 Montelena futures will be $70. I'll be purchasing a case thursday or friday. Another winery which does futures is Ridge with the Montebello. | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2194
| | 02-25-2003 05:21 AM |
| | I did tell this poster in my original reply that Ch. Montelena was one of the only ones I knew of that offered futures. Sounds like there aren't many of them... | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 02-25-2003 05:24 AM |
| | Correct, not many US winery's sell futures. I think either Harlan or Bryant sells their wine via mailing list and you don't get it for at least a year. I suppose that could be called futures since you aren't able to buy the wine for the mailing list price after it is released. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12597
| | 02-25-2003 01:34 PM |
| davidn: THANK YOU for the VERY valuable info. I will be IN on 1 case (as usual). | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-25-2003 02:17 PM |
| skwid- Harlan is the winery that presells in that manner.
Futures are rarely available other than the ones mentioned however they can be obtained at various charity events that are held on a periodic basis throughout NorCal. Winecask also sells futures each year. | | | |
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Seek
Upstate NY
Wine Thief
Posts: 2772
| | 02-25-2003 02:25 PM |
| | The new Tor Kenward wines are sold via futures at a reduced cost. Whether the wines will continue to be sold this way is unknown. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 02-25-2003 05:27 PM |
| Jones, that's right. Wine Cask. How could I have forgotten them. Anyone interested in some wonderful Pinot Noir or California Rhone-style wines should sign up for their futures mailer.
www.winecask.com
Go to SPECIAL EVENTS.
At least sign up to get a great booklet with some wonderful notes on the upcoming CA Central Coast wines.
I am buying more and more of my wine from them. Their prices aren't low on the good stuff (at least they've got it) and are very fair on the normal stuff. They also have a new "frequent buyer" program that gets the price down.
Sounds like a commercial for Wine Cask. I am just an enthusiastic good customer.
Now that I've told all of you about this there probably won't be enough for me. So, take it easy. Don't order too much from them.
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Bob Bressler 
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts: 4889
| | 02-25-2003 06:56 PM |
| Here’s a different spin – how about Randy Dunn’s wines? You are buying ‘futures’, but you have to store the wine yourself for 10 years | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-25-2003 06:59 PM |
| | Too true. | | | |
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GATC
Wine Lover
Posts: 4740
| | 02-25-2003 08:43 PM |
| | Bressler, that's pretty funny. Thanks for the info on Montelena. I heard that some retailers were offering it, but didn't hear about the winery until now. 01 Montebello futures were offered last spring. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-25-2003 09:41 PM |
| | John Walker in San Francisco is currently selling the 2001 Montelena on futures right now. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 02-25-2003 10:02 PM |
| | Jones, what is the pricing on the Montelena futures? I can get 1.5L, 3L, 6L (maybe) and 375's from the winery (along with the case of 750's I'll be picking up). | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-25-2003 11:02 PM |
| | $35 for a 375, $70 for a 750, and $145 for Mag. They have 3 l and 6 l available as well but I controlled myself and did not buy any. | | | |
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Blair Ridley
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3980
| | 02-26-2003 12:05 AM |
| Jones -
Is John Walker a reputable store for futures? | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-26-2003 12:31 AM |
| | John Walker has been in business since the late 1800s and has sold Chateau Montelena for years - thus their relatively abundant access to Montelena wines. I bought my first Bordeaux futures (1986) through them as well as my first couple of cases of Montelena (1985 and 1984 for the whopping cost of $25 a bottle). I think they are reputable. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 02-26-2003 12:45 AM |
| | Check out www.johnwalker.com. According to the web site they have been in business since 1933. My guess from JW1's reply is that they predate this but were selling "other things" for the years from 1919 to 1933. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 02-26-2003 01:13 AM |
| | I would have sworn their receipts always had since 1889 or some such number printed on them but the site does say now 1933. In any event, its a trustworthy purveyor of quality wines. | | | |
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