Wine probation support group starts here

[Jeff_Dudley]

I confess to having ordered several cases of 2007 Haag and Donnhoff yesterday.

I was forced to do this you see ! Money seeks its own equilibrium. The recent dollar/euro valuations enabled me to help a friend meet his obligations overseas and finally spend a few euros there in my favor. It feels so good.

[David M. Bueker]

We're all doing a lousy job of this.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Not me! All I purchased was a 6-bottle pack of Chinese beer which I quickly gave away as a thank you gift to a couple of great team-playing busers at the Hat...a new venture I am involved with.

[Sam Platt]

This weekend, I almost didn't buy a Pizzolato Prosecco that was on sale for $10... but then I did.

[JC (NC)]

Add four more bottles to my violation of probation. This Saturday I went to a tasting at Carolina Wine Company. I picked up two Verget Chablis previously ordered (before this thread) and also acquired a Poggio del Falco, a Lar de Paula Rioja and two bottles of 2006 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir. Even though Gary Farrell winery was sold, I continue to like the style of the winery and had some 2005 direct from the vineyard.

[Charles Weiss]

This weekend, I almost didn't buy a Pizzolato Prosecco that was on sale for $10... but then I did.

Way to go Sam!
...almost

[Salil]

Shame on you guys. I'm proud of myself for deleting the Garagiste, Premier Cru and Dee Vine emails that hit my inbox today without even bothering to look at them.

*Purchase-free for a week and proud*

[Rahsaan]

I'm proud of myself for deleting the Dee Vine emails that hit my inbox today without even bothering to look at them.

To my eye there weren't exactly many 'bargains' there. Unless you are calculating bargains from a Bill Gates perspective.

So in that sense you didn't miss much.

But there were plenty of delicious wines on offer, I am sure.

[Jeff_Dudley]

I have somewhat broken with my plan for staying within a monthly wine budget. I just paid cash for a deal on a mixed case of 2005 Allemand Cornas and a full case of 2005 Gallet Cote Rotie. All are fantastic wines, right in my favorite wheelhouse, of great vintage, and of terrific scarcity. My budget through March 2009 is pretty much shot.

It's back on a 100% no-wine spending probation, until April. Both Dawn and I are happy with this front-loading purchase, as I drove her crazy worrying that I was sure to be aced-out of being able to buy this stuff over the coming months.

So, let's see if I can stay on the wagon. Again.

[Charles Weiss]

I have somewhat broken with my plan for staying within a monthly wine budget. I just paid cash for a deal on a mixed case of 2005 Allemand Cornas and a full case of 2005 Gallet Cote Rotie. All are fantastic wines, right in my favorite wheelhouse, of great vintage, and of terrific scarcity. My budget through March 2009 is pretty much shot.

It's back on a 100% no-wine spending probation, until April. Both Dawn and I are happy with this front-loading purchase, as I drove her crazy worrying that I was sure to be aced-out of being able to buy this stuff over the coming months.

So, let's see if I can stay on the wagon. Again.

Hard to fault you for buying wine that you really like (and should be really great), and still intending to honor budget.

Makes me think though that at some life stages budgeting money is the right way to go, and for others budgeting bottles is the right way to go.

I'm going to try to come up with a commitmment to bottle budgeting that targets zero growth in inventory, or better yet a reduction in cellar size since tt must occur inevitably. That also creates even more incentive for consumption, which is the ultimate purpose after all.

Charles

[Brian K Miller]

I will share some successes:

I've killed three wine clubs, two of which I really loved.

I need to drop the rest, but there are a couple I really don't want to drop, but should.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

I have done really well this month....6 bottles of beer from China and today (yippee dah do, holey de mo) one bottle of the `06 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett. For Wine Focus naturally!

[David M. Bueker]

I will share some successes:

I've killed three wine clubs, two of which I really loved.

I need to drop the rest, but there are a couple I really don't want to drop, but should.

Bravo! I am only in 2 clubs myself, and hadn't even thought about dropping them until you brought it up. Hmm, struggle, agonize, ponder...

[JC (NC)]

Charles, I like the way you think. Reduce inventory--incentive to consume more.

David, which wine clubs do you belong to if you don't mind revealing?
I am in one from Glenora Wine Cellars (Finger Lakes) and on the mailing list for Williams Selyem, Merry Edwards, Loring Wine Company and Biale. I dropped out of Chateau Montelena and got frustrated with Kosta Browne so didn't try to order from that source. On their last go-round Kosta Browne said I didn't have any allocation for the releases but could put my name on a "want list" for bottles that might not be snapped up by those with allocations. I decided there are too many other good wines in the world to be bothered with a "maybe" bottle here or there.

[David M. Bueker]

I am currently in the St. Innocent and Dashe wine clubs. I think you would have to break my arms to get me to drop either one at this point.

I'm on several lists as well, but some I do not order from, and otehrs I "give away" my allocation. I am currently only buying from Pride & Rhys for my own consumption & I am seriously toying with dropping Pride. I do get a little Montelena through my Dad, frequently arranging trades for the cost. He takes my Turley allocation. I gave up on Kosta-Browne after seeing how they handle the wait list (it's shameful IMO) & tasting the goopy, vodka-infused wines.

[Jeff_Dudley]

Not sure how a wine club differs from a winery offering via mailing list (good gawd do you pay to be in the club ?), but irregardless, I dropped from nineteen lists in the past few years to remain on: Merry Edwards, Rafanelli, Fred Scherrer, Laurel Glen and Seavey. I work hard with friends and family to fulfill some sort of minimal orders.

[David M. Bueker]

Club - periodic shipments (usually 2-4 bottles) of whatever the winery wants to send to you.

[Jeff_Dudley]

Gotcha. Tablas Creek used to do that, but I liked their whites and most of the reds too. I'm gonna call this arrangement Russian River Roulette .

[Redwinger]

I fell off the wagon!!
However, I just couldn't pass up some 2001 ESJ Los Robles Viejos @ pre-discount price of $15.98.
Bill

[Rahsaan]

2001 ESJ Los Robles Viejos @ pre-discount price of $15.98.
Bill

Very good buy.

[Brian K Miller]

Speaking of clubs, the two I have not cancelled are due this month. Havens is shippping a reserve Merlot and a new Hudson Syrah. Freemark Abbey has a "Josephine" and a Napa Valley Cab.

I like Freemark Abbey wines. I think they are balanced, even elegant....not over the top or jammy at all.

[Doug Surplus]

I fell off the wagon!!
However, I just couldn't pass up some 2001 ESJ Los Robles Viejos @ pre-discount price of $15.98.
Bill

I'd leap off the wagon for that deal!

[Sam Platt]

However, I just couldn't pass up some 2001 ESJ Los Robles Viejos @ pre-discount price of $15.98.

Bill,

Petition the rules committee. I'm pretty sure that doesn't constitute a violation.

[David M. Bueker]

Survey says...VIOLATION!