Been making a conscious effort not to buy *anything* this month except cheap ones for the wife's tennis team. Caved yesterday when Costco had the 07 Kim Crawford at $10.99. At that price I may have to go and get a couple of cases

quote:

Originally posted by marcb7:
05' Latour and Haut Brion, had my hands on a bottle of each last wk and reluctantly put them back and walked away

Good man, marcb.
Use the cash saved for several bottles of awesome aged Bordeaux you can drink today....

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:
Really wanted but couldn't justify the price for the 2005 Penfolds 707 and RWT. ($120 and $132)

Good stuff, but that's WAY too expensive!!

Seems like a lot of folks are trying to pass on wines and cut back on purchases. I am trying to do the same, but keep finding new ways to tempt myself (and others). Always feel the need to get more - kind of sick.

In order to help solve this problem, would anyone be interested in going on a purchasing freeze, a la PurpleHaze in '07? I would be up for it. We could start a new thread to see how everyone is doing, give support, etc. May sound lame, but if a few folks are in it together, it might not seem as bad.
If a freeze sounds too harsh, maybe a low monthly budget or something. Let me know if anyone is interested or has any ideas to make this work.

A Group Support System! I'm getting the shakes already!

I just might be up for this... Right after I make just a few more 'must have' purchases.

Keeno,

That's kind of the idea I had when I started this thread. So much of what's on here glorfies our great purchases of wine, but sometimes it's just okay to take a deep breath, and back away from the shelf/mouse.

but i really want those bottles of 03 cos d'estournel

KSC02: We could make it effective on a certain date so you could get one last fix before getting back on the wagon

Indy: My bad. I was thinking the thread was more like specific bottles we did not purchase. While helpful, I think I have to say to no everything.

I think I am going to go for it: 2 months running from July 1 to September 1. Not a long time, but it's a start.

Keeno,

Dual purposes. Start up another thread if you want, sounds good to me. On this thread, I'll be popping up the vinos I want that I have the good sense to say no to, plus waxing poetic about frugality from time to time. Others will want to as well.

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

quote:

Originally posted by marcb7:
05' Latour and Haut Brion, had my hands on a bottle of each last wk and reluctantly put them back and walked away

Good man, marcb.
Use the cash saved for several bottles of awesome aged Bordeaux you can drink today....

Thats the plan KSC, but in the moment it was not easy, i think i can still hear the bottles calling for me

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Keeno,

Dual purposes. Start up another thread if you want, sounds good to me. On this thread, I'll be popping up the vinos I want that I have the good sense to say no to, plus waxing poetic about frugality from time to time. Others will want to as well.

Cheers,

I guess there is no need to start a new thread. I think I can just chime in here from time-to-time. I really think I am going to give this a go.

I looked hard at a magnum of 2002 Chateau D'Yquem.

It's certainly not the 2001 (but what is?) but how often do you see a magnum of sauternes?

As tempting as it was (and belive me I was tempted! really, how many people have a MAGNUM of D'Yquem?) it's something that you would probably never drink (it's a big party when you have a litre and a half of sauternes!) so I was buying it to sit on it for a few decades and then auction it off? Not my style.

Still it sings to me...

Keeno: Hi there, my name is Dale, and I have a problem. It has been 33 days since I have purchased a bottle of wine, and under my pact for the summer, I have 68 days left to go. September 1, 2008 is the next day I buy a bottle of wine (other than in restaurants, of course). I will tell you, the first 2 weeks were tough, but now I just take it one day at a time!!

Dale: doesn't it take like 21 days to break a habit? You should be home free now!

maybe the habit is gone, but the urge is still there, and that, coupled with the fact that I receive about 25 emails a day with the offer of the day/week/month/year/millenium, as everyone else does, that it is still a daily battle.

I find myself thinking, but this is a really great deal, and just won't be around and there will never be another like it. Then I hold off for one more day and then I get another the next, and the next and the next. I should just stop all the email offers and unsubscribe, but, I just can't quite bring myself to do this yet.

Dale: I will certainly remove myself from e-mail lists during this period.
Here are a couple of things I have learned though:

1) Saying no to the first bottle is easier than saying yes to it and to all the other ones that follow.
2) There will always be another good deal (as you mentioned).
3) Great wines are made every year. If you miss one, there will be plenty of others that will be available.

Are you worried about some sort of binge at the end of August?

Passing on all the Fall mailers. I may make the Shafer HSS list, but the price is up over $100 since the time I signed up so That's a pass. Quilceda Creek in Jan 09 will be a big decision point. I may dole out my allocation but not keep any for moi.

I have reached the breaking point on wine pricing. I have to heat my house this Winter so....

Keeno - you are correct. The first couple of weeks, it felt odd not to be ordering anything and to watch the CT count going down as far as to be delivered wines go. Now, after this Saturday, I am going to receive my last case of outstanding deliveries and will be at 0 for the first time in a while. I look at this like a resting period for a line of credit. I am proving that I don't need it.

As to the big binge on September 1, I don't know. we will have to see. I need to either drink down a lot of wine to have room for more or build a wine cellar in my basement. Not sure on the second, so I will just focus on the first.

I'm, admittedly, pretty sick of all the 'wine deal' emails I receive. This past weekend, I actually did begin to 'unsubscribe' to several. A few (Flickenger, HDH, etc) are pretty tough to say 'goodbye' to. This means, though, that I haven't shaken that "Yeah, but what if I miss that unbelievable deal on a great aged bottle" syndrome.

I have decided to chill out. I have begun to slow down. You guys are helping me to see the light. I'm not quite ready to go Dale's 'cold turkey' route just yet though...

Good Luck, Dale. You're a stronger man than I.

OK, I am in (for various reasons). I WILL NOT ("Be strong!") PURCHASE ANY WINE ("You can type it!") UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1st. (Now, that wasn't that difficult, was it?)

I turn "The Big 4-0" in September, so all bets are off on the 1st.

Until then...

BTW: Buying wine and arranging a deferred delivery after the Summer temperatures cool off is NOT considered correct behavior.

Just bought Wisconsin football season tickets yesterday. I should probably hold off on any wine purchases until football season to cover the cost. Oh yeah, and I have no more room, my coolers are full, blah, blah, blah.....

quote:

Originally posted by khmark7:
Just bought Wisconsin football season tickets yesterday.

Well, THAT was a waste of money!

quote:

Originally posted by khmark7:
Just bought Wisconsin football season tickets yesterday.

Well, THAT was a waste of money!

Not as much of a waste as Michigan season tickets!