Info regarding 2007 SHS

I know many who have in the past couple of years dropped off the mailing list because the wine is in retail wine shops for 189.00 to 199 a bottle. Ordering from the winery after shipping and paying more for the wine has made many people drop off the list. Even look at their 2001 and 2002 wines which were 99 and 100 you can get these for a little more then release price right now on winecommune. Last week I saw an 01 go for 239 and an 02 about a month ago closed at 250 with no bids.

I like Shafer a lot and they are great people but what advantage is their to being on the Hillside list if it costs you about 30 bucks more a bottle to buy it from them. I see Shafer Hillside at many wine shops in my area and it sits beside numerous vintages at some of these shops.

quote:

Originally posted by TERPS:
I like Shafer a lot and they are great people

That's one of the advantages- supporting them directly. The other advantages to staying on the HSS list:

The bottles were sent from the winery's door to mine. Provenance is not an issue.

Lastly, for a vintage like 2007, when there will be high scores and high demand, I will have access to the wine. It will be at winery cost. Those who want it at retail will be paying a lot more. Will the premium be offset by the savings in other vintages acquired at retail? Probably, but in my case I like the people there so I can justify paying the higher price to support them directly, as mentioned above.

All that said, everyone has their line and has to make their own value judgement.

IW

Good Grief, I haven't even received my 2006 order yet! How many cases do you get, and do you sell all through the store?

AllRed

I'm with TERPS on this issue. While I'm on the HSS list, I've also been able to find HSS at 10-15% discount for less than I'm paying at selected retailers in other States. Currently, Calvert Woodley has the 2005 for $199. Should Shafer reduce the allocations, it won't bother me! This stuff has become very expensive.

I have had access to every vintage since 1998 from one of my LWS. I skipped 2003, but I have purchased for less than Shafer's list price and not had to pay shipping. In fact, they just got another 6-pack last week (I passed - purchased some earlier in the year). Of course, I have been a very good customer at my LWS, so they take care of me. I will take my chances with 2007 and hope that they can source some for me.

Question: Why do wineries sell their wine to loyal customers at a price often much higher than retail and expect them to pay shipping on top of that? I can understand not wanting to under cut their distributers, but there has to be a happy medium. Sorry for the thread drift.

Red Guy I agree, why would a winery sell the wine to loyal mailing list customers for more money. This sounds like a great way to lose the loyal customers and a bad way to do business. After all business is all about relationships.

I plan on buying all that is offered next year, magnum included. Usually I am allocated 6+1mag but weaseled buying 1 bottle of the '06 this year...we'll see. If you expect to see much at your LWS next year, good luck with that. I'm sure there will be some but not as much as the last few years. I have bought at wholesale before, around $105 possibly '99, but you do the math. Supply and demand.

After being on the list for a few years I did not purchase this year due to the fact that factoring in bottle cost+tax+shipping the '05s were $245 per bottle. That finally crossed my threshold of price pain, nice people or not. C'est la vie.

quote:

The bottles were sent from the winery's door to mine. Provenance is not an issue.

In addition to that, since I'm in Napa a lot, I do take them up occasionally on the free tasting that is part of the program. All it takes is for one free tasting a year to cover the difference between retail and one bottle, two bottles if you take a friend once.

A lot of Shafer wines have been showing up at retailers for significantly less than mailer prices. As nice people as they are... Still leaves a sour taste in the mouths of loyal customers.

That said... I'm targeting a 2007 vintage SHS purchase!

There is also the chance that Shafer will keep their mailing list customers happy with full allotments, 6 and 1, as in the past and sell less through retail. They would make more money this way.

Latour,

I do not get any at wholesale for the store. Not available in my state. Between my dad and me we get 12 bottles plus 2 mags allocated to us. It will be interesting to see if what Lakersguy said ends up happening. I wish I could get these at wholesale and sell them at the store.