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Buying futures?

What are your thoughts on buying futures? Last year, I pre-ordered a couple of bottles of a favorite Washington wine. When I went to the release party, I was surprised to learn that the wine was already sold out.

Now that the 2006 vintage is being offered up for release next year, I'm planning to order again. I'm considering stepping up my order, maybe even splurging on a case. But there's always a slight chance it may not be as great as previous years.

For some silly reason, I can't find anything online to tell me whether 2006 was a good year for Washington reds.

By kristin at Mar 23 2008 - 6:28pm | General wine discussion | previous forum topic | next forum topic | 1175 reads

futures

K in Walla Walla was selling futures when i visited recently.

There's so much good wine around locally, I don't feel any need to gamble on how a wine turns out. Futures are like rolling a dice, and typically ain't a cheap roll in my experience :)

I prefer the taste/buy model!

By iango at Wed, 04/09/2008 - 8:01am | login or register to post comments

Futures

Be very very careful. I agreed to buy futures from a local Red Mountain winery and it turned out badly...took some court action to get a refund.
I now equate it with playing the slot machines unless you are extremely knowledgable ( I'm not) about the whole process and have an iron clad deal that you will end up with a product in the end. A lot of the local wineries tell me they wont get involved in them because what you taste one time, and agree to buy the futures, may not taste anything like you tasted before.

By cjmath at Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:10pm | login or register to post comments

futures

I've not bought futures anywhere in WA but have in OR and CA. I wasn't aware of anyone selling futures from the barrel in WA. Each winery seams to sell their barrel futures a bit differently but I have not been burned by any of them. Most places I have bought from are well established and have had a futures program for many years.
The newer wine I have bought futures on in OR (WA fruit though) has worked out well even though it is new to them.

If it's a wine you know you are going to buy upon release and have the chance to buy them on futures at a discount then it can be a nice opportunity.

Sorry to hear about the bad experience.

By mrstarbuck at Thu, 03/27/2008 - 12:41pm | login or register to post comments

Futures

If you bought futures from the Red Mountain winery I think you did, that's probably an entirely different issue - one for which that winery is notorious.

Few wineries in the Northwest actually sell futures as defined in European wine circles. Leonetti, Quilceda, Cayuse and the like sell their wines to a list of customers, not on a futures basis.

In the past, Ken Wright Cellars in Carlton, Ore., has sold on futures based on what's in the barrel. In fact, a retailer in Oregon would buy those futures then resell them to its customers, an idea I thought was rather clever.

I have never purchased wine on futures, primarily because I've never had a burning need to "have that wine" so much that I'd pay for it before it was bottled. A winery has to become very, very popular to get to that point.

By aperdue at Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:37pm | login or register to post comments

"The Red Mountain Winery" I Think You meant??

That is pretty freakin' funny! I know EXACTLY who you are talking about. We made the mistake of stopping in there once. The buildings and grounds were filthy, "Crazy Mike", our nickname for the proprietor, was totally hung over and hadn't showered in days, there was broken glass on the floor of the "tasting room" (which was also filthy), and a three month old pot of beans baking in the scorching August sun.... We ended up there for over 2 hours because he wouldn't let us leave. But, he did pour us about 10 different wines, a few of which weren't too bad. On the other hand, several would be quite useful in stripping paint off of your deck. His cheese pairings were quite interesting, as he pulled huge chunks of unidentifiable artisanal cheeses out of re-used, 10 year old Zip Lock bags, sliced off small pieces with a dirty, rusty pocket knife, and proudly deposited them into our hands like a rat crapping into the sugar bowl. It was an experience we will never forget, but one we never want to repeat, either!! Buying futures from many wineries is safe and a good way to ensure you get your hands on a few treasured bottles. Buying futures from that winery is like asking a crackhead to hold your stash......!

By timinspokane at Wed, 04/16/2008 - 6:24pm | login or register to post comments

yes, that is the one

He has now sold it for a heap of cash.
We were there 4 hours for the same reason you stated. You forgot the part about cleaning out his ear with said rusty knife before slicing off cheese.

thanks for the belly laugh..:)

By cjmath at Fri, 04/18/2008 - 6:32pm | login or register to post comments

"Sold It"

Hey there!

By "sold it", do you mean that Crazy Mike sold BCV?? I can understand the land being valuable, but certainly not the brand!

Oh, I didn't personally see him clean his ears with the rusty knife, but that would explain that funky orange tint on the English cheddar..... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

By timinspokane at Sat, 04/19/2008 - 7:25am | login or register to post comments

Yes, sold

The property for sure, all but a small part of it, not sure about the brand. My guess is no on the brand for all the reasons listed here.
Not clear who bought it--I have been watching the papers but nothing so far.

By cjmath at Sat, 04/19/2008 - 12:44pm | login or register to post comments

futures

well that sounds very smart! I wont do it again.
And yes, it is the "one" you are thinking of!

By cjmath at Wed, 03/26/2008 - 6:46pm | login or register to post comments

2006

One thing about Washington wine country is there are few poor or even mediocre vintages. Certainly, weather can cause challenges, but that has little to do with harvest. For example, 2004 was a strong vintage across the Columbia Valley, but not good for Walla Walla fruit, which lost 90% of its crop to a winter freeze event.

That said, 2006 was a fairly warm year, though not necessarily by Eastern Washington standards. I have not tasted many Washington reds from the '06 vintage, but those that have been released have been spectacular. Take, for example, the Barnard Griffin 06 Cab (Tulip label, $17). Unbelievably ripe fruit, great depth of flavor, terrific balance.

Depending on the winery you're looking at, the 2006 reds look like a very good bet. I think the 2007's will be even better because it was a slightly cooler year, which meant even better balance of fruit to acidity and fruit to tannin.

By aperdue at Mon, 03/24/2008 - 2:47pm | login or register to post comments

2006 vs 2007

I'm taking the other side of the fence on this one Andy.

From the limited winemaker comments I've heard, 2007 cabernet sauvignon is not the sure thing (in terms of ripeness) that it was in 2005 and 2006. The limited 2006 pre-release tasting notes appear pretty bullish so far.

This leaves the possibility the 2006s, where cabernet sauvignon is a major part of the blend, may have the edge on the 2007 cabs and blends.

Since merlot and syrah (and almost all others) ripen before the cabernet, even a 'bad to mediocre' cab sauv Washington Vintage yet can produce very good to excellent wines from earlier ripening varieties.

By mmccune at Sat, 04/19/2008 - 8:57am | login or register to post comments

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