I know I’ve been hinting that Pinot Noir allocations are going to be very small in the Spring Release. We made a very small amount from an old, low yielding vineyard. The wine came out very good and people have been pretty excited about the wine based on barrel tastings many have done.
Today I sat down though and worked out allocations based on what we have left. The first thing I had to do was let our sales people in New York and San Francisco know that there was not any available for distribution. There won’t be any going to restaurants at all. We also will not be pouring this wine at all at any events.
Even with those strict limits it was still so tight I couldn’t really believe it when I filled out the numbers. Just 21 people will be getting an allocation. That’s right – 21. The point cut off level is 1200 points to get a single 3 pack. Normally I over allocate wine and give out more wine than we have. I know some people won’t order and that way people lower on the list can get more if they would like it. This time I’m not going to risk that though. There will be a spot on the order form to request a 3 pack if you don’t have an allocation. If one of those 21 people don’t buy their Pinot Noir, the next highest person on the list who has requested some will get a 3 pack.
We also decided we are going to do a combo case. On a first come, first serve basis we will offer 20 combo cases with 8 bottles of 2007 Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah, 3 bottles of 2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon, and a bottle of 2007 Pinot Noir. I’m still working on pricing, and shipping will be free, but this was the best way we could think of to give some of the newer people on our list a chance to at least try the Pinot Noir.
I’m afraid with the amount we produced in 2008, and some retraining we’re doing in 2009, this lottory like system will be the way we allocate Pinot Noir for at least the next three years. I wish we had more to go around.
