What quantity do you buy these days?

[sjw_11]

Reading through the discussion on Gavin's group buying opportunity (sorry Gavin I won't join given my new location, but here is another reminder to people to get their orders in!) I noticed a few people pointing out they rarely buy a dozen straight or perhaps no longer do so...

I am curious then, what quantities are people typically buying in today? I saw Tigger mentioned he buys in 1, 2 or 3 except in exceptional cases.

Personally I have moved a bit the other way... I used to buy a lot more single bottles and now try to buy in 3s or 6s, and to try and buy more consistently some of the same labels every year to build up a collection...

What is everyone else doing? And are the labels you buy haphazard, or do people specifically make a point to buy certain wines EVERY year? ... I suppose a follow up to that is: what is the longest straight vertical in your collection?

(I am embarrassed to say my best unbroken verticle is probably only Basket Press 2006x 1, 2007x 1, 2008x3, 2009x 1, 2010x5, and bizarrely Turkey Flat Mouvedre 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010...)

[George Krashos]

I usually buy no more than 6 of any wine, in most cases 3. My longest straight vertical would be Rockford BP back to 96. Had a 95 but drank it this year for an 18th birth year wine. Also have a 93 and a 91 tucked away somewhere.

-- George Krashos

[rens]

2, 3 or 4.
Only 4 if I'm buying one to drink now and the rest to cellar.

[ticklenow1]

2,3 or 6 if it is an exceptional wine and I can afford it

But when I buy 2 and drink it a few years later and it is a cracker, I often ask myself why I didn't buy more. But with limited cellar space I just can't keep buying 6 packs as there are just so many good quality/good VFM wines out at the moment and I like to have a good cross section of wines.

As for verticals, I have Rockford Basket Press from 2002 and Rockford Rifle Range from 2001. I have Greenock Creek Alice's Shiraz, Apricot Block Shiraz and Cabernet from 2002. I also have all the Noons (that have been released) from 2005 as well. Most of my verticals started about 2005/6 when I started to prioritise certain wineries rather than just buying willy nilly. I wish I had been a bit smarter when I started buying wine in about 2001.

I actually love drinking several vintages of the same wine, especially single vineyard ones. It really shows the vintages for what they were. A while back we did a Rockford Moppa Springs and then a few weeks later, a Greenock Creek Alice's Shiraz and they both were really interesting exercises. A Noon Eclipse vertical was also done a year or so back and posted on here as well -
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12521&p=100153&hilit=noon+eclipse#p100153

Cheers
Ian

[graham]

Depends on wine
Vat 1 12
Vat 47 12
Rockford basket pressed, cabsav And black Shiraz 6 of each
Alex head 6 of each single vineyard
Lakes folly 12

Never under 6 and rarely over 12

Vertices
15 years of basket pressed
14 years lakes folly
10 years Clonakilla

Graham

[Mike Hawkins]

6 or12, and then I periodically return for more. For some high end champagnes in great vintages, it may be 24+, especially in the past year.

[calm]

Max 3 of any one wine in vintage, I like exploring different wines as much as drinking a wine I know I like.

[Polymer]

1, 2 or 3 unless there are exceptional circumstances.....

Even if I were in a more permanent situation where storage might not be an issue...I just think there are too many good things out there to drink...although for those real crackers I'll have wished I had more but there are so many great things out there, that feeling really doesn't last long...

[TravisW]

Vertices
15 years of basket pressed
14 years lakes folly
10 years Clonakilla

Graham

Did you get any of the Clonakilla SV 2007ers Graham?

Cheers, Travis.

[mjs]

For me its normally at least 12 of anything that's any good, but that can be plus or minus. Eg, some Coonawarra favourites, Black Label, Katnook, Leconfield, Bowen, etc

Also seem to buying 12 x drinking now stuff as well

Got 2 x Penfolds Bin 169 recently and obviously couldnt afford a dozen

[Michael McNally]

I generally buy in sixes though I am now buying more in 2s and 3s for variety.

Wines for long-term cellaring with a long lifespad like WDCE Springflat Shiraz and WCE Black Label Cabernet I might buy 8 or 12.

I have been very patient these last 5 years hardly touching any of my cellaring wines and am now looking at starting on my 2006s. One a year for the next 6-12 years? that's what I started a cellar for!

Longest vertical is Marius 2002-2010

Cheers

Michael

PS Has anyone heard from Roger Pike lately? I sent him an email a while back but got no reply.

[tpang]

I tend to buy 1 or 2 bottles, even for wines that I really like. I don't have a proper cellar space, don't use off-site storage, so I'm limited to using whatever space remains in two 150+ btl wine fridges.

The longest verticals I have are Torbreck Descendent since '98 and Noon's Cabernet since 2000.

That's not to say I've never bought 6s, or 12s. But very rarely. Last 6-pack was the LaPierre Morgon 2009.

[damonpeyo]

Longest vertical is Marius 2002-2010

Cheers

Michael

PS Has anyone heard from Roger Pike lately? I sent him an email a while back but got no reply.

Heard from him last week when I updated my details. Took 3-4 days to get reply.

[simon1980]

I almost always buy 2 or 3 of a wine nowadays. However, there are a few wines I tend to get a six pack each year...Seppelt Drumborg Riesling, Wendouree Shiraz spring most readily to mind. I did get a little excited with the 2012 Rieslings, however...

I made a decision to not buy "just 1" of a wine any more...or I never want to drink it!

Graham, love your list...

simon1980

[sjw_11]

So can anyone top Graham's 15-yrs of straight vertical??

[phillisc]

So can anyone top Graham's 15-yrs of straight vertical??

rockford BP 86-2010
Wynns
Shiraz 90-2012
BL 66-68, 76-2010
JR 82-2010
Michael 90-2010, just the 2012s to get and no more wynns EVER

Craiglee 94-2010
Seppelts great western/St peters 91-2008
Bests bin 0 96-2010
mount Mary quintet 94-2008
passing clouds graemes blend 1994-2010 (i think i am the only person in australia who drinks passing clouds)
woodstock stocks 91-08
wendouree shiraz 90-2011

Now surely the henschke and pennies nuts out there can blow that list into the weeds

Cheers
Craig

[mjs]

dont have stocks of all vintages left, but have had

BL 57, 65, 66, 67, most 70's, every vintage since 80, still have most of 90-2010

lots of JR 82 onwards

Bowen Estate cabernet and blends since mid-70's, others are a bit sporadic - 707, 389, Leconfield, most Hollick Ravenswood (but have just discontinued this)

Some Redman and Laira in the 70's and 80's

Is there a Coonawarra bias coming though here

[sjw_11]

So can anyone top Graham's 15-yrs of straight vertical??

rockford BP 86-2010
Wynns
Shiraz 90-2012
BL 66-68, 76-2010
JR 82-2010
Michael 90-2010, just the 2012s to get and no more wynns EVER

Craiglee 94-2010
Seppelts great western/St peters 91-2008
Bests bin 0 96-2010
mount Mary quintet 94-2008
passing clouds graemes blend 1994-2010 (i think i am the only person in australia who drinks passing clouds)
woodstock stocks 91-08
wendouree shiraz 90-2011

Now surely the henschke and pennies nuts out there can blow that list into the weeds

Cheers
Craig

Shiok! as they say in Singapore... I am very jealous
I dont think I have ever had the Passing Clouds Craig, but I always liked the look of the labels (very classic)... are they making good wine these days? I have been looking to fill out more non-SA wines in the cellar...

[phillisc]

Sam please don't be jealous, I live in a very modest house drive a 10 year old 4 cylinder and most of my money goes on school fees and a mortgage.
I see you are in Singapore, that would be a blast i reckon to be OS for a while!
The wines I buy now are down to yearly must haves, about 10-20 cases a year and thats it.

There are so many on this forum who have amazing collections, international stuff french bubblies etc...my whole cellar is very singular in many respects, coonawarra, clare, barossa and a bit of victoria ( cause Vic reds are such good value and stupid people from SA largely ignore them...yes I was was stupid once...but saw the great western, heathcote, Sunbury, YV light).

Before we had kids, bigger mortgage and when i was a single lad, i tried to buy a dozen wines every 1-2 weeks and did so for a good few years and yes have a large of inventory of aged reds. A watershed day was when Farmer Bros ( please delete if you need to Gavin, but they are extinct) went into receivership and I could buy wines at 3 to one that I could in Adelaide...I will never forget it. I spent 5 grand about 20 years ago, filled a trailer and came home with about 35 dozen bottles, a good start to the cellar.

I wish I was on a big 6 figure salary, there are so many more wines that I want to buy and after culling more than 40 mailing lists over the years would love again to give them some custom...but I don't have the coin.
Yes I will get round to doing a few verticals one day and start getting into a few.
As for Passing clouds, have not purchased for about 3-4 years...but will again, the angel cab blend, the reserve shiraz and graemes cab shiraz are crackers and none over $35. Great wines for great money...will dig one out soon to have a look.

All the best
Craig.

[simon1980]

Sam please don't be jealous, I live in a very modest house drive a 10 year old 4 cylinder and most of my money goes on school fees and a mortgage.
I see you are in Singapore, that would be a blast i reckon to be OS for a while!
The wines I buy now are down to yearly must haves, about 10-20 cases a year and thats it.

There are so many on this forum who have amazing collections, international stuff french bubblies etc...my whole cellar is very singular in many respects, coonawarra, clare, barossa and a bit of victoria ( cause Vic reds are such good value and stupid people from SA largely ignore them...yes I was was stupid once...but saw the great western, heathcote, Sunbury, YV light).

Before we had kids, bigger mortgage and when i was a single lad, i tried to buy a dozen wines every 1-2 weeks and did so for a good few years and yes have a large of inventory of aged reds. A watershed day was when Farmer Bros ( please delete if you need to Gavin, but they are extinct) went into receivership and I could buy wines at 3 to one that I could in Adelaide...I will never forget it. I spent 5 grand about 20 years ago, filled a trailer and came home with about 35 dozen bottles, a good start to the cellar.

I wish I was on a big 6 figure salary, there are so many more wines that I want to buy and after culling more than 40 mailing lists over the years would love again to give them some custom...but I don't have the coin.
Yes I will get round to doing a few verticals one day and start getting into a few.
As for Passing clouds, have not purchased for about 3-4 years...but will again, the angel cab blend, the reserve shiraz and graemes cab shiraz are crackers and none over $35. Great wines for great money...will dig one out soon to have a look.

All the best
Craig.

Craig, cracking comments. A true love of wine, and you have taken care to build a lovely cellar, with good age on it. Not jealous, but inspired.

simon1980

[paulf]

I'm a bit all over the shop for the quantities I buy. My preference is to buy in 6s but sometimes offers on a case of 12 are too good to refuse, and I am considering buying lots of 4 so that I can buy a wider range of wines.
I'll also often buy a couple of bottles of something for try outs. I'll seldom ever buy single bottles unless they are fortifieds.

I've only got one vertical worth mentioning and that is Hanging Rock Heathcote shiraz where I have 2000 - 2009 (minus the 07 which wasn't made). A couple of years I only have a magnum though.

[phillisc]

Oh and quantity, only in 6 or 12s, something quaint about having them in a box. On occasion, I have gone completely crazy and purchased a handful of wines in 5 and 10 dozen lots...someone will get married or have a 50th.

However, I will be looking for some sub $20 2012 reds, surely there will still be some around at that price point, that I can buy say 5 dozen of each to drink over the next 10+ years. Should see me through for a while and the thirsty lads that I live with can buy their own by then.

Hopefully there is some shiraz and cabernet to be had, could be a pallet order for auswine forumites if interest in wines like the Mike Press is anything to go by.

Cheers Craig.

[alexc92]

Fairly new to buying wine in big quantities but having bought a 72 wine fridge recently and think I might have to buy up on some 2012 releases! Probably will need another fridge....

[markj]

Hi guys - first post but have been regularly following the forum for a few months and as a bit of a newbie have picked up so much great information from your collective wine experiences.

With limited storage of about 140 bottles, I tend to buy wines in quantities of 2-6 from auctions with some bottle age "ready to drink" as I don't have the storage capacity for buying at release and storing for the long term.
Also with buying the smaller quantities gives me the chance to try a wider range of wines as I've only had a wine store and been buying wines at auction for about 12 months - dangerously addictive!

Cheers
Mark

[Chuck]

I try to buy at least 6 of good stuff. It's good to be able to see how they develop over the years. Currently for good quality quaffers from 2010 and 2012 i'll buy 1-3 cases. I'm just so tired or drinking the last bottle and thinking I should have bought more. Remember there's no such thing as too much wine.

Carl

[Michael McNally]

Hi guys - first post but have been regularly following the forum for a few months and as a bit of a newbie have picked up so much great information from your collective wine experiences.

With limited storage of about 140 bottles, I tend to buy wines in quantities of 2-6 from auctions with some bottle age "ready to drink" as I don't have the storage capacity for buying at release and storing for the long term.
Also with buying the smaller quantities gives me the chance to try a wider range of wines as I've only had a wine store and been buying wines at auction for about 12 months - dangerously addictive!

Cheers
Mark

Welcome to the Forum, Mark!

It certainly is getting easier to get wines with a little bottle age without too much of a price premium. Still it's addictive as you say. You keep posting here and I'll wager you will have a second fridge or offsite storage before you can say Wynns' Black Label......

Cheers

Michael

[Chuck]

Sam please don't be jealous, I live in a very modest house drive a 10 year old 4 cylinder and most of my money goes on school fees and a mortgage.
I see you are in Singapore, that would be a blast i reckon to be OS for a while!
The wines I buy now are down to yearly must haves, about 10-20 cases a year and thats it.

There are so many on this forum who have amazing collections, international stuff french bubblies etc...my whole cellar is very singular in many respects, coonawarra, clare, barossa and a bit of victoria ( cause Vic reds are such good value and stupid people from SA largely ignore them...yes I was was stupid once...but saw the great western, heathcote, Sunbury, YV light).

Before we had kids, bigger mortgage and when i was a single lad, i tried to buy a dozen wines every 1-2 weeks and did so for a good few years and yes have a large of inventory of aged reds. A watershed day was when Farmer Bros ( please delete if you need to Gavin, but they are extinct) went into receivership and I could buy wines at 3 to one that I could in Adelaide...I will never forget it. I spent 5 grand about 20 years ago, filled a trailer and came home with about 35 dozen bottles, a good start to the cellar.

I wish I was on a big 6 figure salary, there are so many more wines that I want to buy and after culling more than 40 mailing lists over the years would love again to give them some custom...but I don't have the coin.
Yes I will get round to doing a few verticals one day and start getting into a few.
As for Passing clouds, have not purchased for about 3-4 years...but will again, the angel cab blend, the reserve shiraz and graemes cab shiraz are crackers and none over $35. Great wines for great money...will dig one out soon to have a look.

All the best
Craig.

I''m with Craig except I just wrote the last school fee cheque. . I drive a 2006 Commodore and prefer to buy wine than drive a current model car. Others have other weaknesses and that's what wine is all about. But what a weakness to have!

[shy180]

Interesting topic.

I usually buy dozens but have in the past year started buying 6's and on occasion 3's to allow my wine buying dollar to go further especially with exy burgs/bords …. also to encourage more drinking and less buying…i dont know why but I struggle to break the symmetry of a straight dozen….sometimes anyway.

Cheers

Greg

[phillisc]

Agreed Greg, often in the past I would buy bakers dozens...drink one and keep the box intact and be like a kid staring at an all day sucker....when to open when to open.
I am slowly starting to organise the cellar and now have some shelving

By rough estimate I think there are around 30 unopened cases from the 90s...probably all shot, or ullaged.
First wine I am going track down is some Passing Clouds. Is a slow work in progress but am finally in the position where I can assemble some sort of order.

Cheers Craig.

[Craig(NZ)]

I used to have a number of wines I bought every year. I had a 10 year Eileen Hardy Shiraz vertical, a 10 year Unison Selection vertical for example. I buy Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc every year out of tradition but drink them within 6 months

I've realised that the occasion to actual roll out a vertical just never occurs and I have slowly drunk my verticals single bottle at a time except the Eileen Hardy which I donated to a charity event. My friends like wine but not really to the extent of worrying about this sort of thing. So I have stopped consciously collecting verticals

I do have a complete vertical of Puriri Hills top wines but it is just a young label. I have a dozen vintages of Te Mata Coleraine but not straight (minus the weaker vintages), and a good handful of Stonyridge too

These days I buy my favourite labels in higher quantities and go long in top vintages and skip lesser vintages. I no longer have the time to keep up with new news from 100's of wineries. I don't attend many tastings like I used to do, nor do I tour wineries as regularly as I used to. I have a deep knowledge of a few wineries and their wines but next to no recent knowledge of many of the new kids