Wendouree Mailer

[VINH NGUYEN]

Must be bout that time again soon, anyone know when they are being sent out?

[Chad]

For 4yrs in a row my mailing list order form was stamped as posted on 26th June. Just around the corner...

Chad

[richie32]

Arrived today, had about 2kms to travel from winery to home.
Special note regarding the use of Italian screwcap from Guala closures, the WAK 60/30, applied using a Bertolaso capping machine, the alpha 500.
Prices have stayed steady.
I dont have any Shiraz Malbec or straight malbec on my form, dont know if any was made.......?

Now for the ongoing crayon marker debate.

[rednut]

Yep mine arrived today. Yes let the crayon debate begin.

[orpheus]

Arrived today, had about 2kms to travel from winery to home.
Special note regarding the use of Italian screwcap from Guala closures, the WAK 60/30, applied using a Bertolaso capping machine, the alpha 500.
Prices have stayed steady.
I dont have any Shiraz Malbec or straight malbec on my form, dont know if any was made.......?

Now for the ongoing crayon marker debate.

Do you have the crayon or not? Or initials??

[Wayno]

Oh my giddy aunt... here we go again

[Waiters Friend]

For those of us that are Wendouree virgins, I understand that the waiting list is long and selective. Once and for all, could someone please definitively describe the process, pitfalls and parameters for gaining entry, so those of us who have a passion and the cellaring capacity for these great wines can gain access? What are the rules?

Cheers

Allan

[orpheus]

OK, Wayne, sorry!

I've got the red crayon stripe, which I always get, which I take to mean I have no priority. That's OK, I get about as much as I can afford this way .

[phillisc]

Arrived today, had about 2kms to travel from winery to home.
Special note regarding the use of Italian screwcap from Guala closures, the WAK 60/30, applied using a Bertolaso capping machine, the alpha 500.
Prices have stayed steady.
I dont have any Shiraz Malbec or straight malbec on my form, dont know if any was made.......?

Now for the ongoing crayon marker debate.

Yes mine arrived yesterday 28/6
Prices have remained steady in comparison to many others, but 2 varietals up 10% from last year and blends 4%.
Still this years price of EP 2010 Margaux at $1600 represents 30 bottles of wendouree shiraz!
The crayon thingy is beyond me, have always had a signature ( been on the mailer since 1994).
I am wondering because of the move to screwcaps, that wendouree will get full (maximim of 6 bottles x 4 reds) 2 dozen orders from all those who have a signature.
I can also see that a heap of this wine will be straight off to the auction house for a 100-150% instant return.

All the best in the thrill of the chase. craig.

[orpheus]

Signature is certainly a good thing, I think, Craig.

[Brucer]

Mine arrived today.
I have a black signature on mine from Tony. (cause Im special )
I have been buying since 1990.
If you miss buying one year, you are removed. Then you have to ask nicely to get back on.
I suggest writing a letter and asking to go on the list when there is a vacancy.
Bruce

[Adair]

* Received 1 hour ago in North Sydney.
* Have signature as usual - been on for quite a while.
* No Shiraz Malbec, which is unusual - just call for Tony/Lita to get the story but the phone rang out. No straight Malbec, but that is not unusual.
* I don't understand why people buy the wine and auction so quickly. From my investigation, it is only the straight Shiraz that sells for a good profit straight away.
* Love the move to screwcap
Adair

[dave vino]

Got mine today.

Re: the flickers, these would be the same ones that flick their Rockford BP as well, and Duck Muck and Clonakilla SV et al. Shame we can't put serial numbers on them. Sure it's your wine and you can do what you like with it and you might have a legit reason to get rid of them. But the way I see it once you 'have to get rid of them' then obviously you don't want them anymore and shouldn't be on the list. Harsh I know. But it gives me the shites to see all the wines on the Auction sites 1 month after release in 6 and 12 pack lot to make a $50 profit on the bottle they have contributed nothing to.

[rens]

Got mine today.

Re: the flickers, these would be the same ones that flick their Rockford BP as well, and Duck Muck and Clonakilla SV et al. Shame we can't put serial numbers on them. Sure it's your wine and you can do what you like with it and you might have a legit reason to get rid of them. But the way I see it once you 'have to get rid of them' then obviously you don't want them anymore and shouldn't be on the list. Harsh I know. But it gives me the shites to see all the wines on the Auction sites 1 month after release in 6 and 12 pack lot to make a $50 profit on the bottle they have contributed nothing to.

I was thinking the same thing. Such a shame for those of us that would like to be on the list, would buy them, cellar and enjoy.
Penfold's have bottles laser etched with numbers. So I do not see why Rockford or Wendouree couldn't do the same.
Kick the flickers of the mailing list I say.

[phillisc]

Rens and Dave, i think you are being very kind, I have wendouree from 1990 in 3-6 bottle amounts of most varieties and a few singles from the 80's. I have never sold a bottle and just hope of the 20-25 dozen quietly maturing, that my 2 lads can knock them all off with me.
people who onsell are just dickheads, they treat wine as just another investment, like shares, gold etc, and not as something to appreciate and enjoy. what do they do with the coin anyway, buy and flog more wine i suppose, or another down payment on the porsche or beach house. i am sure the winery has an idea of who these persons are, as everything is done with military precision, we all get our mailers on the same day, we all order consistently, Tony himself told me that he recalls certain customer orders year after year, some get the 6 shiraz only, some by everything they can, and some like me get the 6 shiraz and then make up with a few others, depending on what they can afford at the time.The other interesting thing is when the courier drops the wine to your house or business, have a look at their delivery sheet as you sign it. it will have names of people you know living in areas close by...quite a suprise.



Interesting that the other winery that springs to mind, Greenock creek has not followed wendourees path of being mail order only. i laugh when i hear people on the GC mailer send off their order, but then use the same cedit card, or turn up on the first saturday at 10 am and line up at the cellar door with wads of cash, or the same credit card, or get someone else to buy it for them (retailer or aforementioned dickhead). The waughs know who these persons are and funny, they don't get a mailer the following year

.

Adair you are probably right, it is only the shiraz that makes the real money. also amazes me though that we have a few resturants in adelaide who have museum wendouree on their lists, at 4-6 times what i paid for it.
Who the hell would buy it when going out to dinner, when it needs several hours in the decanter to show its best?

Sent off today for what I can afford
Someone should organise an offline/tasting, where we all bring a bottle of any wendouree.

Cheers craig.

ps. if i could get my hands on some 1997 Hoffman SVS i would be very greatful, IMHO the best SVS release to date. stupidly did not buy on the release, very small amount made with much going to switerland??!! but will be 200 a bottle not 65.

[Adair]

ps. if i could get my hands on some 1997 Hoffman SVS i would be very greatful, IMHO the best SVS release to date. stupidly did not buy on the release, very small amount made with much going to switerland??!! but will be 200 a bottle not 65.

Hi phillisc,
I actually have 3 x 1997 SVS Hoffmann in the cellar, and I have tasted it only once. I have never tried the 1998 Hoffmann as I believed that ALL went to Switzerland. Maybe a trade for an aged Wendouree Shiraz. I only have from early 2000s, and have only tried a tasting glass of the 1990 Shiraz which was extraordinary!
Adair

[Brucer]

Because its Wendouree day, and a friend dropped in, I opened one. It is a 98 Cabernet.
Its more approachable then what I was expecting.
Strong eucalypt nose.
Palate has really opened up in the hour its been breathing.
Drying and dusty, acids are tart, but wine was well balanced.Its light bodied and well structured.
A wine well worth the effort of cellaring, and has years to go.
B

[VINH NGUYEN]

OK, Wayne, sorry!

I've got the red crayon stripe, which I always get, which I take to mean I have no priority. That's OK, I get about as much as I can afford this way .

got mine today and also with the red crayon so i guess i'm in the same boat as you, as long as i get something i'm a happy chap

[Mahmoud Ali]

Have never seen Wendouree in Edmonton but have now started to see a bit of Rockford in the last couple of years. Only one vintage of the Basket Press ('03), an '00 Moppa Springs, and a Semillon.

Mahmoud

[phillisc]

ps. if i could get my hands on some 1997 Hoffman SVS i would be very greatful, IMHO the best SVS release to date. stupidly did not buy on the release, very small amount made with much going to switerland??!! but will be 200 a bottle not 65.

Hi phillisc,
I actually have 3 x 1997 SVS Hoffmann in the cellar, and I have tasted it only once. I have never tried the 1998 Hoffmann as I believed that ALL went to Switzerland. Maybe a trade for an aged Wendouree Shiraz. I only have from early 2000s, and have only tried a tasting glass of the 1990 Shiraz which was extraordinary!
Adair

Hi Adair, interesting, i never realised that there was a 98 Hoffmann. I got the 98 Flaxman and pressings and their were only 2 svs at CD that year, so you are probably right that it all went to Switzerland. There is a single bottle at langtons for a ridiculous price, must reflect its rarity.
i was once told by a rockford staffer that svs were first made in the 95 vintage. i do not think that this was actually true, as i have never seen a tasting note or an auction result. Just goes to show that the hoffman is a rare beast.

Cheers Craig.

[Brucer]

I have a 96 Hoffmann and a 96 Flaxman. I believed that 96 was the first year.

[rednut]

I have just about had it with the whole Wendouree crayon thing year after year.
A friend of mine had the signature and got all his order within about a week and a bit.
I put mine in at the same time and nada. I had the crayon line.
We have both been on their mail list the same time?

I think the wineries who look after their customers a bit better will get my custom from now on.

[Brucer]

I received my Wendouree order today. Nice new 6 case boxes.

[rednut]

Well curiosity got the better of me and I rang the winery today and got through.
Signature means you get first dibs and get what you order, crayon strip means you arent a new customer and will get priority over new customers, nothing means you are a new customer.

The lady I spoke with was very helpful and she says it changes every year as to what wine is ordered and which wine gets sent out first.
Well least that clears that up for me.

[phillisc]

Seems there isn't the usual hysteria around Wendouree releases this year, ( not that I wish to stir any up) but we are all quietly contemplating our navels.
Put the 6 shiraz and 6 Cab in their nice little boxes down in the hole to emerge sometime with the Daffy Duck character "Duck Dodger in the 24 1/2 Century".

Cheers Craig

[simon1980]

I also ended up having a quick chat with a nice lady at Wendouree. Apparently production of the '09's is lower than usual, at "less than 1000 cases". Appears to be around 1750 half cases.

Craig, I have got myself involved in my own Wendouree hysteria! As a (relatively) recent arrival to Australia, I can't believe that one of the very top wines is available, in tiny quantities, for $50. What a shame I will have to wait so long to drink them...

Simon

[phillisc]

I also ended up having a quick chat with a nice lady at Wendouree. Apparently production of the '09's is lower than usual, at "less than 1000 cases". Appears to be around 1750 half cases.

Craig, I have got myself involved in my own Wendouree hysteria! As a (relatively) recent arrival to Australia, I can't believe that one of the very top wines is available, in tiny quantities, for $50. What a shame I will have to wait so long to drink them...

Simon

Thanks Simon, yes despite the hype and the few "Wendouree Knockers" out there, they are cracking wines which I really enjoy. The first vintages I bought were in the low teens in terms of price, so 20 years on having gone up roughy $2 a vintage, they really are good value. Despite people like Halliday saying that these wines should be 3-4 times the price (Which BTW really annoys me as JH is on 20 times my annual salary) Tony and Lita have really kept things in perspective. Other smaller and larger wineries in Australia should really take note.

I will have a talk to my boys oneday to see if they want to keept the run going.
Cheers Craig.

[orpheus]

Anyone else in Sydney not yet received their order? I am wondering whether, for the first time, I have missed out completely.

[VINH NGUYEN]

Anyone else in Sydney not yet received their order? I am wondering whether, for the first time, I have missed out completely.

still waiting for mine as well
although for memory, i think i got mine around mid aug last yr, so hopefully it is the case this yr as well ...

[dave vino]

Haven't got mine, anyway if you miss out I think you get a letter saying what's left if you want to buy that.