p2002 wrote:Thank you for the input. Any idea of the publish date of the reviews?

The 05 - 12/31/2009
The 06 - 12/31/2011

Got the Howell because it will be ready soonest. Spring will be the best, but will be slower to be ready. Like big bottles because wineries put there best in them, I have always been told. Might be wrong, but people who work in the business say that. I hope it will be ready in 2014.

Winedavid39 wrote:yes, the vintner voice mail is very well done and can help discern which one to grab.

For those too lazy to go look at the info page: Vintner Voicemail

Must. Resist.
I love large format bottles! They are a blast to open with a bunch of friends.

otolith wrote:Must. Resist.
I love large format bottles! They are a blast to open with a bunch of friends.

Seriously. If it doesn't come in a wooden display box...

funbunny wrote:I don't understand why everyone is wigging out about storage for 15 years. I'm sure these will be great in just a couple of years. The vintners voicemail said that any of these are even fine to open now. Have a big barbecue this summer, throw a carcass on the fire and pop the cork. It's that simple.

Couldn't agree more! What??- no need to wait for 15 years. These wines will be tasting very nice in under 5 years. Vintage 2007 (declared best of decade) showed bright fruit and soft tannins. This will help the wine if you're drinking it now or in the near future. Heck, life is short-uncork, decant, and enjoy over the holidays.

Urgh ... so tempted as I have grandkids where they will be graduating from college and other events about the time these wines mature. I could easily talk myself into three of the Spring.

But I genuinely don't have the space in my wine coolers for something this large (with all the other wines in various stages of cellering).

Insert NIKE motto here.

It's a STEAL at $199.99 (reg price $350.00)for a 2007 Napa Cab. These large formats rarely leave the winery, so access to this heavenly liquid should be reason alone.

I sooo want to buy a couple of these. I have a 1.5L Atlas Peak, that I was planning to open in a few years. These big boys would be wonderful. But... price and storage, and I already have too many, and no wine locker offsite to store large numbers of bottles. Oh, woah is me.

Personally, I might go a bit diffenently in in preference to some - Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder then Spring. Just my $.02

Howell Mountain is SOLD OUT!

Only three options now which means you can buy one of each!

Which one is next to sell out!

Excuse my ignorance - but since both are Atlas Peak - how is $50 for the equivalent of a 750ml bottle of a 2007 vintage such a crazy-ass deal if you can get the aged Ardente for $20 a bottle for the 1997, 2001 and 2002 vintage combo at the same time? Is the Ardente in any way 'inferior' in terms of ratings, branding, value, quality ...?

Or are we paying for the novelty of a double magnum?

andreaserben wrote:Excuse my ignorance - but since both are Atlas Peak - how is $50 for the equivalent of a 750ml bottle of a 2007 vintage such a crazy-ass deal if you can get the aged Ardente for $20 a bottle for the 1997, 2001 and 2002 vintage combo at the same time? Is the Ardente in any way 'inferior' in terms of ratings, branding, value, quality ...?

Or are we paying for the novelty of a double magnum?

well it could be the hideous label on the Ardente

tytiger58 wrote:well it could be the hideous label on the Ardente

Truth!

Also, assuming that the wines are of the same caliber would be a mistake. I'm not saying they're not, but making that assumption isn't the best thing to do for comparison's sake. For one thing, these are vineyard designated, meaning all the fruit comes from the single AVA. I don't know, but I'm guessing that the Ardente is a blend. Bad thing? Of course not. But you don't get the same sense of place you would with one of these.

And, to some extent, yes; you're paying for the novelty of 4 bottles in one. Generally large format bottles are more expensive than 750s per ml.

kylemittskus wrote:Truth!

Also, assuming that the wines are of the same caliber would be a mistake. I'm not saying they're not, but making that assumption isn't the best thing to do for comparison's sake. For one thing, these are vineyard designated, meaning all the fruit comes from the single AVA. I don't know, but I'm guessing that the Ardente is a blend. Bad thing? Of course not. But you don't get the same sense of place you would with one of these.

And, to some extent, yes; you're paying for the novelty of 4 bottles in one. Generally large format bottles are more expensive than 750s per ml.

Also differe wine-makers, different winemaking styles, different cooperage, etc....

kylemittskus wrote:For one thing, these are vineyard designated, meaning all the fruit comes from the single AVA. I don't know, but I'm guessing that the Ardente is a blend.

Wouldn't both have to be disclosed?

kylemittskus wrote:
And, to some extent, yes; you're paying for the novelty of 4 bottles in one. Generally large format bottles are more expensive than 750s per ml.

... but to what extent?



I completely understand that there are price differences between winemakers and wines - as a 3-buck-chuck from TJ is of course not the same as crafted small-winery-wine.

I am specifically interested why everybody is SO excited about 2007 for $50 for the equivalent of a bottle from those specific "Atlas Peak" winery (atlaspeak.com) versus the Ardente... but then even info on the Ardente is rather 'light' in the Interweb.

Ratings/prices won/reputation of the specific winery VS the Ardente/exceptional vintage year - I have read not much tangible other than liking the marketing/distribution in the 3L form factor.

On their website they do not seem to sell the 2007 at all, which makes me a bit cautious.

andreaserben wrote:... but to what extent?



I completely understand that there are price differences between winemakers and wines - as a 3-buck-chuck from TJ is of course not the same as crafted small-winery-wine.

I am specifically interested why everybody is SO excited about 2007 for $50 for the equivalent of a bottle from those specific wineries versus the Ardente... but then even info on the Ardente is rather 'light' in the Interweb.

Ratings/prices won/reputation of the specific wineries VS the Ardente/exceptional vintage year - I have read not much tangible other than liking the marketing/distribution in the 3L form factor.

I don't know the number off the top of my head, but in order to label a wine with a certain AVA designation, it must contain a certain percentage of grapes from that designation (I believe it is 90% but it could be as low as 80%).

I would venture to say that people are excited about this wine for three reasons.

1) 2007 is widely considered the best or top 2, vintages of the last decade.

2) The AVA's on these wines are exceptional growing regions for top quality, age-able cabernet.

3) Double-Mag

Combine all of these and you have awesome grapes, from a great vintage, from an area that produces high quality, age-worthy cabernet, in a bottle format that lends itself to better aging and makes a great centerpiece for significant special occasions.

How does this differ from the Ardente? In every single way except the AVA....

I personally bought neither of these wines, so am not biased. I would stand my 3L of 2007 Jana Cathedral up to this any day of the week, and I paid $25 less!

North316 wrote:1) 2007 is widely considered the best or top 2, vintages of the last decade.

2) The AVA's on these wines are exceptional growing regions for top quality, age-able cabernet.

thanks - that was actually helpful

andreaserben wrote:thanks - that was actually helpful

Are you saying I wasn't?

I agree with North. 2007 and double mags. 2007 is the year you want lots and lots of CS from Sonoma/Napa.

bobrush12866 wrote:Howell Mountain is SOLD OUT!

Only three options now which means you can buy one of each!

Which one is next to sell out!

Dagnabit!! I waited too long!

Oh well, got the Howell Mtn one.

kylemittskus wrote:

I agree with North.

You should just make this your signature, Kyle.

Hi, this is Ondine - the winemaker. Certainly there is no need or requirement to age for a further 15 years - the wine is just capable of extended aging. In the short term the wine is rich and structured with big tannins. Cheers

tytiger58 wrote:Where am I going to store that for 15 years??

kylemittskus wrote:Are you saying I wasn't?

I agree with North. 2007 and double mags. 2007 is the year you want lots and lots of CS from Sonoma/Napa.

You two don't know anything! My comment was by far the most helpful.

AND...they make great display pieces when signed by everyone who enjoyed indulging in them! Also impresses wine wonks

otolith wrote:Must. Resist.
I love large format bottles! They are a blast to open with a bunch of friends.

MarkDaSpark wrote:Dagnabit!! I waited too long!

Oh well, got the Howell Mtn one.

Hi - Ondine again. I would go for the Spring Mountain after the Howell - elegance without the brawn.

North316 wrote:I don't know the number off the top of my head, but in order to label a wine with a certain AVA designation, it must contain a certain percentage of grapes from that designation (I believe it is 90% but it could be as low as 80%).

I would venture to say that people are excited about this wine for three reasons.

1) 2007 is widely considered the best or top 2, vintages of the last decade.

2) The AVA's on these wines are exceptional growing regions for top quality, age-able cabernet.

3) Double-Mag

Combine all of these and you have awesome grapes, from a great vintage, from an area that produces high quality, age-worthy cabernet, in a bottle format that lends itself to better aging and makes a great centerpiece for significant special occasions.

How does this differ from the Ardente? In every single way except the AVA....

I personally bought neither of these wines, so am not biased. I would stand my 3L of 2007 Jana Cathedral up to this any day of the week, and I paid $25 less!

Hi - Ondine here - 3L are not widely produced and are usually bottled for use by special accounts or for winery-direct (such as wine club) sales for special occassions. As noted already the larger format matures more slowly than the small bottles, and makes a great statement visually but scarcity also plays into this. If you are buying for volume then the economics of 750 mls might be more favorable whereas buying a large format is about the wine as well as the enhanced experience of sharing it. Other factors go into the expense of large format bottles as well including the not so glamorous expenses of glass, custom label and hand-cut corks (larger dimensions).

atlaspeak1 wrote:Couldn't agree more! What??- no need to wait for 15 years. These wines will be tasting very nice in under 5 years. Vintage 2007 (declared best of decade) showed bright fruit and soft tannins. This will help the wine if you're drinking it now or in the near future. Heck, life is short-uncork, decant, and enjoy over the holidays.

Hi, winemaker Ondine here. Just another note about why I mentioned long-term ageability. Many people like to purchase a bottle from the vintage of the year of a child's birth as a gift for when that child reaches the legal drinking age. If you have a child or niece or nephew or godchild born in 2007 for whom you would like to purchase a cornerstone for her/his cellar these would be excellent choices. Parents will be envious.

atlaspeak1 wrote:Hi - Ondine again. I would go for the Spring Mountain after the Howell - elegance without the brawn.

Well, took your advice and went with the Spring Mountain. I also purchased the 3 vinyard 2006 last week so it should be an interesting Atlas trip. Will try to take notes on the 2006's to read when I finally open the big boy in a few years.

MarkDaSpark wrote:Dagnabit!! I waited too long!

Oh well, got the Howell Mtn one.

Hey. Next August is my 5 year wedding anniversary. Just saying......................

joelsisk wrote:Seriously. If it doesn't come in a wooden display box...

That's reason enough right there!

As I sit here thinking about this offer I have to ask myself...why the he@@ didn't I buy more of the mountain 3 packs

Maybe the winery/woot will bring that back again???

Spring mountain is gone.

I wish woot would go back to telling us how many of each were available. I understand why they dont, but as a curious consumer I want the numbers.

Hey Ondine, on the last 3L purchase, Scott Harvey was kind enough to sign our bottles did we get the same gesture from you?

Winedavid39 wrote:too late, we already have them in the warehouse and primed to ship in time for Christmas. good idea for next time though.

Hey WD feel like signing mine instead

Honestly though, with any of the 3L bottles it would be great to have the winemaker sign them.

See what you started SH, you set the bar high

Holy 2 day shipping Batman! Glad I checked FedEx today and redirected to the local store.

WD and Atlas, you all rock.

EDIT: well 2 day didnt happen. FedEx just called and said it missed its flight (apparently my wife is not the only one who can miss a flight) She said it will make it tomorrow. No worries as it will sit for awhile.