Glitzy TerroirLife Catalog???

Curious as to if anyone else got this glitzy/glossy TerroirLife catalog in the mail the
last few days???
http://www.TerroirLife.com

It appears to be a conglomeration of not-so “special” deals on wines from all the CharlesBanks-owned properties.
Loaded w/ pics of hot chicks/cool dudes/millennials. Including some very/very expensive decanters (SimonHasan Wrap)
with a piece of leather riveted around the neck or body.
They do offer up “personalized service from a wine specialist” on a round-the-clock basis.

Not sure how they got my name. Unless it’s because I just ordered one of those private jets that was advertised in the latest WS.

Tom

I got one too, maybe because I buy some wine from Pax Mahle?

I got it because of my purchasing history with Sandhi. Had the same reaction as you Tom - pretty over the top. Charles Banks seem rather savvy on his wine investments and didn’t buy all of these great wine brands for a hobby. Creating a “lifestyle” if you will.
Of the wines I have tried of his, I really like them. Mayacamas, Sandhi, Evening Land, Wind Gap and Qupe (haven’t you followed them since the start?
Next time you are in Central Coast I recommend stopping at the Sandhi tasting room behind Matteis Tavern (also owned by Chuck) - amazing wines on tap. First you go through Sandhis wines then you can taste most of the others in his stable from a preservation machine in the back. Pretty impressive stuff.
Friday night I popped 2011 Sandhi Pinot Noir - SRH - wow very, very impressive wine. This was the basic cuvee and was spectacular - very old world.

Yes, I got one too and figured it was because I was on the Wind Gap mailing list. Dunno, but I’ve been less interested in those wines since the Charles Banks investment… Silly, probably, but this over-the-top catalog confirmed me in that…

Wind Gap was the only wine from that catalogue I bought so that’s how I’m assuming they got my details.

Moi?? From the very start??? Why, of course, Tom.

When I was out there in SBC slightly over a yr ago, I did just that. I like Raj’s Sandhi wines quite a lot. Very well made/interesting juice.
Tom

Prolly the reason I got it, too. I order from both WindGap & Qupe, so I suspect that’s where they got my info. But I prefer to think it came
from that really cool Bombardier 2-engine jet that I just ordered from WS!!! First time I set that sucker down at LosAlamosInternationalAirport,
I’ll be the talk of all LosAlamos!!

I would suggest that the CharlesBanks (partial or full) ownership of WindGap or Qupe is not a valid reason to drop those wines.
Both Pax & Bob are in full control of the winemaking decisions and I doubt his ownership will impact those two much.
Tom

Tom,

I agree wholeheartedly with your last statement - I think Charles has shown a very ‘hands off’ approach to the wineries he’s purchased, including WindGap and Qupe. If anyone has noticed changes in style or substance, it would have more to do with Pax and Bob making changes OR vintage variations . . .

As far as Sandhi goes, they will have their own tasting room along Grand where Qupe used to be. Qupe is moving next door in the same building as they currently are. Not sure what will happen with the Watering Hole, but perhaps it will continue to pour the other wines in the Terroir collection.

Also to note that Eric Rorhsback, one of the two somms that started Las Marchands in SB, has left and been hired by Charles Banks to run the wine program at Mattei’s Tavern. Eric has completely divested himself not only of the Las Marchands project, but also Notary Public, a wine label he started recently along with the women who owns the property where Las Marchands, The lark and a few other businesses are in the Funk Zone.

As the SB wine scene world turns . . .

Tom, I am sure you are right, as far as the wines go. And maybe that’s all that should matter.

But I prefer to see bottle profits from wine I buy ploughed back into, say, a new concrete egg (or a wine-maker’s vacation) rather than leveraged into a fancy catalog to generate more profits from some market-researched group of well-heeled aspirational buyers.

I am sure that for every existing customer like me who drops for this quaint reason, there are many more who will “buy into” the glitzy narrative of Bombardiers and “luxe” (to use that awful term). Doubtless, Charles Banks is a savvy businessman.

I was unaware of investment/ownership until this catalog arrived, and while the weird ‘lifestyle’ glitz resonates negatively with me I still have never popped a Wind Gap that I didn’t really enjoy.

Couldn’t agree more. And his was the first Syrah that I ever enjoyed and I have a bunch still in my cellar.

There certainly doesn’t seem to be any price advantage…full retail across the board. Maybe if I order directly from Terroir Life, some of those good looking people show up to drink the wine with me?

Also, I’ve been contemplating getting “Terroir Life” tattooed on my abdomen, but now I’m wondering if that would constitute trademark infringement?

Why not try a paint-on first and make that your avatar for 2015?

I just got a 6-pack of 2012 and wanted a case, my WL got crossed-up during the offer.

Who’s bum is front and center?

Great idea! And I’d be happy to start a charitable thread and donate $10 for every male body+wine paraphernalia avatar adopted by a user

I just went through my mail and I was sent one, too. I just wish Pax would ship my pending Wind Gap order already so I can get into some of the new wines. Really looking forward to tasting the rest of the new '12s.