Email just dropped, $185, up from $175 last year
Max 4 bottles per allocation. I’ll likely drop after the 2020 fiasco but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
What say you?
I was planning to take the 23s (supposedly a great vintage) and then drop off the list, partially because of the 2020 fiasco as well.
its the first time I get an allocation ill probably take 2 bottles. 4 at 185 would deplete wine budget for the rest of the year probably
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I’m still on the fence. Kind of pissed about 2020 but also really pleased that they allowed returns. What’s the word on this vintage?
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I’m taking my allocation. Or should I say a friend is taking it as it doesn’t make sense for me to buy MB anymore.
I tasted it at the First Assemblage event a couple of weeks ago. I really like it. It should be a fine vintage, but at 96% Cab Sauv (3 Merlot and 1 Petit Verdot), I’m guessing it’ll take a few decades to mature. All the Cab Franc is going into the Estate Cab as the vines haven’t reached sufficient maturity. That variety will probably go into the '24.
I’ll be taking my allocation (4x750; 1x1.5l)
Not thrilled about 2020, and not thrilled about having to buy 3x bottles of estate wines (especially with limited substitutions, and very expensive shipping)… But, I still really like the MB future program, and am sticking with it for a while.
(It has all been hashed over a million times before, but if I could order what I want (I already do), and have it held to get shipped with a full case, the 3 bottle estate minimum would not bother me so much. I love their wines, and am happy to buy them. I just don’t want to be taken advantage of.)
If anyone in south florida wants my other 2 bottles send me a pm ill take full allocation and drive them to you when they arrive
It will be interesting to see how many folks who were really pissed off about the 2020s and said they were not gonna purchase again end up purchasing again 
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I put my membership “on pause” for a year to give me more time to decide if I want to stay in the future or not
I’m not on the list and have no dog in the fight but not unlike Bordeaux EP, given the rise in rates, the flat nature of fine wine prices right now, and the increase in the futures price, it seems to make little sense to buy this in futures. People just bought the 2019 on Wine Access for less than this.
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I didn’t get a 2020 MB offer, but I did cancel after they tried to force the 3 bottle purchase on me to save my place for a potential future offer.
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Does the futures program really make sense any more? Even at full retail, i would think being forced to buy other bottles just to get MB would cost more, let alone the advance cash outlay. The gap between futures price and retail doesnt look to be as significant.
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i got no horse in the race but:
A) If you like the other wines you are “forced” to buy you aren’t really being forced
B) with 2020, it seems like they will take them back and refund you; so where’s the issue? You want the wine, keep it. you want to return it, return it. that seems fair?
I think a lot of people are grandfathered in where they do not have to buy the estate wines.
Even so, MonteBello futures seem like a borderline value proposition. I don’t see a compelling reason for or against. They certainly aren’t offered at any big discount but you can’t really buy it for cheaper either (not counting the wine access deal that was active < 1 day). With interest rates where they are, not getting your wine for a few years is significant. Also significant is the length of time you’ll have to wait until you can open a bottle. Despite the high price of older vintages, that is looking more attractive as they raise the price each year.
A. The other wines are available elsewhere for cheaper. Ridge’s scheme is a classic hostage program.
B. Multiple sources including the top rated critics have noted that the wine is smoke tainted. Ridge insists it is not. This falls under the category “do you trust the winery?”
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I like the wines, and don’t mind buying them.
The issue is: you pay a hefty premium to buy them from Ridge, during that time.
I buy other wines directly from Ridge, but I strategically only buy them when they have free shipping sales (hint: Black Friday).
Specific example: with taxes and shipping, I paid $98/bottle for 2021 Estate Cabernet (which I had to do, to get my MB allocation). The current WS low for that wine is $65, and it is widely available for $80-$85. That has not deterred me from staying in the MB futures program yet… but it may at some point…
EDIT: an additional benefit of being in the MB program is you get 15% off case orders of other wines. When I DO order (on black friday), I take advantage of that. It is worth noting that helps offset some of the additional cost associated with the required purchases.
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but to point B - you can return the wine. there may be critics who score bottles low (not tainted) and you cannot return them unopened, at least Ridge will take it back. having to pay more for other wines I guess seems odd but if you like those wines, coupled with the cheaper price on the futures…if you dont like those wines, just buy the bottles on release, pay more but you don’t have to buy the other bottles.
Maybe I’m old-fashioned but I wouldn’t exactly characterize the right to a return a wine knowingly sold as tainted as a feature.
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This is key when purchasing out of state from Ridge. Always pick up some 375mls of Lytton Springs Zin when they offer free shipping.
What do they sell the 375’s for?