Hospices Auction Group issues with non-delivery of Burgundy

Lewis_Dawson · April 25, 2011, 5:14am

Is it 2006 wines that have not yet been delivered? That would be quite a delay. I gather the scenario was to avoid hooking up with an established importer to save a couple of bucks?

Keith_Levenberg · April 25, 2011, 5:15am

2005!

Lewis_Dawson · April 25, 2011, 5:22am

Ouch!

Rick_Gregory · April 25, 2011, 5:51am

Keith,

David Klinger is a member here. If he connected his email to the PM feature, you could try PMing him here.

Eric_LeVine · April 25, 2011, 6:27am

He has deleted his post on eBob. He has now stripped all references to HAG from his LinkedIn page after I pointed out their prominence there. I dearly hope that people hear from him by the end of this week as he promised, before he deleted his post where he mentioned this.

Mike_Miller · April 25, 2011, 7:11am

If anyone hears anything, I’d appreciate a heads up. I have a few cases involved.

Mark_Golodetz · April 25, 2011, 11:29am

Still do not understand what they could be arguing about.

Jim_Hartten · April 25, 2011, 12:24pm

I am also waiting for a 1/2 case of 05 Mersualt. I emailed David Klinger about 2-3 weeks ago (to facilitate delivery I have offered to assist David in identifying a place to ship wines for DC market). He stated that the wines (or some of the wines) had been shipped to NY (where they supposidly reside at present) in the wrong wine boxes, and that this was causing the current delay? I really hope it all works out but the delays have been significant. I would like to hear more about what Posnor wrote.

Chris_Kravitz · April 25, 2011, 12:24pm

When this was developing I wanted in, never pulled the trigger, not sure why, Can’t say I regret it all. Good luck to all who are in.

Bill_Klapp_deactivated · April 25, 2011, 12:51pm

Bob Wood, my eyesight is not what it once was. Is your avatar Rachel Ray choking somebody’s chicken, so to speak?

Bob_Wood · April 25, 2011, 1:05pm

Yes, Bill. It most certainly is.

You should see her shuck an ear of corn and remove the silk.

Ray.Tuppa_sch · April 25, 2011, 1:27pm

I am not part of this group but when I first heard about these delays it was worrisome. At this point it is obviously more so. It is not rocket science having wines brought in to the US from Europe. I hope it is merely total incompetence and not anything else and everyone eventually gets their wine.

Mike_Grammer · April 25, 2011, 1:32pm

Also no dog in the fight, but worrisome to hear for all concerned. A friend who had also gotten a barrel from that Hospice got his wine about a year and a half ago (I have a bottle of Corton of that), so it’s hard to believe it’s shipping.

Eric_LeVine · April 25, 2011, 2:06pm

Oh dear, this is rather different from what was posted and deleted. I will repost my reply which quoted that and now is the last evidence.

david klinger:

sorry to disappoint anyone who loves a scandal … nothing interesting beyond a long learning curve and my own sloth/incompetence with all the moving parts, not to mention other responsibilities of mine from time to time. if you want to know all the details of what’s sort of stuff happened over the years, try doing something like this yourself from scratch.

no wine is lost - nothing - US bound wines were imported to the states just before X-mas '10 and they are sitting, properly protected in commercial storage until they are distributed, which coincidentally i am working on final distribution this week, weekend and into next week. So can we let this rest for the time being? I will not be returning to this thread in case anyone is wondering.

[thanks to Don C for pointing out that this thread existed]

David, is this a job for you? Your LinkedIn page would suggest it is. It’s a bit confusing. If distributions don’t get all sorted out in the next week as promised, might I strongly suggest you take up Marc Lazar on his offer for logistical assistance. I suspect many of the 175 people are also his clients, and he could easily take care of a chunk of this for you.

Managing Member
Hospices Auction Group

Nonprofit; 1-10 employees; Wine and Spirits industry

September 2005 – Present (5 years 8 months)

Coordinator for over 175 Burgundy enthusiasts who collectively buy at the two major charity wine auctions in the world (Hospices de Beaune and Hospices de Nuits). Collectively these auctions raise several million euros per year to support the ill and indigent in the Cote d’Or. The institutions have a history going back over 650 years.

Keith_Levenberg · April 25, 2011, 2:16pm

David was of course an active and enthusiastic member of the community for a long time before starting the Hospices group and while it’s frustrating having to wait longer than any of my Premier Cru orders for delivery, I haven’t yet seen any reason not to take him at his word that it’s simply been a logistical red-tape nightmare. The guy does have a day job and as far as I know volunteered his services to the group gratis. Now that the wines are in the US and presumably have cleared customs hopefully he’ll have it sorted out soon.

Eric_LeVine · April 25, 2011, 2:29pm

Well David stated and then deleted that distribution would be sorted out this very week. I dearly hope that is the case for all involved.

BTW, I am not a buyer, but I know many who are. However as a victim of Bernie Madoff, I have to tell you, this sets all of my alarm bells ringing wildly. I pray it’s a false alarm, but I also pray that David takes up offers from people like Marc Lazar who are highly skilled in these exact sort of endgame logistics.

Eric_LeVine · April 25, 2011, 2:36pm

Uggg, and now the ever helpful Squires deleted my last post and locked the thread by stuffing it in Commerce Corner. Amazing.

ToddFrench · April 25, 2011, 2:40pm

You know why…

Bob_Wood · April 25, 2011, 2:45pm

Michael_Bowden · April 25, 2011, 2:57pm

It was a fun read while it lasted.

Hope that all involved get their wine…that said…4+ years (after bottling) is a bit ridiculous to wait (If assuming 05’s).