I'm done buying wine for a year. Who is with me?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:06 pm

So I accomplished basically all of my goals in 2019 as far as rounding out my cellar.

I purchased about 200 bottles of 2014 Bordeaux at incredible prices in NH.

I purchased about 120 bottles of 2016 Bordeaux on sale in NH.

As I've indicated before, because of my age, 2016 is the last vintage I'm buying in quantity.

I bought some lesser Bordeauxs, chiantis, etc., what do you guys call them, cellar-savers(?), so that I don't have to dip into the bottles I'm saving for my retiremnt years.

I did a final splurge yesterday, buying another four bottles of 2008 Cristal.

I even have a couple bottles coming in today from Maynard James Keenan's "Linda" parcel in Arizona as an ultimate splurge.

I've cut back drinking alcohol to about one, sometimes two days per week and a little more on BWE and family special occasions, with three months of fasting, so the cellar-savers should hold me pretty well through 2020. I'll definitely go into some serious fasting at points in 2020 as I have five pending homicide cases, including the Alaska case.

I tried to buy six of those champagnes that Patrick recommended yesterday but K&L doesn't ship to Maine. So it goes.

I have about a thousand bottles in my cellar, most of them being held for 10-20 years into my seventies. I have enough cellar-savers to last me a year.

If somebody on the east coast wants to take delivery of a half dozen champagne bottles from K&L i'll go ahead and make that ceremonial final 2019 purchase.

And I'll allow myself a one-mixed-case limit in 2020 so I can give the 2017 vintage a try.

Otherwise, I am DONE purchasing wine through 2020. I'm not done purchasing wine forever, just for a year.

Who is with me?

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:32 pm

Love to, but no can do, bro. I have an empty room in a house on Lake Mercer that cries out, "Feed Me, stefan!"

I congratulate you for your outstanding purchases in 2019.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:57 pm

Just curious -- how can you have 320 bottles of 2014 and 2016 Bordeaux *alone* but "only" 1000 bottles total in your cellar?

JCNorthway · Post by **JCNorthway** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:04 pm

When I first read this, I thought you were done buying for the rest of this year. Upon reading it correctly, I am very impressed with the anticipated discipline to resist purchases for a year!

And I concur with stefan - an impressive array of purchases this year!

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:16 pm

Just curious -- how can you have 320 bottles of 2014 and 2016 Bordeaux *alone* but "only" 1000 bottles total in your cellar?

Those numbers sound right, Marcus, what am I missing?

I’m hoping to update my cellar tracker inventory soon.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:37 pm

Jim

what software are you using to monitor your inventory?

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:21 pm

brodway wrote:Jim

what software are you using to monitor your inventory?

Don't you use Cellartracker? If not, you should.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:29 pm

i use it to gauge drinking windows but may need to start monitoring inventory if that is the go to option

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:34 pm

I'm not done buying but I'll be scaling back dramatically in 2020. I've been on a 4 year buying spree and went from a couple cases to more than 800 bottles in a little over 4 years.
I'll replace the cellar defenders (about half of my bottles) I drink over the next few years, but I have no plans to expand further.

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:37 pm

brodway wrote:i use it to gauge drinking windows but may need to start monitoring inventory if that is the go to option

If you take the time to learn how to use it, there are so many great features, its really an incredible resource.

brodway · Post by **brodway** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:49 pm

will need to explore Cellar Tracker further.

Jim you know your will be weak when the 2018's come out and a trip to NH infusion center will be inevitable. i think we need to discuss 2018 futures at this point. another phenomenal vintage that may be as good/better than the 2016's. this buying hiatus isn't timely. what kind of BWE leader imposes a moratorium on the jolliest time of the year. that's almost grinch like.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:56 pm

JimHow wrote:
Just curious -- how can you have 320 bottles of 2014 and 2016 Bordeaux *alone* but "only" 1000 bottles total in your cellar?
Those numbers sound right, Marcus, what am I missing?

I’m hoping to update my cellar tracker inventory soon.

well...I guess if one has a lifetime inventory of very age-able fine wine accumulated over decades, I wouldn't expect over one third of it to represent wines from one region over the just the last three vintage years (over one third since I assume you have plenty of 2015 as well). I suppose it's possible if you were a Bordeaux fanatic with a bad infanticide habit

.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:57 pm

brodway wrote:will need to explore Cellar Tracker further.

Jim you know your will be weak when the 2018's come out and a trip to NH infusion center will be inevitable. i think we need to discuss 2018 futures at this point. another phenomenal vintage that may be as good/better than the 2016's. this buying hiatus isn't timely. what kind of BWE leader imposes a moratorium on the jolliest time of the year. that's almost grinch like.

I have had a hard time holding to my wine buying moratorium, which is now long gone, but I have NOT had any difficulty holding to my resolve not to buy anything from after 2016. Too much great stuff to backfill, no need for the newest vintage.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:46 pm

My cellar has been perpetually young, Marcus, it has always been a problem.
I drink my wines young.
You are correct, I have a significant amount of 2015.
I plan on drinking a lot of 2014/2015/2016 Bordeaux in my seventies....

I have no inventory tracker Emil, I half heartedly used cellartracker for a while but I haven't kept up with it.
Now that I'm planning a major buying freeze in the year ahead, I plan on updating my cellartacker inventory.
I started doing it about a month ago but got busy.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:59 pm

Thank you MichaelP for offering to take delivery of my K&L Champagnes!
Thank you Patrick for the tip!
And so, my final purchase until after 12/31/20, except for a mix-case purchase of 2017s next summer will be:

6 x 2012 Franck Bonville "Millesime" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:08 am

Done...

5 bottles of 2012 Franck Bonville "Millesime" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
1 bottle of 2012 Franck Bonville "Pur Oger" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne.

Thank you Patrick and Michael!

And so an era comes to an end!

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 1:54 am

On examination I guess I have about 80 bottles of 2014/15/16 Bordeaux in my cellar, with 2014 accounting for the most. Along with a couple of dozen Burgundy from 2014/15. That gives me less than 20% of my total cellar being in those three recent years. I am about half and half from before 2010 and after 2010.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:04 am

Jim, I’m seriously tempted. But I’d hate to sign on and then crash and burn. A WHOLE YEAR? Wow. That would be tough.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:21 am

Impossible for me. But I buy way less than you Jim. So even if I continue to buy next year, I won't catch up with what you bought in 2019.

But I will be impressed if you're buying only a case of 2017 next year.

Nic

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:39 pm

Jim, I accept your invitation. No purchases in 2020. Let’s see if we are truly masters of our domain.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:42 pm

Excellent, David.
We will allow ourselves 12 bottles.
I think I can do it.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:43 pm

Patrick, I think you just need to grant yourself like a one, two, or three case exemption.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:44 pm

Exceptions already. This will be fun to watch.

Chateau Vin · Post by **Chateau Vin** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 6:09 pm

JimHow wrote: .
.We will allow ourselves 12 bottles.
.
.

You guys are weaker than a stick figure...

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 6:12 pm

We're only human after all.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:30 pm

I’m 100% with you Jim.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 3:59 am

Alright, Jim (and Ian): I’m in!

No wine purchases for all of 2020 (exemptions exempted).

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:08 pm

Well done, Patrick. Well done.
I have no doubt I can do it, I have no intentions of purchasing the 2017 Bordeaux vintage.
I have plenty of cellar savers to last me through 2020, and my trial schedule is going to require substantial fasting over and above the norm.
One mixed case is my pre-set exemption level.

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:26 pm

Typical, some lawyers and dubious Wall St guys are trying to con me with obfuscating language. I want clarity on this process before I sign on. What Exemptions are allowed? What Exemptions are exempted?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:44 pm

The general groundrules:

1. There shall be no wine purchases in calendar year 2020. So if you are intending on buying more wine, it should be transacted by the end of this month.

2. Exemptions shall be permitted in one, two, or three mix-case increments. However, the case quantity must be designated by midnight on December 31st. As for myself, I am selecting the one mixed-case option.

3. There will be NO Benevolent Dictator exemptions. You will either PASS or FAIL the Great BWE 2020 Wine Purchase Ban.

So it is written.
So it shall be done.

BD

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 2:23 pm

JimHow wrote: 2. Exemptions shall be permitted in one, two, or three mix-case increments. However, the case quantity must be designated by midnight on December 31st.

BD

Assuming we designate a mixed case exemption. Does the case have to be purchased in one transaction, or can we buy 12 different bottles throughout the year?

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 2:54 pm

And per clause 2, can we buy twelve 3 liters or magnums, etc, or is the volume per bottle expressly dictated?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 3:43 pm

Jacques: It does not need to be purchased during a single transaction, it can be separated out in as many as up to 12, 24, or 36 transactions.

Patrick: "Bottles" are defined by any size, be they half bottles, 750, magnum, 3L, 6L, etc.

The goal is to help facilitate successful results. We are coming down from 20 years of very heavy addiction here!

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 3:53 pm

I'll choose the 1 case exemption.
It's an ambitious goal but I think I can do it.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:00 pm

Well done, David. Well done indeed. I have no doubt you can do it.

Remember, there will be no BD exemptions. We either succeed or fail.

If anyone feels they need up to three cases of exemption, don't feel guilty to exercise that right.
The deadline is midnight on 12/31.

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:18 pm

Thank you for clarifying.

I do have a slight dilemma though, a friend of mine opened a wine store in Sarasota and to help him, I bought a $2,000 gift card last year with the clear understanding that I will not be using it until 2020. Sort of a non-interest bearing loan.

I will choose the 3 case exemption but I request an exceptional exemption to use the $2,000 card even if I have to go over the 3 case limit. (Note that I could have exempted this transaction as a previous year purchase but chose to obey the spirit of the decree.)

Also, I would like to request 3 subclauses to clause 2:
2.1 This limit applies only to wines purchased outside of restaurants. Wines purchased in restaurants are exempt.
2.2 This limit does not apply to wines purchased to be brought as a gift to a dinner party
2.3 This limit applies only to wines purchased in the United States. Wines purchased abroad are exempt as long as they do not get shipped back to the United States but are consumed abroad

The reason for the 2.3 exemption request is that we are spending at least four months in Israel, and have maybe ten bottles there. Three cases will not suffice for all purchases in the US and Israel.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:27 pm

Yes, of course, of course.
Wine restaurant purchases, BWE events, etc., are exempt.

Those are very reasonable requests, Jacques, although I am self-imposing a limit on my own powers.
Any exemptions or amendments to the rules must occur before 12/31.
It will be an important part of this challenge that there be no BD exemptions allowed in 2020.

So....

Certainly the 2,000 gift card exemption over the 3 case exemption is a rational request and is HEREBY GRANTED.

I will reluctantly agree to your request for an exemption for wines purchased abroad due to the unusual circumstances of the limited wine inventory in Israel. This is a perfect example, however, of an exemption request that will NOT be granted after 12/31.

BD

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:28 pm

Again, the legislative intent behind this Challenge is that people succeed.
So most reasonable requests within the spirit of the Challenge before 12/31 will likely be granted.
After that date, however, you will be on your own.

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:30 pm

Thank you.
I hereby declare that I will not buy any wines in 2020 unless approved by the above exemptions

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:33 pm

Well done, Jacques. Well done indeed.