The 2017 Two Clones Chardonnay is signature cool climate, foggy Green Valley in an exceptional vintage. It is a new blend, representing distinct clones grown on the estate, giving it wonderful complexity and a silky texture.
By nose, great complexity with touches of pineapple, melon, green apple, kiwi, and yeast. By mouth, minerality, pineapple, lime, and a gentle mouth feel (a result of extensive batonnage). Our Chardonnay is a classic food wine. Try it with roasted cauliflower and cannellini bean salad, thyme-roasted chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and a salad of baby greens, smoky ham and corn chowder. Salmon rillettes on buttered brioche would be a perfect hors d’oeuvre.
Winemaking Notes
Only as the grapes arrive at the winery do we decide how to treat them. This Chardonnay was handled in small 10 ton lots (one press load) at a time. 100% of the Chardonnay grapes were pressed as whole clusters, just as we do with sparkling wine. Frequent lees stirring or ’batonnage’, at least three times a week for at least seven months contributes to the complex flavors.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Blend: 58% Hyde Old Wente, 42% Rued Clone Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.3%
Acidity: 5.8 g/L
Residual Sugar: <0.20g/100ml
pH: 3.30
Malolactic Fermentation: 58%
Barrels: 100% Water bent French oak, 20% new barrels, 4 year old average for rest
Harvest Dates: August 28 – September 5, 2017
Date Bottled: July 12, 2018
Total Production: 1,105 Cases
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay
Case:
12x 2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay
Iron Horse is one of Sonoma County’s most prestigious, small, independent, estate, family owned wineries located in cool, foggy Green Valley. Iron Horse Sparkling Wines have been served at the White House for five consecutive presidential administrations, beginning with the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meeting in Geneva on November 20, 1985, which led to the end of the Cold War. Wine & Spirits Magazine has named Iron Horse Sparkling Winery of the Year nine times. From the beginning, Robert Parker has said, “These impressive Sparkling Wines…possess more texture and flavor than just about any sparkler I have tasted from California.”
@radiolysis@rjquillin and painful - can’t afford the full case price of $200, and can’t afford to pay $30 a bottle for the 3 (three?) bottle option. Where’s the middle-ground?
@CorTot@radiolysis@rjquillin I’m good for 4.
So it looks like:
me - 4
cortot - 3
davirom - 3
Ron - 2
I can drop it to 3 if you prefer, Ron, just let me know.
@CorTot@klezman
What about @radiolysis that wanted in?
Could @davirom perhaps split with Lost that got a case since they’re, I think, close to each other?
You can cut me out if that helps sort it out, I’ve got a case headed this way as well.
@CorTot@klezman@radiolysis@rjquillin I can drop all the way to zero if necessary. This is a “want to have” not a “need to have” for me. I do not want to exclude radiolysis, who was here first.
@CorTot@davirom@radiolysis@rjquillin You guys just let me know the outcome. I’m in for 3 or 4, whatever will make things work out. I’ll faithfully disperse the bottles according to the spreadsheet.
@CorTot@davirom@klezman@radiolysis@rjquillin I also bought a case and am in West LA area (altho in the process of moving to South Bay) if there’s not enough to go around of your other case - willing to let go of up to 6
@CorTot@davirom@klezman@radiolysis@rjquillin I also got my case today if there’s not enough to go around if yours. And we definitely want to come out some time, the concert sounds great but we’ll see since it’s shortly after our kid is due!
I’m out of the one you got, I think, as the demand quickly consumed the case. If @swizzel kicks in a few bottles, it looks like all up there can get what they wanted.
@radiolysis , is it easier for you to p/u there or in SD?
I think a second case headed this way, but somehow ended up at USPS instead of UPS.
Need to see if it really exists at USPS and if I can fetch it. That extra “S” could be a real issue.
@mommadeb@winedavid49 I am not a Chardonnay drinker but surprisingly loved the Poundstone Chard as well. Would love to see that come up again! Tempted to try this!
Very tempting indeed. I’ve really enjoyed the Attune Chard, Clark’s Faux Chablis and Pedroncelli Chard over the last year or so. I used to only drink red, but Casemates has diversified my palate with good deals like this! A Rat could help me pull the trigger.
@bunnymasseuse@jeffcohen@Zortapa if bunny/zortapa are in, then I’m in for 3, possibly more. And jeffcohen if you’re not far from the 70, I’ll be passing there a few times and might be able to do some deliveries to the Baltimoreans
@Zortapa@cduan Baltimore is a little farther than I’d like to go. But if we were meeting in Frederick or closer, I’d be up for something. I do not live far from 70. Near Hagerstown.
I am going to buy a case. We can figure out the rest. Either way, would be good to get some people together, cause I’ve never experienced the “mate” part of Casemates yet.
@bunnymasseuse@cduan@jml326@Zortapa Awesome. I’m not sure how many the other folks wanted, but if they all wanted to split and meet in Frederick or closer, I’d do that. I do want at least 3, so three other splitters is the max. Hopefully we can figure it out. Cheers!
And @Zortapa maybe! That’s a good point. I only ordered one. I guess we could break into a couple groups.
Glad I checked the comments before “sleeping on this one.” I would kick myself if this sold out before I bought it, because I was always going to by a case in the end.
Question. Do these two things together mean that Hyde Old Wente underwent MLF, but the Rued Clone did not? If so, why that decision?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay - $160 = 44.43%
90 Points. From vines planted both to the Hyde Old Wente and Rued clones, this wine is richly layered within a context of enduring freshness. The acidity lifts an elegant midpalate of pear and Meyer lemon. VB 10/1/20
Reviews for this wine online seem spotty. Is this truly a $50 wine where people would pay that, or does the case price simply bring it back to a reality price?
@Drez143 I can’t find anything on this particular wine. The Iron Horse Rued Clone Chardonnay has been around (half this blend), but it’s not got the best of the Iron Horse reviews. Does anyone have and specific knowledge with with this specific wine, of which apparently this is the first vintage?
I guess people’s excitement is (1) It’s Iron Horse, excellent winemakers and (2) the vineyards and (3) the style is their high-end style. All that equals reasonable very high estimate of quality. Is that the thinking of the enthusiastic folks here?
Is the thinking that anything Iron Horse does is worth more than this, hence it’s just gotta be a good deal?
@Drez143@wardad See above for Wine Enthusiast review on this wine. But correct not much out there on this wine. It is indeed $57 at the winery. Nothing on Wine-Searcher. There are only 12 bottles on cellar tracker with a “community average value” of $29.95.
As of this moment, there are only 2 bottles in cellars and the 12 I have pending delivery. Interestingly, the community price did not drop after my addition… I assume based on this single event CT only calculates pricing for wine in people’s cellars and ignores wines pending delivery.
Does anyone know the formula and can confirm my assumption is correct?
@Drez143@kaolis@knlprez@wardad
I checked CT when this went live and there were only two bottles in cellar with zero pending. Community average now $25.63
Pricing also likely skewed by net vs. delivered (taxed and shipped) pricing entries. I attempt to enter full delivered cost; fwiw.
I do the same with regards to pricing (I always put ‘all in’ costs for each bottle).
Interesting the price has dropped, as an hour ago it was still $29.95. If all 14 bottles were considered the average should be close to $19 at this point if all 12 of mine are included.
Refreshing the wine, we now have 36 bottles pending and the value has dropped to $23.72. At this point I think the pending bottles are included in the value calulation with an adjustment factor until they are delivered.
( @knlprez, yes, should have been a separate post at least, but that’s okay. ) @Drez143@kaolis@rjquillin I stopped putting in prices in CT for casemates wines, and I figured I didn’t want sellers to see lowered online values because of their casemates offers.
I big drawback for the winery for offering discounted wines online is the drop in perceived value of their wine. Casemates does several clever things to mitigate. Like, by including so much of the shipping costs in the price, it “inflates” the price. Also, the case-based model provides some cover–if a huge discount is because you had to buy in volume, that doesn’t look so bad.
But if values are lowered on CT as a result of these deals, that will discourage sellers from dumping their stuff on Casemates. Which I very much want them to keep doing. So for a while I put the casemates price in the bottle notes, but now I’ve stopped doing that.
@kaolis@knlprez@rjquillin@wardad
I don’t think it works like that though.
Casemates is hardly the only online volume wine discount seller.
I’m sure some of the staple wineries here do sell at a discount here because they like the community, but I doubt anyone is selling at a loss unless they came against storage constraints.
If a winery marks a bottle at $57 each, and they struggle selling it at that price and need to volume sell it off at $22 a bottle, then I think the fair price is actually the $22 and not the inflated mark up.
I’m looking at you Kohl’s for making this practice of inflated MSRPs!
@Drez143@kaolis@wardad My opinion on the pricing of Iron Horse is that the SRP is ridiculous. That doesn’t mean that their “standard” trio of bubblies isn’t worth $35-40/bottle when you compare to what else is out there, but I have a hard time marking them at $48 when I can get grower Champagne under $40. Ditto for the still wines.
Of course that doesn’t mean you have to get down to a price this low for it to be a fair price. I’ve had a wide variety of still Chardonnay from IH and they are all excellent although different. At $16.67/bottle it’s a no-brainer excellent value. At $30/bottle I suspect (as the rat suggests) that you’d probably be a bigger fan of Chardonnay to want to spend that much without more info.
But like I said, at the case price, I’m in despite the WBM.
Hello, excited to be a Rat on this one. I really like Iron Horse in general and am a big fan of their UnOaked Chardonnay.
We opened this up last night before dinner. Pale straw color and not much of a nose on opening. After a few minutes to warm-up we could smell some tropical fruit and a little citrus. The palate was subtle fruit wise, we got green apple and peach, a solid mineralogy, and a little zing from the acidity. Had a nice round mouthfeel, not a thin white, but not a butterball either.
The $17 case price is a great deal, the $30 3-pack is a solid value if you’re a big fan of Chardonnay.
I’ll try to get some Day 2 notes up tonight
@jermfish This seems like it would be other end of the spectrum from the Unoaked (which I am also a fan and have been hoping would pop up) given the new oak and malo. In comparison, is this a buttery cougar juice or does it manage to come across more old world in style?
@SDL3 It’s definitely not a greasy butter ball but it’s not going to be confused for Chablis either. In terms of mouthfeel, it feels like it has some weight to it, it fills the mouth without being clingy. I’ll take another swing at it this afternoon.
Sorry for the delay on the day two notes. Not much to add really. It was much the way I remembered fro the previous night, restrained fruit, good mineralogy and acid. In terms of mouthfeel it is definitely weightier and more substantial than the UnOaked but does not come across as buttery. Maybe the simplest way I can put it the UnOaked is crisp and this one is soft.
Casemates, you’re killing me!
Secured my case before it sells out…
/giphy profuse-fatal-mass
@Winedavid49, thanks for getting such a great Iron Horse deal. I was never a fan of Chardonnay, but Iron Horse converted me to love their Chardonnays as much. They have never failed me.
Any chance we get lucky to see Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee, Vintage Brut or any other bubbly from them?
We really liked the Iron Horse unoaked Chard, so hoping this one is good, too! Note that we are not Chard fans when it’s a buttery oaky mess, but based on the rattage, I’m taking a flyer on this one. FOMO is partially responsible.
/giphy enduring-wicked-winter
Apologize on getting this out late and I can’t seem to attach the lab rat image sent to me.
I’m not a big Chardonnay drinker, but I’ve had a few in the past where they were vanilla and butter bombs. I’m happy to report The Ironhorse is definitely not that. I opened the bottle Friday night and enjoyed it with some fried fish, garlic shrimp, and boiled potatoes. The nose had nice peachy, lemony citrus peel notes and tasted fruity, mouth watering, with a hint of pith. Like the previous ratter mentioned, it is a great value per bottle by the case.
@ryannel I think they have a large amount (hence the great price) because it’s a new blend. Their existing channels didn’t pick it up, just sticking with their old tried and true orders. Probably a unique opportunity.
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$727.75/Case at Iron Horse Vineyards for 12x 2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, May 28 - Tuesday, Jun 1
Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay
3 bottles for $89.99 $30/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay
Holy cow case discount
@radiolysis WOW!
@karenhynes @radiolysis why thank you.
@radiolysis Think they’ll sell out first?
One case or two…?
@radiolysis @rjquillin and painful - can’t afford the full case price of $200, and can’t afford to pay $30 a bottle for the 3 (three?) bottle option. Where’s the middle-ground?
@karenhynes @radiolysis @Winedavid49 yeah, holy shit dude. Well done!
@radiolysis @rjquillin happy to help here. This sort of deal doesn’t come along often.
@radiolysis @rjquillin Status check - what are we doing on this? Ron, you buying/bought?
@klezman @radiolysis
You want one heading your way to ‘divvy-up’?
@klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I can take 2 or 3 if needed.
@CorTot @klezman @radiolysis
curved-faded-eel
hoping klez has room, and let me know how many are left over after you three are done so I can enter them.
@CorTot @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I would also take 3 or so if available
@CorTot @klezman @rjquillin thanks Ron!
@CorTot @radiolysis @rjquillin I’m good for 4.
So it looks like:
me - 4
cortot - 3
davirom - 3
Ron - 2
I can drop it to 3 if you prefer, Ron, just let me know.
@CorTot @klezman
What about @radiolysis that wanted in?
Could @davirom perhaps split with Lost that got a case since they’re, I think, close to each other?
You can cut me out if that helps sort it out, I’ve got a case headed this way as well.
@klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I was fine with only 2 if that helps…
@radiolysis
slim pickings on the non-case offer.
@CorTot @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I can drop all the way to zero if necessary. This is a “want to have” not a “need to have” for me. I do not want to exclude radiolysis, who was here first.
@CorTot @davirom @radiolysis @rjquillin You guys just let me know the outcome. I’m in for 3 or 4, whatever will make things work out. I’ll faithfully disperse the bottles according to the spreadsheet.
@CorTot @davirom @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I also bought a case and am in West LA area (altho in the process of moving to South Bay) if there’s not enough to go around of your other case - willing to let go of up to 6
@swizzel Hope you come to some gatherings and meet the crew! We’re going to the concert in the park on July 10 - check the gathering thread.
@CorTot @davirom @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin sorry I missed this thread. I did a three way split before davirom got to me!
@CorTot @davirom @radiolysis @swizzel @rjquillin This arrived today. What’s the split?
@CorTot @davirom @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin I also got my case today if there’s not enough to go around if yours. And we definitely want to come out some time, the concert sounds great but we’ll see since it’s shortly after our kid is due!
@CorTot @davirom @klezman @radiolysis @swizzel @accs
I’m out of the one you got, I think, as the demand quickly consumed the case. If @swizzel kicks in a few bottles, it looks like all up there can get what they wanted.
@radiolysis , is it easier for you to p/u there or in SD?
I think a second case headed this way, but somehow ended up at USPS instead of UPS.
Need to see if it really exists at USPS and if I can fetch it. That extra “S” could be a real issue.
@rjquillin re: pickup, i have stuff for you so SD is probably easier.
@CorTot @davirom @klezman @radiolysis @swizzel @accs
I need to find your bottles as well.
Life and bottles have gotten scrambled the past year.
If that’s the case, split in SD, likely @accs you and I can split what arrives down here, and allow the LA crew to split the case that went to klez.
@accs @CorTot @davirom @radiolysis @rjquillin @swizzel
I still don’t know who’s getting the 8 remaining bottles after I take 4.
@accs @CorTot @klezman @radiolysis @rjquillin @swizzel I was the last to stake a claim, so distribute it to everyone else and if there is anything left, OK. If not, that’s OK too.
@accs @CorTot @davirom @radiolysis @rjquillin @swizzel
Based on the above, I’ve got the same as my original assignments:
me - 4
cortot - 3
davirom - 3
Ron - 2
I’m happy to make further adjustments, just let me know.
Well shoot. I need more wine like a hole in the head, but I’d take a pair if any SoCal people have some to spare.
Can’t beat that case price. Wow.
Heck of a deal. Thanks Iron Horse and Casemates.
In my quest to find another chard I/we would like…I want to try this? How does it compare to the Poundstone? I
@mommadeb @winedavid49 I am not a Chardonnay drinker but surprisingly loved the Poundstone Chard as well. Would love to see that come up again! Tempted to try this!
/giphy economic-toothsome-taco
Decided to try a case before this sells out. Thanks Joy and WD!!
/giphy particular-wise-plane
In for a case. You’re killing me @winedavid49
How about it, NJ? Anyone out there want to split a case?
@hscottk Whereabouts in NJ
@jrfandff Central. Mercer County. Where are you?
Very tempting indeed. I’ve really enjoyed the Attune Chard, Clark’s Faux Chablis and Pedroncelli Chard over the last year or so. I used to only drink red, but Casemates has diversified my palate with good deals like this! A Rat could help me pull the trigger.
This almost feels like one of the options is mispriced…
@Winedavid49 Phenomenal case price deal. I am tempted even though I don’t like Chardonnay.
Anyone in central MD or southern central PA up to split? Man, this seems tempting as I love chardonnay, but I don’t need another whole case.
@jeffcohen how central? Frederick area central enough for a meet and exchange?
@bunnymasseuse @jeffcohen In Bmore and definitely would be up to split this.
@bunnymasseuse @jeffcohen @Zortapa if bunny/zortapa are in, then I’m in for 3, possibly more. And jeffcohen if you’re not far from the 70, I’ll be passing there a few times and might be able to do some deliveries to the Baltimoreans
@bunnymasseuse Frederick is perfect. Let me know!
@Zortapa @cduan Baltimore is a little farther than I’d like to go. But if we were meeting in Frederick or closer, I’d be up for something. I do not live far from 70. Near Hagerstown.
I am going to buy a case. We can figure out the rest. Either way, would be good to get some people together, cause I’ve never experienced the “mate” part of Casemates yet.
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @jeffcohen @Zortapa
I’m in for 3 or 4 if there is any left
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @jeffcohen @jml326 Time to consider a 2nd case?
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @jml326 @Zortapa Awesome. I’m not sure how many the other folks wanted, but if they all wanted to split and meet in Frederick or closer, I’d do that. I do want at least 3, so three other splitters is the max. Hopefully we can figure it out. Cheers!
And @Zortapa maybe! That’s a good point. I only ordered one. I guess we could break into a couple groups.
POPSOCKETS! SPROCKETS! DAVY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@cduan @jeffcohen @jml326 @Zortapa 2nd case
/giphy unfriendly-jumping-level
Glad I checked the comments before “sleeping on this one.” I would kick myself if this sold out before I bought it, because I was always going to by a case in the end.
Question. Do these two things together mean that Hyde Old Wente underwent MLF, but the Rued Clone did not? If so, why that decision?
Blend: 58% Hyde Old Wente, 42% Rued Clone Chardonnay
[…]
Malolactic Fermentation: 58%
Is my order name suggesting something about me?
/giphy astonishing-snobby-creature
Anyone in Denver want to split a case? I definitely want 6…
@knlprez
/giphy buttered-jubilant-passion
Just in case it sells out!
@knlprez yes, I’ll take 6, thanks!
@bolligra You got it, I’ll let you know when it arrives and we can arrange the exchange.
That’s my case spoken for, looks like there is some more interest if someone else wants to order another case.
@bolligra @knlprez Hey, Denver-area folk - I grabbed a case also and happy to share.
@bolligra @CObrent @knlprez Well done, I’d take 3!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay - $160 = 44.43%
@chipgreen NE OH split?
@chipgreen @mrn1 I would join a split to complete the deal- but really only need 2-3 as whites are slow to be consumed around here.
@chipgreen
So is that a new record?
@chipgreen @kawichris650 It’s got to be a new record, right? I remember seeing 30+%, but I don’t recall a 40+% case discount before.
@kawichris650 @TimW
I believe it is a new record!
@mrn1 @pjmartin , I am good for 3-4 bottles. Do you want me to buy?
@chipgreen @pjmartin I grabbed a case.
@mrn1 @pjmartin
OK, great!
This case deal gave me the high I got from the old site. Thanks WD and Joy!
/giphy witchy-addictive-marble
I’m in Central NJ and considering a case. Anyone want to take some off my hands?
@jrfandff I’m in.
and of course there is a Wine Enthusiast review…
90 Points. From vines planted both to the Hyde Old Wente and Rued clones, this wine is richly layered within a context of enduring freshness. The acidity lifts an elegant midpalate of pear and Meyer lemon. VB 10/1/20
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/iron-horse-2017-two-clones-chardonnay-green-valley/
Reviews for this wine online seem spotty. Is this truly a $50 wine where people would pay that, or does the case price simply bring it back to a reality price?
@Drez143 I can’t find anything on this particular wine. The Iron Horse Rued Clone Chardonnay has been around (half this blend), but it’s not got the best of the Iron Horse reviews. Does anyone have and specific knowledge with with this specific wine, of which apparently this is the first vintage?
I guess people’s excitement is (1) It’s Iron Horse, excellent winemakers and (2) the vineyards and (3) the style is their high-end style. All that equals reasonable very high estimate of quality. Is that the thinking of the enthusiastic folks here?
Is the thinking that anything Iron Horse does is worth more than this, hence it’s just gotta be a good deal?
@Drez143 @wardad See above for Wine Enthusiast review on this wine. But correct not much out there on this wine. It is indeed $57 at the winery. Nothing on Wine-Searcher. There are only 12 bottles on cellar tracker with a “community average value” of $29.95.
@rpm notice this Iron Horse in time!
@Drez143 @kaolis @wardad
Slightly off topic, but…
As of this moment, there are only 2 bottles in cellars and the 12 I have pending delivery. Interestingly, the community price did not drop after my addition… I assume based on this single event CT only calculates pricing for wine in people’s cellars and ignores wines pending delivery.
Does anyone know the formula and can confirm my assumption is correct?
@Drez143 @knlprez @wardad So those 12 are yours? hmmm…don’t know on pricing. Unless it’s not updated real time? Maybe an overnight update?
@Drez143 @kaolis @wardad
I believe they are mine, I have 12 pending in my cellar but didn’t check the total community quantities before adding them.
I’ll keep an eye on the pricing over the next few days and see how it fluctuates and report back.
@Drez143 @kaolis @knlprez @wardad
I checked CT when this went live and there were only two bottles in cellar with zero pending. Community average now $25.63
Pricing also likely skewed by net vs. delivered (taxed and shipped) pricing entries. I attempt to enter full delivered cost; fwiw.
@Drez143 @kaolis @rjquillin @wardad
I do the same with regards to pricing (I always put ‘all in’ costs for each bottle).
Interesting the price has dropped, as an hour ago it was still $29.95. If all 14 bottles were considered the average should be close to $19 at this point if all 12 of mine are included.
@Drez143 @kaolis @rjquillin @wardad
Refreshing the wine, we now have 36 bottles pending and the value has dropped to $23.72. At this point I think the pending bottles are included in the value calulation with an adjustment factor until they are delivered.
( @knlprez, yes, should have been a separate post at least, but that’s okay. ) @Drez143 @kaolis @rjquillin I stopped putting in prices in CT for casemates wines, and I figured I didn’t want sellers to see lowered online values because of their casemates offers.
I big drawback for the winery for offering discounted wines online is the drop in perceived value of their wine. Casemates does several clever things to mitigate. Like, by including so much of the shipping costs in the price, it “inflates” the price. Also, the case-based model provides some cover–if a huge discount is because you had to buy in volume, that doesn’t look so bad.
But if values are lowered on CT as a result of these deals, that will discourage sellers from dumping their stuff on Casemates. Which I very much want them to keep doing. So for a while I put the casemates price in the bottle notes, but now I’ve stopped doing that.
@kaolis @knlprez @rjquillin @wardad
I don’t think it works like that though.
Casemates is hardly the only online volume wine discount seller.
I’m sure some of the staple wineries here do sell at a discount here because they like the community, but I doubt anyone is selling at a loss unless they came against storage constraints.
If a winery marks a bottle at $57 each, and they struggle selling it at that price and need to volume sell it off at $22 a bottle, then I think the fair price is actually the $22 and not the inflated mark up.
I’m looking at you Kohl’s for making this practice of inflated MSRPs!
@Drez143 @kaolis @wardad My opinion on the pricing of Iron Horse is that the SRP is ridiculous. That doesn’t mean that their “standard” trio of bubblies isn’t worth $35-40/bottle when you compare to what else is out there, but I have a hard time marking them at $48 when I can get grower Champagne under $40. Ditto for the still wines.
Of course that doesn’t mean you have to get down to a price this low for it to be a fair price. I’ve had a wide variety of still Chardonnay from IH and they are all excellent although different. At $16.67/bottle it’s a no-brainer excellent value. At $30/bottle I suspect (as the rat suggests) that you’d probably be a bigger fan of Chardonnay to want to spend that much without more info.
But like I said, at the case price, I’m in despite the WBM.
Anyone in the New Orleans area want to split a case?
Seems to happen lately that I’m down to my last bottle when a screaming deal pops up.
/giphy hellish-peppery-minnow
Looking forward to having this with some summer meals on the deck!
/giphy flavored-jumbo-wilderness
Hello, excited to be a Rat on this one. I really like Iron Horse in general and am a big fan of their UnOaked Chardonnay.
We opened this up last night before dinner. Pale straw color and not much of a nose on opening. After a few minutes to warm-up we could smell some tropical fruit and a little citrus. The palate was subtle fruit wise, we got green apple and peach, a solid mineralogy, and a little zing from the acidity. Had a nice round mouthfeel, not a thin white, but not a butterball either.
The $17 case price is a great deal, the $30 3-pack is a solid value if you’re a big fan of Chardonnay.
I’ll try to get some Day 2 notes up tonight
@jermfish This seems like it would be other end of the spectrum from the Unoaked (which I am also a fan and have been hoping would pop up) given the new oak and malo. In comparison, is this a buttery cougar juice or does it manage to come across more old world in style?
@SDL3 It’s definitely not a greasy butter ball but it’s not going to be confused for Chablis either. In terms of mouthfeel, it feels like it has some weight to it, it fills the mouth without being clingy. I’ll take another swing at it this afternoon.
@jermfish @SDL3
Both the estate and unoaked have their attributes when pairing. I’d exclude neither, but also wonder where this falls…
@jermfish @rjquillin @SDL3 also curious, prefer unoaked in general but taking a swing to get out of my comfort zone.
@SDL3
Sorry for the delay on the day two notes. Not much to add really. It was much the way I remembered fro the previous night, restrained fruit, good mineralogy and acid. In terms of mouthfeel it is definitely weightier and more substantial than the UnOaked but does not come across as buttery. Maybe the simplest way I can put it the UnOaked is crisp and this one is soft.
You got me again. No idea where I will store this.
NYC, any splits welcome. /giphy petty-replete-guide
@InVinoVeritas I’ll fix it for ya. Learned from experience that giphy must be on a separate line.
and I include a blank in between just in case.
/giphy petty-replete-guide
/giphy kindhearted-tempting-lark
Casemates, you’re killing me!
Secured my case before it sells out…
/giphy profuse-fatal-mass
@Winedavid49, thanks for getting such a great Iron Horse deal. I was never a fan of Chardonnay, but Iron Horse converted me to love their Chardonnays as much. They have never failed me.
Any chance we get lucky to see Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee, Vintage Brut or any other bubbly from them?
Anyone in Seattle area want to split?
/giphy descriptive-teachable-knight
We really liked the Iron Horse unoaked Chard, so hoping this one is good, too! Note that we are not Chard fans when it’s a buttery oaky mess, but based on the rattage, I’m taking a flyer on this one. FOMO is partially responsible.
/giphy enduring-wicked-winter
Apologize on getting this out late and I can’t seem to attach the lab rat image sent to me.
I’m not a big Chardonnay drinker, but I’ve had a few in the past where they were vanilla and butter bombs. I’m happy to report The Ironhorse is definitely not that. I opened the bottle Friday night and enjoyed it with some fried fish, garlic shrimp, and boiled potatoes. The nose had nice peachy, lemony citrus peel notes and tasted fruity, mouth watering, with a hint of pith. Like the previous ratter mentioned, it is a great value per bottle by the case.
@opus300zx Hey @rjquillin can we get a rattage tag on this post plz?
@bunnymasseuse @opus300zx
Geeze, no peace at all on a Saturday evening…
Now, where is that promised follow-up from @jermfish ?
@opus300zx So, it has a hint of pith but not great pith? (we’ll see who gets this reference…)
/youtube fielding mellish great pith
Case savings is blowing my mind. Anyone looking for splits near Tampa?
I got a case if any Seattleites want some.
@aces219 I’m down for 3-6.
And another case purchased. I’m running out of storage space for them. Willing to let go of up to half the case to someone in San Diego.
@accs @technoviking may be interested, as we have an oversubscribed case headed to Los Angeles.
@accs @rjquillin I may be venturing to north Cal to south soon. Lmk what’s left and I’ll grab some.
/giphy nameless-exceptional-imp
/giphy replete-real-chain
This hasn’t sold out yet? My wallet and I did our part….
@ryannel I think they have a large amount (hence the great price) because it’s a new blend. Their existing channels didn’t pick it up, just sticking with their old tried and true orders. Probably a unique opportunity.
I too did my part!
/giphy valuable-tiresome-shake
I’ve been vacillating on this since 9:01 on Friday night. Any PDX peeps interested in splitting a case? I’d be happy with 3-4, but would do up to 6.
I just tried to order and all I can get is zero bottles. Is this how they say sold out?
Never mind, finally went through.
All that chatter, and it’s Chardonnay. Wow.
Wow! Case price was an absolute steal! Best deal in years imo I knew I should’ve kept all 12. And this from a non Chard drinker
@losthighwayz Yup, this was a good’un.
@losthighwayz @rjquillin I’ve committed to splitting mine, don’t make me regret it now!