California Cult Wine Release Schedule

If you're into California Cult wines, then you might want to know when they come out, and how much they will cost, but there is no comprehensive release schedule for these wines -- anywhere -- and the cults themselves are the last people to ask. Most of the cults aren't even bottled yet when they are purchased as futures, and this fact might give you the "blues." You aren't alone. Check out this little diddy by fellow attorney at: The Picky Eater: Talking California Cult Wine Blues.

So I've taken the liberty of listing the past year's release schedule of a number of California Cult wines. (Please put aside the fact that I've compiled this list because I'm a tool of the marketing gestalt that controls Napa Valley.) This list is by no means complete, and it may very well be inaccurate. It is also very likely the only list of its kind. You'll notice that a number of wineries are listed throughout the year. This is because most wineries that release four or more wines do so at intervals. Quilceda Creek, for example, releases its proprietary cabernet sauvignon and merlot in January, and its estate vineyard cabernet sauvignon (the "Galitzine Vineyard") and its second label "Columbia Valley Red Wine" in August. It should also be obvious that some Cults aren't even from California, such as the aforementioned Quilceda Creek, which hails from eastern Washington.

I've used the average monthly releases of these wines for the past two years, in some cases longer. Release schedules vary from year to year. Some notable wines are omitted: Either I don't like them, I'm still on the wait list, or I don't buy them as futures. If anyone has amendments, corrections, and/or additions, please list them in the comments section -- This is a work in progress.

January Releases:
Sloan ($300+)
BOND ($1000 for a 4 bottle OWC)
Quilceda Creek (proprietary cabernet $125, merlot $100)
Colgin (IX Estate) ($300)
Peter Michael (varies)
Hanzell (pinot noir, $85)
Merus ($125)
Pax ($50-$85)
Kapscandy (Grand Vin $125, Roberta's $110)
Lewis (varies)
Lail (second label)
Kosta Browne (varies)
Brewer Clifton (varies)
Shinn (varies)
Screaming Eagle (average release date uncertain, release price $750)
Ridge Vineyards "Monte Bello" ($85)

February Releases:
Flowers (varies)
DuMOL (second label)
Pisoni (varies)
Brewer Clifton (varies)

March Releases:
Araujo Estate (2nd label and olive oil)
Sea Smoke Cellars (three labels released, $50-$85)
Sine Qua Non (varies)

May/June:
Robert Foley (varies)
Arietta (varies)
Pride (varies)
Kongasgaard (varies)
Continuum ($125)
Ovid ($150+)
Lokoya (varies)
Ramey (varies)
Sine Qua Non (varies)
Hundred Acre "Ancient Way" ($200+)

June/July Releases:
Araujo (proprietary cabernet $200, syrah $110+)
Dunn (Howell Mtn. $80)
Flowers (varies)
Pax (varies)
Blankiet (proprietary $175)
Lucia (varies)
Kistler (varies)
Martin (varies)
Lail (J. Daniel $125, Georgia $100)
St Innocent (varies)
Dom. Serene (varies)
Colgin (CARIAD $300)
Hanzell (ultra premium chardonnay $200)
Dashe (varies)

August Releases:
Quilceda Creek (Estate vineyard $125; second label $35)
Ridge (Z list)
Kapcsandy (second label $75+)
Ojai (varies)
Switchback Ridge ($50-85+)
Girard (Pritchard Hill released $75)
Sine Qua Non (varies)
DuMOL (single vineyard releases $65+)
Abreu ($200)

Bryant Family ($250)

Jones Family ($90)
Martin Estate (varies)
Ramey (single vineyard chardonnays released)
Pride (cabernet and chardonnay released)
Silver Oak (varies)
Lewis(varies)

Shafer (Hillside Select $210)

Scarecrow ($150)

September Releases:
Pisoni Estate (varies)
Lewis (varies)
Harlan Estate ($500)
Hundred Acre (Kayli Morgan, $200)
Arietta (varies)
St. Innocent (varies)
Robert Foley (varies)
Scholium (varies)
Kapcsandy (Rose $30)
Bryce Family Willamette Valley ($35)

October Releases:
Kosta Brown (varies)
Corrison (Napa cab $100)
Dyer ($85)
Pax Wines (varies)
Sea Smoke (magnums only $200)
Lewis(varies)

November Releases:
Hundred Acre (Ark $200)
Dom. Serene (varies)
Futo (second label $150?)

December Releases:
Kapcsandy (Grand Vin $125, Roberta's Reserve $110)
Martin Estate (varies)

Dashe (varies)
Hendry (varies)
Corrison (Kronos $150)
Silver Oak (varies)

Planned releases for 2009 (thus far):
January 2009 Releases:
Quilceda (proprietary cabernet, merlot)
Kistler (varies)

And to paraphrase David Page at Shinn Vineyards on the North Fork -- "And that's the news from Madison Avenue."