Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after I place my order will my shipment arrive?

It takes up to ten (10) business days for many items to arrive in our cellar, and then up to ten more days for shipping to your location. Of course, futures and pre-release items are a different story (see below).

 

How soon after receiving my shipment can I enjoy my wine?

Providing your wine is ready to be enjoyed (i.e. current date is within the optimum or near-optimum consumption range), you should wait at least a week or two for the wine to settle after shipping.

 

Is decanting wine important?

… only if you are someone who enjoys wine.  Seriously, decanting is highly recommended when attempting to maximize enjoyment of a young, full-bodied wine.  So it’s critical for Bordeaux and many Burgundies within the first 10 years, or a California Cabernet under three (3) years from release.  It’s less important for Pinot Noirs and most white wine varietals, but often recommended.

 

What does “pre-release” mean? … “futures?”

Pre-release generally means a wine is not currently available, but will be relatively quickly, definitely within a year. The term “future” implies a longer-term wait, sometimes between one and three years.

 

Why do people buy wine as “pre-release” or “futures?”

Often, this is the only way to insure procuring the most sought-after wines.  Additionally, there is usually a bit of an economic advantage to getting rare wines early on in their release cycle.

 

Does wine mature at different rates depending on the format in which it’s bottled?

Opinions are not unanimous on this question, but many people think that the smaller the format size (i.e. 375ml half bottles), the more quickly the wine can be optimally enjoyed.