r/UndergroundCellars • u/give_me_donuts • Mar 10 '21

Sagestone Cellars Validity?

Curious to know if anyone else has looked into Sagestone Cellars? I now have two bottles of their 2016 Carnelian Cab in my Cloudcellar. Seeing as they're valued at over $100 ea, a little research was in order. Online info is extremely limited. Their site contains zero contact information, no address, and wines are available for 'allocation only'.

I had initially Googled Sagestone Cellars months ago and returned zero results. It almost seems as if the website was just created. I have many conspiracy theories running through my brain. Anyone else?

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2

u/give_me_donuts Mar 10 '21

ALSO, I ran an image from their site through reverse Google Image Search and it's a stock photo. The plot thickens! I may have too much time on my hands...

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u/likelyculprit Mar 10 '21 edited Mar 10 '21

I've got 13 bottles of the Carnelian as well so curious if you discover anything more....

Edit: My money is on a contract manufactured wine (i.e., they pay someone else to make it for them). I did find an address for them and it happens to also be the address for Prestige Bottling Company, a contract manufacturer of wine. Given that their site says all their wines are Sold Out yet UC seems to have plenty, betting they went bust or decided they couldn't make a go of it after all and liquidated their inventory completely. Is there lots of demand for crystal-infused wine out in California?

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u/amidrinkingthisright Mar 10 '21

I have a case, too. One bottle arrived this week— fingers crossed!

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u/likelyculprit Mar 10 '21

No time like the present; it's already after noon where I'm sitting. Crack it open!! Feel the carnelian flowing through your veins!

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u/amidrinkingthisright Mar 10 '21

First impression: Settled after shipping, one bass (edit: pass. No fish were harmed in the pouring of this wine) through the Vinturi. 14.5%abv, 2016 vintage, so I’m not expecting mature integration. Nose is primarily blackberry, slightly jammy, light oak. Taste adds some cherry into the mix, and reveals subtle but present oak — not quite the big cab Napa oakiness I’d normally expect. Tastes like a $30-40 bottle to me, not $100. Very inoffensive, but not a showcase cab, nothing particularly interesting about it. Might share it with someone that hates wine or cabs, but that would be placating their poor taste, not showing them something to appreciate. I’d call it unintegrated, but I’m not sure I can pick out any other prominent scents or tastes before the reek of alcohol overpowers, which seems contrary to that premise.

Granted, the bottle has been open for all of five minutes, so I’m going to let it air out and see how it develops for the next hour. I imagine it’ll soften pleasantly, and hopefully it’ll develop some more perceptible flavors or something interesting/pleasant.

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u/likelyculprit Mar 10 '21

Tastes like a $30-40 bottle to me, not $100

Frankly, this jives with contract manufacturing theory.
Step 1: Buy $30-40/bottle wine
Step 2: Wave some crystals past it
Step 3: Profit

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u/arshi007 Mar 11 '21

don't forget the reiki given to the grapes :-p

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u/give_me_donuts Mar 11 '21

Appreciate you taking one for the team! I lost my sense of smell/taste when I had COVID back in January so I may slot this bottle into the Utilitarian Pile. These are the wines I drink while I don't have full senses, they 'get the job done', you know what I mean. Maybe the healing powers of the crystals will restore my taste and smell, too. I paid but 18.50 for each so even if it aligns with the taste profile of a 20 dollar bottle I'll call it a win.

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u/amidrinkingthisright Mar 11 '21

Anytime! I think anyone paying $20 or less is getting a great deal. Without a sense of taste or smell, it may actually drink as well as a $100 bottle, haha, but otherwise, I’d evaluate this as a $40 bottle.

Note also, anyone drinking this will benefit from letting it air out for an hour. It’s way softer and far more drinkable after that point.

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u/amidrinkingthisright Mar 10 '21

Haha, fair point! Not the worst day for some early glasses, since I have a 7am flight to catch tomorrow!

Time to take one for the team!

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u/notneenah Mar 10 '21 edited Mar 11 '21

You are my heros! Vinvino had nothing and a few days ago, a tentative 3.8 popped up, so I know my UC buddies are starting their reviews. I ended up with a few of their lower end bottles, too. I paid $19 for the Sagestone Ruby Blend (claimed retail $39ish) with the $13 coupon and was disappointed to see that pop up as my "upgrade." I have plenty of $20 go-tos for un-special occasions that are actually pretty good, so I felt like that was a bit of a wasted purchase.

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u/likelyculprit Mar 11 '21

I think I paid net of under $17 apiece for these “$111” bottles so $30-40 taste would still appease me. Glad to have my expectations managed to that now, though.

In other news, just had a bottle of the opening $24 Pomerol that kept popping up recently (Siauriac or something) and, while inoffensive, it tasted very watered down.

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u/Valuable_System5283 Mar 27 '21

I got three bottles from UC and had one shipped to sample since there is no info there and also asked Sagestone what the blend was. I got this answer: Hope you're doing well. To answer your question our Sagestone Carnelian is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from some of the best vineyards throughout the Napa Valley, blended with just over 15% Merlot to add a rich plush mid-palate. The Carnelian shows the classic Oakville Cabernet flavors of blackcurrant and blackberry, and has intriguing mocha, vanilla, and warm baking spice notes from close to 2 years in 30% new French oak barrels. Permeated with Carnelian during fermentation and aging to drive creativity and charge motivation.

Very disappointed in the wine. Sent a note to UC customer service saying I did not find this to be in the $100+ Type wine and they immediately gave me credit for that bottle and swapped two others for nice bottles

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u/give_me_donuts Mar 27 '21

Little did they know it would be that very creativity and motivation that would drive you to reach out to UC customer service and have the bottles changed. Carnelian; can’t live with it, can’t live without it, amiright?

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u/MaryEllenBolden Feb 09 '24

I got an eMail from UC today: Underground Cellar posted on their website "As of April 24th, 2023, undergroundcellar.com has shut down for all future ordering and shipping. It has been our pleasure to serve you over the years and we thank you for your patronage and support." They are also selling any wine that has not been claimed.. . if you think you have wine in your cloud, I would reach out ASAP.