Naked Wines - comments and experiences

[Steady]

Wow I've gotta say i'm surprised by this thread.

What posts have surprised you Simsy85? (I'm not having a go - genuinely interested )

Having a look back through I thought the comments were quite balanced, I don't think any online model will suit everyone

 

[Whining&dining]

What posts have surprised you Simsy85? (I'm not having a go - genuinely interested )

Having a look back through I thought the comments were quite balanced, I don't think any online model will suit everyone

Possibly mine Steady! I've reached a point in life where I will call a spade a spade but only where I believe that that viewpoint is valid and not merely "point-scoring". The 12-pack of wine from Glug was split with a friend and we each received the same six wines and his response was quite possibly more scathing than mine. This may be the source of the comment regarding the impossibility of finding all the wine in the pack disappointing, I should have elaborated that there were two bottles each of six different wines which cuts the odds down considerably, the other aspect being (with regard to Redbigot's comments) that you can get good wines from Glug if "you know what you're looking for". The only problem with that statement is that Glug markets wines and wineries that very few people have ever heard of thus making it extremely difficult to research them.
And as for Naked Wines, I ordered a mixed pack of 12 wines both white and red and despite none actually being faulty not one of the dozen would have enticed me to re-order, these days the pendulum has well and truly swung in the wine-lover's favour and there are some astonishingly good wines to be had from other online merchants for the $10 average I paid to Naked. I believe Simsy has genuinely had some good stuff via Naked but for this dedicated wine-imbiber I'll be looking elsewhere...

 

[redbigot]

...the other aspect being (with regard to Redbigot's comments) that you can get good wines from Glug if "you know what you're looking for". The only problem with that statement is that Glug markets wines and wineries that very few people have ever heard of thus making it extremely difficult to research them.

You can't really research them, nearly all are made by Glug or blended from bought-in wines with usually little information on the actual maker. I don't believe there would be reviews for many of them posted anywhere. But you can look at the details of vintage and region and the other descriptions and after a couple of mixed dozens you quickly get an idea of what's what. Some of the lines are actually quite consistent and good value when you buy at the right time (extra discount). But you have to pay the initial price of a couple of dozen mixed single bottles to weed out the labels that don't suit you. In my case having a couple of tasting groups to try them out on helps.

I've just bought some more of this one Glug...Glug...Glug... the place for buying wine on the web I think it's a good and interesting wine and a dead set bargain if you don't mind the 15.2% a/v.
Another big one that is good drinking is The Brutus Shiraz/Durif 2012 Glug...Glug...Glug... the place for buying wine on the web again 15% or so a/v.

The Crayford, Karrawirra and Stockwell Creek lines seem to be popular amongst friends who buy from Glug or get them in mixed quaffer packs from me, which are mostly shiraz or shiraz blends as these seem to be more consistent and better suited to our tastes.

 

[Whining&dining]

You can't really research them, nearly all are made by Glug or blended from bought-in wines with usually little information on the actual maker. I don't believe there would be reviews for many of them posted anywhere. But you can look at the details of vintage and region and the other descriptions and after a couple of mixed dozens you quickly get an idea of what's what. Some of the lines are actually quite consistent and good value when you buy at the right time (extra discount). But you have to pay the initial price of a couple of dozen mixed single bottles to weed out the labels that don't suit you. In my case having a couple of tasting groups to try them out on helps.

I've just bought some more of this one Glug...Glug...Glug... the place for buying wine on the web I think it's a good and interesting wine and a dead set bargain if you don't mind the 15.2% a/v.
Another big one that is good drinking is The Brutus Shiraz/Durif 2012 Glug...Glug...Glug... the place for buying wine on the web again 15% or so a/v.

The Crayford, Karrawirra and Stockwell Creek lines seem to be popular amongst friends who buy from Glug or get them in mixed quaffer packs from me, which are mostly shiraz or shiraz blends as these seem to be more consistent and better suited to our tastes.

Interesting post Redbigot, I guess I bought the case in question about 5-6 years ago and I don't recall seeing the bit on the banner at the top about being "Wine makers and wine merchants of the Barossa Valley" but I could easily be mistaken. I thought he was a purveyor of, rather than maker of, wine. That extra information was/is valuable regarding having to sample a number of wines from his range before committing, I suppose I naively thought I would find at least one wine amongst the six that was a real cracker but there you go, having personal recommendations like those regarding the Brutus etc makes a huge difference when you don't know the product from a bar of soap, I might be tempted to go back in for another purchase based on that

 

[redbigot]

Interesting post Redbigot, I guess I bought the case in question about 5-6 years ago and I don't recall seeing the bit on the banner at the top about being "Wine makers and wine merchants of the Barossa Valley" but I could easily be mistaken. I thought he was a purveyor of, rather than maker of, wine. That extra information was/is valuable regarding having to sample a number of wines from his range before committing, I suppose I naively thought I would find at least one wine amongst the six that was a real cracker but there you go, having personal recommendations like those regarding the Brutus etc makes a huge difference when you don't know the product from a bar of soap, I might be tempted to go back in for another purchase based on that

The range has expanded a lot in the last couple of years and I haven't tried many of them. We tend to stick to mostly the Shiraz, Mataro and blends of those, the occasional Durif blends are usually good, mostly around $10-$15 for quaffing purposes, although I have cellared some for a few years from 2010 and 2012 vintages. I obviously don't buy any of their whites.

Early on they were based at Rolf Binders winery and used Rolf and his winemakers to produce/blend wines, but they moved out of there a few years ago. They also seem to sell a lot to "the trade", caterers and restaurants/function venues.

I wish you good fortune if you do buy, there are no doubt still some fairly ordinary wines in the offerings and, despite their advertising with inflated "Was" prices, the low price is generally what they are worth. I see the Barbarossa blend is back up to $10.99 now, I don't know what is in it, but it certainly impressed my shiraz-loving Monday tasting group, despite probably having little Shiraz in the mix. Whatever the case, you won't get any thin, elegant reds, they all have plenty of flavour.

 

[burmans]

RB won't spruik his own site but have from time to time seen some recommendations on there too. Some of these wines are made by Kim Teusner who in my view doesn't know how to make a bad wine. My view, don't for the super cheapie but worth monitoring his site or signup for emails, I've found exceptional value in the Rara Avis and the Harem wines when they are on super-special, these are Glugs "premium" offerings along with some RB of those that RB mentions.

As RB also notes some of these do get tasted by his tasting group so sometimes I get feedback that way too (when these are posted on his site). Just an observation, not a recommendation, though I'm clearly sold.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Juat finished our first case of red from Naked - quite impressed. Better than most other red cases i have ordered from other mobs over the last ten years.

 

[sagittariusdrake]

Got a $100 voucher for nakedwines via Book Depository. Not sure how they knew to offer me such a bonus???

Perhaps shelling out for Jancis Robinson's Wine Grapes gave me away?

I haven't delved too deeply, but it seems like I can pick & choose what I want apart from 'Angel only' wines (fair enough). But I have learned to steer clear of mixed dozens unless of a specific varietal or style that I like. Too likely to get stuff I don't enjoy, however good they may be - nevermind those that are bundled in because otherwise they'd never shift 'em.

Should be able to get an interesting dozen for not much to sip whilst reading Jancis' weighty tome (1280 pages, 1,400 varieties).

 

[Skyring]

Interesting reading. I'm an angel, and I've had two cases from them. In two minds as to whether I should continue. It's been a fairly up-and-down ride so far. Nothing really stands out and a few have been less-than-wonderful.

So I should be more proactive on feedback and approval to get a better selection?

 

[Whining&dining]

Got a $100 voucher for nakedwines via Book Depository. Not sure how they knew to offer me such a bonus???

Perhaps shelling out for Jancis Robinson's Wine Grapes gave me away?

I haven't delved too deeply, but it seems like I can pick & choose what I want apart from 'Angel only' wines (fair enough). But I have learned to steer clear of mixed dozens unless of a specific varietal or style that I like. Too likely to get stuff I don't enjoy, however good they may be - nevermind those that are bundled in because otherwise they'd never shift 'em.

Should be able to get an interesting dozen for not much to sip whilst reading Jancis' weighty tome (1280 pages, 1,400 varieties).

Strangely enough I got one today too (Naked wine voucher) but unfortunately not the aforementioned book, I don't want to sound like the dissenting voice but have you read the previous posts in this thread? All I can say is I hope you have more luck than I did and that you're prepared to be bombarded with emails for months on end that question the sanity of your judgement not to proceed with more purchases....:-|

 

[carwashhair]

Got a $100 voucher for nakedwines via Book Depository. Not sure how they knew to offer me such a bonus???

I haven't delved too deeply, but it seems like I can pick & choose what I want apart from 'Angel only' wines (fair enough). But I have learned to steer clear of mixed dozens unless of a specific varietal or style that I like. Too likely to get stuff I don't enjoy, however good they may be - nevermind those that are bundled in because otherwise they'd never shift 'em.

I'm sure I've ranted here or elsewhere before re: nakedwines sales model, and $100 'voucher'. Put simply, when I've tried to find the value in Naked wines (and I usually fail out of that questionnaire they used to have because I self-identify as a 'wine-wanker' :shock: or equivalent), the only wines I would generally put my voucher towards are 'angel only', or better/premium offerings. In essence, I can only use a credit to purchase their everyday wines at what (to me) is a slight discount of say $2-$3 a bottle in terms of value.

The thing is, ordinary wines at low prices are everywhere. I'm not in it to buy 'ordinary' - I want stuff that wows me (and what i've tasted of theirs just hasn't). If I can't taste what their best wines are with this voucher, then there is no incentive to ever engage with nakedwines. It's just not a model that works for me, and I daresay they are happy with that. But other people seem to find value, and I can't fault them for that.

 

[Whining&dining]

The thing is, ordinary wines at low prices are everywhere. I'm not in it to buy 'ordinary' - I want stuff that wows me (and what i've tasted of theirs just hasn't). If I can't taste what their best wines are with this voucher, then there is no incentive to ever engage with nakedwines. It's just not a model that works for me, and I daresay they are happy with that. But other people seem to find value, and I can't fault them for that.

I think that's the crux of the issue cwh, it has never been easier to find bargain-priced wine on-line the majority of which has good provenance and a variety of reviews with which to gauge them. The wines on offer from Naked might well be amazing but I'm not prepared to work through their portfolio to find them (and the wines I HAVE tasted have been 'average' to put it mildly...) But each to their own and caveat emptor!

 

[sagittariusdrake]

Well, W&D & cwh

Thanks for your words of (dis)encouragement.

I did scan earlier posts here, which is why I came to post here ... & certainly picked up on the less than enthusiastic impressions of their wares.

Given my tastes are not typical, there's a limited number of their wines that caught my eye that I may consider taking a punt on which would mean 1/3 off for a dozen.

But if they keep pushing for more, that thought alone puts me right off ... I do have a month to ruminate over this. I'll own up if I proceed & shall report with great veracity.

As a by the way, my books arrived in 2 parcels & the second contained another voucher. So given it is a once only thing, if anyone wants the codes (after all this) just pm me.

 

[Whining&dining]

Well, W&D & cwh

Given my tastes are not typical, there's a limited number of their wines that caught my eye that I may consider taking a punt on which would mean 1/3 off for a dozen.

But if they keep pushing for more, that thought alone puts me right off ... I do have a month to ruminate over this. I'll own up if I proceed & shall report with great veracity.

As a by the way, my books arrived in 2 parcels & the second contained another voucher. So given it is a once only thing, if anyone wants the codes (after all this) just pm me.

I'm sure you'll work it out to your own satisfaction SD but it is another great spinoff from joining this forum that members can pass on their experiences both good and bad, I had the Naked Wine workover before discovering other punter's experiences and it mostly confirmed my own doubts - but again, each to their own. Salut!

 

[Major]

Just received a book from Amazon and the ubiquitous $100 voucher. I thought I would see if anyone from AFF had any experience with Naked Wines and found this thread.

Too many negative posts to consider their offer any further.

Into the bin she goes.

 

[RB]

Maybe I wasn't wise with my selections but found the wines disappointing. I seem to recall it also took me a while to escape the contact

 

[Rug]

Maybe I wasn't wise with my selections but found the wines disappointing. I seem to recall it also took me a while to escape the contact

Junk mail is how I treat it.