Total Wine Spokane - Recommendations?

I am taking my family to Silverwood park in Idaho next month. I am able to bring back 4 bottles of wine into Canada duty/tax free, which I would like to take advantage of. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of wine offerings along my route from the Okanagan Valley to Idaho. We will be passing through Spokane, where there is a Total Wine. I’ve never been to a Total Wine before, can anyone comment on provenance of the wines from there? Other than what they have listed on their website, do they normally have additional selections or in-store specials?

I did a search on their website, and the below choices stood out. Assuming there is no problem with provenance, which four bottles would you choose?

2007 Ridge Montebello
2002 d’yquem
2010 Grand Puy Lacoste
2009 Dunn Howell Mountain
2011 JJ Prum Graacher Himmel Auslese
2009 Langoa Barton
2009 Chateau Laforge
2009 Clos du Marquis
2010 Brane Cantenac

I’d go with the first 4.

Btw if you are looking for a place to stay in Spokane, you might consider Northquest casino hotel. I know, it sounds strange, and a friend recommended it to me (it was built after I moved away from Spokane) - but I will tell you I was amazed. Was very well priced.

They usually have coupons / promotions going on, so if you buy six btls it will drop the price a bit. So find stuff you might drink during the journey too.

I would not have any issues with provenance there, assuming you’re not buying something 30 years old. At the one by me they do have a temperature controlled locked room for the trophy stuff, so perhaps the Yquem you are considering may have gotten special treatment compared to the younger items.

In my experience the web site tends to only display a subset of what is available at the store.

PS: check if there is a Costco around the area too. We stopped at one in Kalispell when trekking around the upper Rockies.

if they have 4 of the MB, i would just go all in on those.

I assume you are talking about 750ml bottles. Give consideration to buying six bottles. Decide which four bottles you want to take home, then buy two bottles in the, say, $4.00 range–they do have them. They offer a 10% discount on purchase of six bottles or more, and mixing is OK. So, a 10% discount on the $120 Ridge is $12. If you throw away the two $4 bottles, you’ve saved $4. I assume that the other bottles that you have listed are all over $100. You’ll save at least $10 on each of them.

One caveat: any wine whose price ends in “7” is not eligible for the discount. So, if you find a wine for $3.97 or $4.47, put it back. $3.99 or $4.49 is good.

One more thing, I have occasionally had a problem with wines that have been on the shelf for a few years. If the wines you have listed are in their temperature controlled case, you’re probably OK, but if it is on the top shelf of one of their reach-in in displays, I think I would pass. I’ve never had a problem with a current release wine. However, I’ve had a couple that had a few years on them that I was pretty excited to find, but was subsequently disappointed.

Thanks for the comments everyone. [cheers.gif]

That is a great idea on achieving the discount for 6 bottles by adding two cheap throw-away bottles!

I definitely am leaning towards the d’yquem and GPL for the first two. Not sure on the other two, but probably the Ridge (x2) or one each of the Ridge and Dunn.

They currently have a coupon for 15% off of “Winery Direct” wines, that applies to the two Bordeaux (but not the Cali wines). It expires August 2nd, so I would have to purchase those two Bordeaux ahead of time online and pick them up. But if I did that, there would be no discount on the other two Cali wines, so I will have to do the math to see which would be a better discount.

I’m also taking note of your comment about the wines on the shelf vs. temperature controlled case. I think with that in mind, I may hold off on any pre-purchases, so I can attend the store and see where the wines have been located. With the 2002 d’yquem for example, when I attend the store and see it in the temperature controlled case, do you think there is any risk that it has lived part of its life on the shelf and part of its life in the case?

Even the 2010 GPL, if that is out in one of the reach-in displays, that means it could have been sitting there for almost 3 years since 2012 release. Hmmm…

Are you sure these wines are in stock at Spokane Total Wine?

For instance, when I chose that store, I got “Winery Direct” on Brane Cantenac, which means that it’s a special order item.

Unless you intend to order them ahead of time, and then pick them up?

Here are some that I noticed in stock, in roughly the same price range:

Boillot Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2010
96 Int’l Wine Cellar
$159.99

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia, 2008
96 James Suckling
$159.99

Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala, 2007
“Keith Levenberg Likes this wine”
$129.97

Dom Perignon, 2004
95 Wine Spectator
$129.97

Boillot Meursault Charmes Premier Cru, 2011
94 Wine Advocate
$124.99

Standish Shiraz, 2005
$109.99

Boillot Volnay Fremiets 1er Cru, 2011
93 Int’l Wine Cellar
$99.99

Boillot Volnay Chevrets 1er Cru, 2011
93 Int’l Wine Cellar
$99.99

I’d buy three bottles of Boillot before I bought four bottles of the others*.

If you like huge red wines, then that 2005 Standish ought to be moving into a sweet spot about now.

And the best wine that Ridge makes is actually their chardonnay - it is much nicer than any of their reds. Total Wine doesn’t seem to stock the Ridge Santa Cruz chardonnay, but they do have the Montebello chardonnay:

http://www.totalwine.com/eng/product/ridge-montebello-chardonnay/93450750

Actually, I’m a little confused now - it looks like maybe Ridge renamed the “Santa Cruz” chardonnay to be the “Montebello” chardonnay? Anyway, I’d always purchase a Ridge chardonnay before I purchased a Ridge red wine.

Finally, if you are visiting wineries or stopping at small wine shops, then the best Washington wines I’ve ever tried [by a substantial margin] are by Powers - especially their work in the “Champoux” vineyard:

http://www.badgermtnvineyard.com/powers/champoux_vineyard.html

And it looks like Spokane Total Wine might have a little Powers Champoux:

http://www.totalwine.com/eng/product/powers-cabernet-champoux-rsv/121631750


*There are rumors that JJ Prum has been dialing back the sulfur, and may not be as ageworthy as it once was. I don’t know whether that applies to the 2011s.

They have a coupon on Special Order items?

That’s pretty bizarre.

Well it answers my question. Although if the Special Order items are sitting in a warehouse, then you’d want to know whether the warehouse is air-conditioned, and, at this time of year, whether the trucks which deliver the wines are themselves air-conditioned.

I don’t know anything about the quality of the “back end” of the Total Wines operation.

“Winery Direct” does not mean it is a special order. Winery Direct only means that Total Wine has developed a relationship with the winery so they can source the wines directly from the producer, and therefore, have lower prices than many other wine shops. They have plenty of “Winery Direct” in stock all the time. Probably still best to call the store and ask if they have the wines you want in stock. If so, ask them to put them on hold for you in the back and you can swing by to pick it up when you’re ready.

But they’re using “Winery Direct” for imports.

That means they have a special relationship with the DISTRIBUTOR for the wine within that particular state, and then the distributor may or may not have to put in the request to the IMPORTER of the wine, who may or may not have to put in a request with the NEGOCIANT, who may or may not have to put in a request with the CHATEAU.

I’m not familiar with states where the retailer is allowed to be the distributor - maybe the District of Columbia?

It could be that “Winery Direct” refers to a relationship with a multi-state outfit like Southern Wine & Spirits, who would be sitting on big pallets of fine wine in some central warehouse, marked “For Total Wine & Spirits Only - Do Not Sell to Other Clients”.

But here in North Carolina, to the best of my knowledge, the retailer isn’t even allowed to have a warehouse separate from their physical sales floor. And if the retailer wants to move wine from one physical sales location to another physical sales location, then they have to return the wine from the first location, back to the distributor, who then resells it to them for the second location.

I’m sorry, Robert, but I have another caveat. The 10% discount for six or more bottles applies only to 750 ml bottles. If that 2002 Yuckum that you are eyeballing is a 375, it would not be eligible for the 10% off. If you really have your heart set on that one, and I certainly could not blame you if you did, you might want to use your 15% “Winery Direct” coupon.


Consider my comments to be anecdotal. My experience seems to have been hit or miss. I found a 2009 Jemrose Cardiac Hill Syrah at my local store (about a year ago) that some of my on-line buddies absolutely raved about, and I found it dull and innocuous. On the other hand a 2008 Lagier Meredith Syrah from the same store, in fact, the same shelf, was terrific. For a while I was picking up a 2007 Carignan that I was loving. The third one, though, was just a disappointment. On the other hand, as I say, I’ve never had a problem with a current release wine.

Yes, I think there is a risk that something in the case may have once lived out of the case. I just don’t think there are any guarantees. For all we know Total Wine may have obtained that 2002 d’Yquem just last year. Where was it prior to that?

Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it! That definitely adds some more options more for me to think about. Never had whites from Boillot, any comments on their propensity for premox? (i.e. better or worse than the norm).

And I agree with the other poster that “Winery Direct” denotes their relationship with the producer. If you look on the page for each wine, it will actually tell you where it is located in the store. So, for example, the 2009 Brane Cantenac which is “Winery Direct” is located “Aisle 01, Left”. I also now see that the 2002 d’yquem and the 2010 GPL appear to be located in the “wine cellar”, which I assume is the temperature controlled area.

You are entirely correct on the 375 ml vs. 750 ml size difference, which I didn’t think of. The y’quem is 375 ml and so neither the 10% off or the 15% off discounts apply. That bottle is out.

I did find a “Pacific Peak Merlot” which is in store at $2.47. I will buy two bottles of that to access the 10% discount on 6 bottles, and then toss the two bottles or donate them to someone in the parking lot champagne.gif

Things that end with a “7” don’t count for that discount.

If you are driving around the US just find something you’d drink anyways.

Their pricing is usually “ok” anyways.

Yes, I keep forgetting about the prices ending in “7”. Therefore, Arbor Mist Strawberry White Zinfandel for $3.49 it is! flirtysmile

After planning our itinerary more, we won’t be stopping there until our way back. So I can either let my wife drive while I guzzle two bottles in the passenger seat in the 3.5 hours it takes to get to the Canadian border (ha!), or just get rid of them.

Wait, what? I like Ridge MB Chard as much as the next guy, but this is profoundly incorrect, and tossed off as a statement of fact.

I started another thread about it:

The answer seems to be that Montebello is now the flagship chardonnay [subsuming the best of the old “Santa Cruz” grapes], it will be made every vintage [instead of sporadically], and it will be made in such large quantities that they can now start shipping it out of state to retailers like Total Wine.

So since I much prefer Ridge whites to Ridge reds, I’d purchase two bottles of Montebello Chardonnay before I’d purchase one bottle of Montebello Cabernet.

Oh man - you only live once - you gotta treat yourself to a great Henri Boillot blanc.

I’d buy three bottles of Boillot Corton Charlemagne grand crus before I bought four “nice” bottles of red wine.

Or get these:

Boillot Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2010
Boillot Meursault Charmes Premier Cru, 2011
Boillot Volnay Fremiets 1er Cru, 2011
Boillot Volnay Chevrets 1er Cru, 2011

If I were driving back to Canada with those four wines in my climate controlled automobile, then I’d have a great big grin on my face.

Post-script:

I visited the Total Wine in Spokane Valley this morning on our way back from Idaho. Nice-looking, large store, with what seems like a good selection. I was the only customer in the store at the time.

My kids were tired and everyone was in a hurry to get back home, so my browsing time was much more limited than it would be otherwise. I was going to use my 15% off “Winery Direct” coupon online a day or two before coming in, but their website seemed to be having issues and I couldn’t finalize the order. So when I went into the store today, I told a lady that worked there about the problem. I asked if they would extend the coupon an extra day (to today), as the coupon had expired yesterday. She said that they could not, which was understandable, I guess.

I considered picking up 6 wines to get the 10% off, but wasn’t sure I had time to locate the 4 I wanted (that didn’t end in “7”), plus the 2 cheapie throwaway bottles (that didn’t end in “7”), in order to access the discount. So I decided that I would quickly grab some Bordeaux, as that is what I know best, without using any coupons.

I asked the same lady to open up the locked temperature controlled cabinet, so I could get my selections from there. While she was doing that, I asked her a quick question about the availability of one of the wines I had seen online that didn’t seem to be in the cabinet. She responded, “I don’t know much about the wines here in the cabinet, but I will go get you the expert”. Before I could tell her that wasn’t necessary, and that I just wanted to grab the wines, she was gone.

She comes back with an older fellow. Presumably “the expert”. He didn’t seem to want me to get the bottles out of the case, and so I had to point out to him what I wanted. He then handed the first two bottles I chose to the lady, who immediately took them up to the cash register for when I was finished. I guess I didn’t look trustworthy enough to handle, or otherwise touch, the bottles. Whatever.

So I had picked out a couple of Bordeaux wines, and then for the third selection, pointed to the 2010 Gruaud Larose. He quickly reads the tag, and says, “Oh, the 2010 St. Julien” (seeming to have read the appellation rather than the title and thinking the wine was called “St. Julien”). While in my mind I had already started to question his expertise, this sealed the deal.

I was then considering my fourth and final choice, when he suddenly goes all used car salesman on me:

“You know what you should really get? Do you like Cab Franc?” I tell him jokingly, “only if it is mixed with Merlot and is Cheval Blanc”. He stares at me blankly. He goes on, “We just got a couple of case of this amazing wine from Washington, called Sheridan. One guy I know goes crazy for it, just bought a whole case. I don’t think it’s going to last. Wine Advocate gave it 95 points. It’s only $50.” I tell him, “thank-you”, but explain that I’m probably just going to stick with Bordeaux today. He persists: “Well, that French wine is good, but you have to try this Sheridan, it will knock your socks off…”. I actually had to smile and say “well, my family is waiting for me in the car, I should go…” and walk away from him, as he continued to try and huckster me into buying Sheridan.

A quick scan afterwards on Wine Searcher for the 2012 Sheridan Cab Franc, and it appears to be one of those wines that is sold mostly at Total Wine, and sold quite extensively through their different locations. How much of a commission does he make off of the damn stuff? Anyhow, the customer service there left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t have one in my location so I guess I don’t have to worry too much about going back anyways.

But to make a long story short, here is what I got:

2008 d’yquem
2009 Guiraud
2010 Gruaud Larose
2008 Langoa Barton

I transported my purchases home in my Mobicool cooler (which plugs into the cigarette lighter of my vehicle and keeps the wine at a nice temp while I drive it home), and they are now resting in my cellar. A happy ending champagne.gif

Thanks for all of the suggestions in this thread!

Well, Robert, it looks like it worked out for you. I guess it might have been helpful if I had added that I try not to talk to their people. If you know what you want and can avoid their clerks, Total Wine is a perfectly adequate retail purveyor. I have a pretty good coupon in my wallet right now ($10 off for every $50 spent), which I will probably put to use. If I’m careful, I can get up to 20% off.

I’ll bet $1 that 2012 Sheridan Cabernet Franc is a “Winery Direct” wine.