I have always loved this Champagne and used to purchase it frequently. Locally, it’s north of $70 for the fifth. I can get 2 Laurent-Perrier Brut for that. Has anyone else stopped buying it because of price?
Yes, alas – and have also devolved to L-P.
Bollinger has tried stepping up the price on this various times and it seems to be very market dependent. It isn’t hard to find it for $45-$50 in my market, but when Roederer’s NV is still around $35, it is a tough sell. On the opposite end, Charles Heidsieck’s NV was consistently $30-$40 for years and now starts at $70. Pol Roger’s NV is also $60 in my market. All depends on where you on and how the importer/distribution chain works and what their goal is.
In general, the Champagne market is back up to or beyond where it was in 2007/2008 price-wise with most NVs starting at the $40 mark now. From 2009-2012, we got a little lucky as most dropped to $30.
I think the days of sub-$40 NV are going to be a thing of the past very soon in the US unless the economy takes another dive. Europe subsidized a lot of the prices here from 2009-2012 and that couldn’t last forever especially with the current European economy situation.
As to Bolly NV at $70 or even $50, I pass. I like it, but not that much. I’ll just spend $100 and buy a Grande Annee instead of two NVs though I do miss the days of a decade ago when the Grande Annee was only $60. The one thing that does worry me about Bollinger is that they made a marketing decision to almost double the price of the vintage wines with the releases from the late 90s to early 00s and sales went up. They continue to experiment with that same concept on the NVs.
Bollinger used to be my go to NV. Now it’s split between Pierre Peters, Billiot and Gaston Chiquet. None of those go over $50 if I look around just a bit.
I like how Brad is thinking especially as it relates to NV Roederer or 2 bottles of the Grande Annee. OTOH, Im drinking a lot of the NV Bollie Brut Rose where Im gladly paying near $70; it`s that good.
Blake,
The Rose at $70 is pricey to me; I’d rather see it sub-$60, but it is tasty. When it first came out, a few markets actually had this at right around $100 and, not unexpectedly, it didn’t sell. I think Bollinger and their import teams are searching for the right price points in different markets.
David,
Growers are even more market dependent in terms of pricing. With some searching and going via shipping, you can get great deals, but in many markets it is difficult. In the metro-Detorit area, the growers ruled in terms of value with plenty of awesome $30-$40 NVs and $45-60 vintage wines five to eight years ago. Today, they are more expensive than the quality houses by at least $10 in most categories - even the prestige level where DP, Grande Dame, Belle Epoque, Grande Annee sit. Is it a wonder why the market in my area is tough for the small guys. Pierre Peters NV starts at $60 and the least expensive decent grower NV in my locale is Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste. Anne at $50. Travel to another state and things change drastically.
My new “champagne” strategy is pretty much going to be; stockup on K&L’s NV Michel Arnould & N/V Frank Bonville for $33 ea, fill in with great $13 -$17 bargain basement CA sparklers like; Scharfenberger, Mumm blk label, and Roderer CA. When I want something that really rocks, then buy the occassional 2-3 btls of; Taittinger Comte, Bolly Grand Anne & Vilmart’s top cuvee. I’m not finding much value in the $40-$75 farmer fizzs I keep trying. I plan on skipping a lot of the over priced offers for amazing farmer fizz going fwd. I can get the Bolly SC for $50 in my market which I still like occassionally at that price but not any higher.
Camille Saves, Jose Dhondt, Pierre Peters, Aubry, Billiot, etc. All delicious and good QPR.
I liked Pierre Peters better in the $32-$35 days. Nice stuff but I’m not $50 impressed with it.
Brad,
I shop mostly in Mass and Jersey. Pricing in Connecticut is similar to what you cite.
If you ever come upon a bottle of their Rose, give it a try. Special stuff, especially with a year or two of age.
Thanks for the rec. it might be in my market and I haven’t noticed.