Champagnes---Deals or No Deals?

WINE TALK
1

MV Krug @ $120

2002 Cristal @ $170

1998 La Grande Dame @ $115

Thoughts?

TIA

2

No
Haven’t tried it but doesn’t usually represent a value to me. That price is well down from previous vintages.
No

3

$120 for MV Krug is a good price (in my experience).

The price for 02 Cristal is below anything I’ve seen. I think Cristal is vastly overrated, however, so I wouldn’t bite even at that price.

I have no idea what La Grande Dame trades for. I view all of Veuve’s offerings as poor, however. So, since much better champagne can be had for much less, I wouldn’t go for the Grande Dame either.

4

No
No
No

02 cristal price is ok, MV price seems a bit high, 98 LGD just isnt that good.

5

I want to know where everyone is routinely getting Krug MV for less than $120 these days.

6

I’ve seen it locally on sale for $99. $120 is a solid price for it but not a “deal” IMO. Especially since the last couple tries I’ve had of it have been so so.

7

Pass, Pass (although a good price it, imo the wine isn’t worth it ) and Pass

8

Grass-Ass for all the responses.

9

If the Krug has a few years of bottle age, I’d certainly bite at $120.

10

As mentioned all are a pass to me. Thoughts on the wines:

  • Krug Grande Cuvee can be found for below $100 in multiple places. Below $90 in some and even at $80 and below right now.
  • Cristal is falling like a rock in price locally here in Michigan. It came out at $280 and is now everywhere for as low as $160. I agree with Ray that $170 for 2002 Cristal is probably the best deal on the list, but you can still find it for less and the wine isn’t worth $170 to me. I would not be surprised to see this wine continue to trend lower if a lot of stock is left for 2010.
  • I don’t see lots of deals on the 98 Grande Dame and I like the wine, but I can’t see paying more than $90 in the current US wine climate.
11

Bill be looking to fill his glass I assume.

12

Brad - I’ll have to go shopping with you! [basic-smile.gif]
While I think it is interesting the “Big Boy” prices may be getting lower…
(Krug < $80 -Really?) I do not get a sense that Champagne prices are lower over all.

Eric Asimov (NY Times) did an article about this, saying that getting to buy Cristal
under $200 is like the NY Apartments that were going for 5 Million were now
cut rate at 3.5 million.

I have seen Krug at 99
Cristal at 179
But I haven’t yet seen Grande Dame under 100.

Cheers,
Rip