Costco Alert

WINE TALK
21

It’s interesting reading comments from people who had posted comments on various message boards at the time and how they were all wrong. Hip Hop abandoning the brand has clearly had a negative impact on Roederer. I was in two different Costco’s this past week and they had loads of Cristal at both of them.

22

The Cristal has a $22 off coupon and regular price of $179.99 and the J Walker Blue has a $25 off coupon and a regular price of $149.99.

Picked up 2+2 and saved $100. The Champs for me, the Walkers for gifts.

23

Seattle Costco is $189 for Cristal, but I did see Kapscandy there for the second time in recent memory, all the Pahlmeyer Merlot was gone. 02 DP was $119, and there was no BDX left on the floor which o found odd.

24

Just came back from the Fremont Costco. Looks like they just had a few of the 2002 Cristal for $179 and a bunch of the 2002 Dom Perignon with flutes for $119.

25

I drank it alongside a 2002 DP and I was disappointed in the Cristal. Lacked the focus and verve the DP had - came across a bit flabbly and round. Believe I scored it an 88.

26

Good price on the Johnny Blue, still probably not worth it, but a lot better than I see around here.

27

Yeah, big price on a blend

28

[shock.gif] Wow -

Anyone who has tasted the Cristal 2002 (especially blinded) and doesn’t carry a ****-on against the Roederer Champagne house will know that the Costco offer is a screaming deal. The hip-hop nonsense is, IMHO, nonsense. That line of business will move on to the next trendy bubbly. Cristal is the real deal for someone who truly enjoys Champagne. I personally prefer it to anything else, although I also love Dom Perignon. I have many fellow oenophiles who are Champagne-lovers. Their tastes range from Taittinger (light) to Krug (full-bodied). I love 'em all, but am more toward the middle.

Folks, regarding Roederer and desperation, yadah, yadah, yadah…understand that we are in a horrific economy. Yes, the Chinese elite may be on a rampage for Lafite (while their people work for 23 cents an hour and breathe horrifically toxic air…don’t get me going about how our great country no longer manufactures anything). There are so many people across the globe who are simply trying to make ends meet. Many folks in this country are out of work (and, as such, will not be buying Champagne). You may image the unemployed like you do the homeless, but I personally know of many highly-educated, highly-trained, formerly-employed-at-high-salary folks who are now living off of their savings. I feel blessed that I am in a position to “cherry-pick” deals such as the Cristal 2002 (at our Costco for $157.99 with the coupon) and Dom Perignon Andy Warhol (at our Costco for 119.99) at such good prices.

Sorry about the rant. [shrug.gif]

Colin



P.S. Merry Christmas to all…it’s not about the money with that one! grouphug

29

I agree completely about the Cristal. Tasted it at the Wine & spirits tasting in SF and thought it was quite average. The 1988 veuve cliquot was a much better wine at a lower price.

30

FWIW, in LV/Henderson, it is $189 - $22 (coupon) = $167.

31

We’ll need to review these posts in 10 years…had the '90 Cristal (well-cellared) lately? [scratch.gif]

Colin

32

I have one but haven’t tried it yet.

33

So RMP was wrong. The heir apparent is not Antonio; it’s Jay-Z.

34

You are a lucky man, my friend! [wink.gif]

Colin

35

I got 99 problems, but forking over 150 clams for bubbly ain’t one.

36

Although I do agree that the Cristal is not on the same level as the 2002 Dom Perignon, I thought the 2002 Cristal to be a very good champagne with great balalnce. My personal feeling is that Cristal should be closer to the $100 price point, even in great vintages like 2002, and hopefully it will continue to approach this mark. I have yet to purchase any 2002 Cristal, but at a sub $150 price I would deifnitely entertain the thought.

What’s interesting to me is how aged bottles of Cristal (96 and earlier) are still reaching significant prices at auction.

One positive point about Ace of Spades is that it keeps a certain group of people away from Dom Perignon and Krug, which I’m sure many of the board folk don’t mind in terms of price. It’s amazing that Ace of Spades is auctioning at $200+.

37

I completely agree with you…

38

Put me in the camp of the folks that are not big fans of the 02 Cristal. I find it too creamy and lacking the nice acidic verve I enjoy with 02 DP. So I’m certainly not a buyer at the current price point, even with the discount. I’d be much more likely to buy the 02 DP, MV Krug or several other producers that can be found under $ 100 that are much better to my palate

39

C a ry - nice to see someone grabbed that avatar and ran with it [cheers.gif]

40

I went to my Costco today. Several bottles of 2004 Cristal (not 2002) for $209.

Sounds like a no go.

These are the normal in-the-mail coupons? I don’t think mine have come yet.

How is 2004 in relation to 2002??