Key details on the posting, for reference: "Lot 355 comes to us from a fifth generation winegrower and premier viticultural consultant who’s family pioneered the Australian wine business in the 1850’s. This guy has planted more ultra-premium vineyards and knows South Australia better than just about anyone. The winery was named Winestate’s (Aussie version of Wine Spectator) Winery of the Year several times and is James Halliday 5-star rated. … Lot 355 | 2021 McLaren Vale Shiraz is divine on the nose, maintaining the regional archetype, and absolutely stunning on the palate, and while still in its youth, you’ll see the best is yet to come. Retailing in Australia for $30/bottle, it’s a steal at just over $8/bottle, $99/case, in-stock and ready to ship! … 100% Shiraz, 100% McLaren Vale producer estate vineyards | Aged 20-months in 20% new French oak hogsheads | 15% alc. | 400 cases available"
I think it is Wines by Geoff Hardy. The “K1” Shiraz bottlings sell for AUD$45/btl, ~USD$30/btl.
Per the McLaren Vale tourism sites: “Established in 1980, Wines by Geoff Hardy is a South Australian family-owned and -operated wine company founded by Geoff, a fifth-generation member of one of Australia’s most famous wine families, the Hardys. Geoff’s family has been tending vineyards in the premium maritime region of McLaren Vale since the early 1850s when his great-great grandfather, Thomas Hardy, arrived from the UK. Thomas was the region’s first settler and is widely regarded as the father of the South Australian wine industry. Since leaving the then family-owned Hardys in 1980 to make his own way in the Australian wine world, Geoff has grown Wines by Geoff Hardy into one of Australia’s leading family-owned and -operated wine businesses. In 2012 and 2014, Wines by Geoff Hardy was named Australian Wine Company of the Year by Winestate Magazine, followed by Top 5 finishes in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Australia’s most prominent wine writer, James Halliday, rated the company as a five red star winery in his 2020 Wine Companion. Demonstrating the pursuit of excellence across all aspects of the company, Wines by Geoff Hardy was also named Australian Export Company of the Year 2017 at the Optus My Business Awards.”
Seems like most of the details fit the description, but let me know if I missed something.
Not like i need more wine nor have space for it but good McLaren Vale shiraz for less than $10 a bottle is pretty hard to pass up. Compared to what you can get at Total Wine or Costco for that price? Seems like its a minimum $20 a bottle retail for any quaffable shiraz and this description sounds great.
Etrauger,
'K1" line is Adelaide Hills designation- this offering is McLaren Vale Shiraz, which if made by Geoff Hardy (which is correct IMO)), then the 355 offering would be the “Handcrafted Shiraz”. AUS $30 lines up with that choice too. Cheers, Tim
Anyone try n.343 yet? (That’s the 2020 version of n.355.) Some folks have gotten it.
When Mr. Hughes mentions the “price” in Australia, I notice that sometimes it’s in Aus$ and sometimes US$. Well, in my investigations, it seems that way.
For n.354 Centenarian he mentions higher price in Aus, lower in US, and I think it’s obvious in that case the “price in Australia” is in Aus$. (“Dollarbucks”, as I hear from the Bluey Heeler’s family.) but at other times, we just don’t know.
Made BBQ last night and opened a bottle of Zin that was ok. With Spring/ Summer coming up I jumped on the Zin offer today. I figure even if its not great, I can still serve it when we have friends over as usually that means I’ve got something on the Traeger that will go well with it. It’ll help me hold on to some Bedrocks I have a little longer.
Refosco can be a hit and miss. Love Cab Franc, but not sure about the one from Italy. Not enough of a deal for me to try. I also noticed that some of the Cam’s “original” price points are a bit exaggerated, especially for Europe and Australia. Australian dollar is way lower than USD.
I should have explained this in more detail the email, actually. I was asked by the producer to preserve their “frontline” price points on the La Ronc offer and offer a non-public discount. That is their frontline pricing through 3-tier and there is nothing deceptive about it…they are insane values at those prices of under $20 and $14/bottle - that I can promise you.
regarding Australia - depends on the brand…you can always find some importer dumping inventory through the PLCB or some retailer advertising pricing from 10 years ago and they haven’t had the wine in as long a time or they don’t have it in stock but they “can get it for you”. By and in large however, the pricing is similar like Two Hands Bellas Garden is basically $63 avg price in US and $62 in AUD. Again, there might be a retailer with an outlier. I always call out whose pricing we are using, wineries or marketplace and often provide context where I feel its necessary. Regardless, if you ever feel you didn’t get a great value from us, all you have to do is reach out and we’ll get it taken care of.
good morning…sorry, missed this inquiry earlier. I don’t have a lot of direct competitors but I indirectly compete with everyone. My strong suit is in the bulk market itself. I know how to find and close deals and have been doing this longer than just about anybody so lots of folks just come to us directly - this is largely a handshake deal business so payment reputation goes a long way. It’s also consumer confidence as well as media confidence that allows us to spread the word virally, so my cost of acquisition is quite low.
That’s funny and reminds me the other day I logged on winebounty and saw a 2017 cordella brunello on WTSO for $29 (vs best internet price $69) and the exact same wine on lastbottle for $39 (vs best purported price $80). Was curious how WTSO anticipated that or if it was purely reactionary
Regarding n.343, I received my shipment on 17 Feb. On 19 Feb I opened and decanted a bottle and let it sit for an hour or so. Definite fruit bomb but it seemed closed with little complexity. Returned to bottle, recorked and revisited 21 Feb. I think it is still closed. Definitely a ton of fruit, but the savory notes that CH has in his notes are still hiding. Serves me right for being too anxious to try out this steal.
