Would you explain more? I live in rural Kansas and make a trip into the KC metro area every few months. Total Wine bought a local chain, Lukas Wine and Spirits, about a year and a half ago. I have been to that Total Wines a few times since the change. I had issues regarding the dubious/mysterious origins of some Bordeaux purchases but want to confirm if that is what you are referring to.
I think Tom is being a little hyperbolic with his use of the word “scam” here. It’s a legit company with legit winemakers. I have a friend who used to make wines for them and worked within their system. It’s more of a social media-focused approach, where buyers can interact directly with the winemaker.
It’s not aimed at wine nerds - it’s aimed at people who are curious and on the verge of becoming enthusiasts.
If I had to guess, I’d guess that Tom is referring to the fact that many Total Wine wine SKUs are “Cellar Direct”, meaning that Total Wine either is the only US source, or white labels them directly. That’s for sure not the NW model.
Right, because companies never marketed based on faux authenticity before. #sarcasm
Come on, I mean, sure that’s a thing, but it’s the same playbook in a different medium. Consider the wine industry - the vast majority of wine marketing is the same exact message of luxury/mystery/transcendence/craft.
For example, have you ever seen a Josh Cellars ad?
Guess what? It works! Josh Cellars is owned by Deutsch, a giant wine and spirits company. Same “faux authenticity”. Wildly successful product.
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Eric,
Where in rural Kansas?? I’m from Kansas & still have $hit on my shoes!!
As best I can tell, Total wines owns Saranty Imports, which makes it illegal in most States. You cannot find any Saranty wines except at Total Wines.
For most of the Saranty wines (but not all), the shelf talker marks it as “Winery Direct”. These are bulk or excess wines Saranty buys, makes up a Chateau or Domain name, slaps a label on it, and offers it as a premium/Estate wine. When you do a Google on that Domaine name, the only hit you’ll get is TotalWines. Most of these are sham/fictious Estates.
When I shop/bottom feed at Total Wines, if I see Saranty Imports on the label, I run the other direction.
Total Wines pushes the boundaries of legality in most states. Which is. Why they are successful. Here in NM, some of their practices are outright illegal. And the Total Wines prices are not at all competitive. They are a fraud.
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Tom,
We live in Miami County, closest town is Paola. With the way the KC metro area is growing I wonder if Miami County will still be rural in a decade or so.
So, yes, we are talking about the same thing re: TW. Last February I bought a case of wine there including some Bordeaux. Some of the Chateaux I had never heard of including one from Moulis and another from Pomerol which was priced just below $50.(my wife really likes right bank merlot dominant Bordeaux so I took a chance.) These two wines were drinkable but very dull and did not show any characteristics that I would identify with Bordeaux. Had I been served these blind, I would never have guessed either were Bordeaux. Neither was worth the money. The one from Moulis had a nose reminding us more of an inexpensive Beaujolais – simple bright red cherry with a hint of bubblegum. The wine also had a similar taste to a Beaujolais except with more tannins. Similar experience with the Pomerol. Nothing in the wine indicated that it was from Pomerol or any right bank appellation. It had a medium body and reminded us in taste, nose and especially color, of an inexpensive Tuscan IGT. I guess there was some Merlot in there, though it did a very good job of hiding. I don’t think either wine was going through some dumb phase; the Pomerol already had 9 years of age on it. I just think those wines will never improve. There was just very little “there” there. Far better Bordeaux available at those prices (or lower)!
An internet search turned up nothing on the Moulis other than references to TW and one CT review. A search for the Pomerol eventually turned up an indirect link to another established but very obscure estate in Pomerol. Is this a second wine or bulk wine that Saranty/TW financed to have that Chateau process and bottle?
Was it really a Pomerol or a Lalande de Pomerol? TW tend to carry real Pomerols as the AOC is really too small for fake bulkers. But there can be more wiggle room in LdP
Eric,
Sounds to me like a Saranty creation. If you can’t find it on Google, most likely that.
I had a good wine friend that used to live in Paola. Bill Rosich. Now lives in Manhattan.
Did you know Bill??
Tom
It was really a Pomerol(according to the label).
Tom,
Sorry, I do not know Bill Rosich.