Is it just me, or are prices moving north again?

WINE TALK
1

I have been following a bunch of things over the last few months and think I see what may be a real increase once again on certain things, most notably, Napa Cabs.

Buccella for one. I can’t even find anything less than $125 in any quantity. A few months back, I see them for 90ish in a few places. Merus on a steady rise too.

Am I the only one? What trends do you see out there?

2

auctions prices seem up. my spending dollar will not follow though. got a 6-pack of 2006 SV Noceto Mags today for $260, this is the kind of buy i’ll be seeking out this year.

3

I had been thinking about posting this very question the past month or so…in my LWS, prices have seemed to be increasing…however, the store is not known for their deals…this is mainly in the lower $$ range (where I spend most of my browsing)…I’ve noticed things that used to be $13-$15 are now $17-$18

4

Mike

You are buying Napa Cab…the worst QPR in the universe. deadhorse

Seriously, 2007s are coming out, forcing prices back up for that region.

5

I hear you, Dan, but for about 14 minutes it seemed like there was some QPR light at the end of the tunnel.

6

As a retailer, I will note that some of the deals have dried up. In October and November it was easy to get great stuff at cheap prices. December the deals were still there but not as frequent, until the last day of the month when it was crazy!
So a lot of retailers have moved through that inventory and are stuck paying regular prices.
A lot of wines (in MD at least) did not go down in price. The distributors just made deals where if you bought 10 you might save $10 a case or whatever. So we could offer the wines at discounted prices, but the front line costs were still the same. But those deals are not as frequent here right now.
I suspect they will be back.

7

I’m still seeing deals. I think many of the distributors are getting worried with the next vintage around the corner and still having alot of stock from the previous. Today was a discount on 6 packs of Hundred Acre and this rep said there are more discounts to come. The other day was Smith Woodhouse '03 Port. Yesterday a rep told me if there is a wine you’re thinking of buying but don’t want to because of the price, most of the wines in the portfolio are discounted, just ask.

8

Feels like Cayuse, Saxum notwithstanding the real weakness in US market is in Rhone varietals.

9

a couple of my favorite Paso wineries kept with their annual price increase of approx. 10% [bleh.gif]

10

I have never even seen any great deals to begin with… so I dunno rolleyes . I did find some 05 Monty Chard that was repriced to the 07 price. Retailers, why is this done? I would have cleared his inventory if it was priced like an 05 (which I bought at release). I see Insignia everywhere…for $180+. Saw it in Costco for $145. This wine has a huge production and I can’t imagine that many people paying out for this wine.

11

Honestly, the less everyone buys, the more great bargains there will be, simple math.

It’s painful to watch price increases, or “price fixing” (got 2 emails within a short window about my pricing).

12

Timing is everything.

Just like any business purchase (and many personal)…whether it be a new computer for your business, capital equipment to add to your business, purchasing a home, a car, etc.

There are times of the year that are more advantageous then others to make wine purchases. Just ask yourself , when is the best times of the year (or quarter) to buy a car? why? The answers will be almost the same for wine.

I buy wines (in quantity) only during certain times of the year. Sure, I do mailing list, or buy aged Bordeaux when the right opportunity might present itself. But I show patience and I wait for the bigger purchases, the deals always happen. Timing is everything. Those six paks of Ornellaia will be around in six months, but most likely at lower pricing then release (just an example).

I don’t agree that Ca. is the worst QPR. In many cases, absolutely, but in some cases, I have had wines that are absolutely world class and will stand up to any wine in the world (just about). Many wines aren’t worth the price, but there are those that do in fact justify the price and compared to something of equivalent quality from Bordeaux for instance, it could be considered a bargain or at least on par in terms of quality/price. We want to talk worst QPR…Le Pin and Petrus. We can also add DRC to some extent…Le Tache?

While these are world class wines and I am not discounting the quality, are they really worth the price of admission? For those with unlimited funds…probably. But for most people…No. Is it worth the price? probably not.



I got a ton of great deals last year and they WILL come back this year. (in my opinion).

13

Timing is definitely key. I still see deals. And January/February is typically a time when some close-out lists are pushed by some distributors. I believe there is still a ton of wine that isn’t moving. Good times for buyers for at least the next few years… depending, of course on what you are looking for.

14

New releases? Maybe. People will spend just to have something now (its the American Way). But past vintages, even good ones, continue to get marked down. i am just not buying much right away (with a few exceptions) and will be patient.

15

I don’t buy much Napa Cab because I think they’re generally overpriced. However, I’m still seeing a lot of deals on Bordeaux. I just picked up a couple of cases of 2006 Fleur Cardinale, a 20-year wine, for $26/bottle. [welldone.gif]

16

If you are not seeing deals, you are dealing with the wrong wine merchants.

Max, Ian, myself etc etc etc have been plowing through blowoout deals for over a year now.

Today, 2006 Clos des Papes CDP Blanc for $35/btl…gone in a flash.

Next week, I will be pounding on JJ Prum Rieslings.

17

reeeheeeaallly…

18

Ask Max why he raised the price on the 03 Montrose that I had been pensively mulling over?
pileon

19

+1

20

Jack

ask him yourself.

you have a telephone… neener

and yes really.