But that only applies to Burgundy, Bdx en primeur prices are i believe only available from negociant’s and theres no chateau direct pricing available, is that true ?
Several comments from the (I pay) peanut(s) gallery…
‘Top shelf’ is in the eye of the beholder and buyer. It’s a slippery slope. DRC and Domaine Leroy? Rousseau and Vogue?? d’Angerville and Courcel (wrong Cote but unarguably great IMO) ??? Dujac and Ponsot??? Relatively recently arrived or Newbies like Roty or Bernstein???
IIRC Chateau Latour has broken away from the negociant system. But I don’t know how the wines are sold now. I am past buying 1st growths to lay down (71 years, two teetotaler sons), but still occasionally splurge in the aftermarket for things to swill down right away (aka within a decade).
I can imagine some day a high-quality Burgundy Domaine saying that they will only sell out of the cellar door. Maximum 12 bottles, assorted (like a DRC case) according to production. Of course the rich people would send their churls, but maybe there’s a way to check? I represent a wonderful Burgundy Domaine from way out there in the boonies (slightly NW of E Bumf*ck). If you show up at the door, and you haven’t been there before, they will sell you up to 24 bottles, depending what is on hand. I got a mixed pallet for the U.S. this year.
Dan Kravitz
I’m not sure if Latour has broken away from negociants per se. They’ve stopped selling en primeur, but all that means is that they release what vintages they want, when they want, at the price they want. I’m pretty sure they still rely on the 3-tier system to get wines to customers. Or I might be misunderstanding your point, not being ITB 
I’d love that a lot. There’s an interesting parallel with a shoemaker I visited in Paris (Aubercy), where they refuse to sell to the hordes of random people who call or email them from all over the world. You have to go to the store and talk to them and establish a relationship and then they’ll make shoes for you and send them wherever you want in the future. Of course part of it is they want to take your measurements in person, but I think it goes beyond that - they’re simply not interested in selling their limited production to resellers or trend chasers. There’s a degree of sincerity and commitment and personal investment that they’re looking for from their clients, because everything they do is infused with that. Clearly it’s not necessary to shake the hand of the winemaker and learn the names of their children in order to enjoy wine, but the personal dimension can add so much, and it would be so wonderful to have that opportunity with more domaines in Burgundy