Ray, so…these bottles did come from a middleman, rather than the estate? is that what you’re saying? or is what Mark is talking about yet another group of them?
Frankly, the concept of an estate sending bottles of current releases directly to auction is a bit troubling, though I’m not sure why. I guess if the post-domaine price is high, there’s no reason the domaine shouldn’t share in the bounty, but…
Holy…holy. SAQ got some Fourriers directly from the Estate but for just few vintages only (from 1999 to 2001). Griotte was around CD $100 and CSJ at CD $80. 
Maybe Fourrier will be the next Roumier.
Aren’t those vintages when Fourrier had problem with bottle variation?
Yes Leo - you are right, specially for vintage 2001. The problem was due to one of his cork suppliers withe the name FS on the corks.
OK Ray,
A few facts. More than one auction (one here in the US) and Fourrier heavily involved. He did a Zachys dinner in Hong Kong, and some of the wines sold were to to be shipped directly from the domaine after bottling. Very clearly this was done by Fourrier, with the obvious intention of raising the profile of the estate. I don’t know whether the wines were actually consigned by someone else, and if there were legal or logistical reasons as to who did what, but the fact that the auctions took place in more than one country, shows more than local participation.
Mark - why are you so certain that it was “driven by the Domaine” Have you spoken to and gotten confirmation from Jean-Marie on this? I ask rhetorically because I know you haven’t. Oh and one last “fact”, they have not raised pricing at the cellar door, despite the extremely strong auction pricing. That also holds true for the 2010 vintage, where their yields were down almost 40%.
Be interesting, Mark, if you could find out more about it…and let us know. Right now, it remains pretty fuzzy…other than that Fourrier participated in some way and is motivated to.
Did Rudy arrange this, by any chance?
Because Ray it was done in more than one market. As I said, wine was sold in the US, specifically at the La Paulee auction. I was editing my response when you were writing yours.
As for cellar door, I have no idea; since you seem to know about it, what percentage is sold there? Can anybody show up, or is it set aside for old friends and loyal customers?
Mark - I happen to personally know the Fourriers. The wine is sold out / allocated every vintage, so you cannot just show up and buy wine from them. Bottom line is, the high auction prices are not driving up the pricing at the Domaine.
I am pretty sure that nearest, dearest, old clients and friends would give him a hard time if he tried doubling the price. Don’t think we learn much from that.
I can think of only three reasons that a producer would send bottles of his current vintage to auction:
and we don’t learn much from you “assuming” that he’s using auction pricing as a benchmark to price future releases. The pricing for 09 CSJ that was posted earlier in this thread is for the gray market. 09 pricing from Rosenthal hasn’t even been released yet…
Ray, I am not sure why you have been so incredibly snippy on this thread. I have no problem with Fourrier pricing his wines close to what the market will bear; his wines are fabulous, and if I were still buying young Burgundies, he would be on my short list.
The pricing question can easily be sorted out; since you know him so well, why don’t you ask him if he has increased his pricing to his distribution network?
Mark - I just don’t like when people make definitive statements on a public forum without having their facts straight, especially as you have done here:
“Fourrier sold some new releases at auction; the prices were extremely strong, so he probably priced the wines close to what they made at auction”
Your making this statement based on market hype / inflated 09 CSJ pricing from Vins Rare and Zachys? Fourrier has nothing to do with these prices so why would you say he “priced the wines close to what they made at auction”! Pretty careless of you in my opinion.
When the 09 pricing is out from Rosenthal, I can guarantee that your not going to see the 09 CSJ at $425.
By definition there is nothing definitive when one uses the word “probably,” as in “he PROBABLY priced the wines close to what they would have made at auction.” Seems you need a crash course in English usage.
There was nothing wrong with my facts: there was more than one auction in more than one country, there was more than just one local Far Eastern importer, and Fourrier was heavily involved. In fact, you either didn’t know about the second auction or it did not suit your argument to include it in your post. I would suggest you do some fact checking yourself. In fact, since you are so hot and heavy on the issue, do as I suggested yesterday and talk to Fourrier himself to ascertain what the pricing is ex cellars to his importers.
The facts are pretty clear, it seems you have a problem with the inferences.
Ah Mark - you are just as pompous online as I recall you being in person. Cheers mate.
Bye bye Sweetums!
I am glad to see that you went with abuse; it is much less taxing when you have so little to play with.
Not to wave a flag, just hoping to add some data. I paid 100€ last week for several Fourrier CSJ at a local shop. This was not discount or case pricing. Village wines were 24 or so.
Rubbing it in ?
Not at all, Nick. This just gives an idea of what the prices are ex-cellar, and without special discounts or anything being in place.