Is this time of year a good time to load up on champagne? Are there bigger / more numerous discounts in January as sellers try to trim unsold inventory after the holidays? Or is it similar throughout the year without any significant seasonality? I feel like there have been several seemingly good deals.
Nicolas Maillart “Les Coupés - Franc de Pied” for $100 at K&L
Marc Hébrart Noces de Craie for $70 at Envoyer
Marie Courtin Efflorescence for $60 at Applejack
I don’t think there’s a good/bad/better time to buy champagne. Maybe there are some sales around holidays, but no way of knowing if they will include wine you want. I wouldn’t try and time the market - if a wine you are looking for shows up at a good price, don’t pass it up thinking maybe it might be a lite cheaper later. A good price is a good price. Holding out for the best price ever seems self-defeating if you in fact want to buy.
I agree with Sarah. Probably the best sales are going to be between thanksgiving and new years like everything else. This year’s best sale by far was collectible fine wine progressive sale (13 Cristal rose for 350!) but thatcher, zachys! and whwc had good sales.
technically December, wholesalers have to pay ad valorem taxes on all inventory on the floor before the new year so they tend to be inclined to close out odds and ends
I was expecting another big sale from Zachys this january as they do every year, but it did not happen 
Vinsrare has 25% off a bunch of closeouts; good deals on beaujolais, some burgs aren’t bad either like dureuil janthial rully for 37.
The common wisdom used to be that the best prices on champagne were just before Christmas on the run up to NYE. I don’t know whether that was true then or if it is true now mainly because I am buying champagne year round and am not patient
Seemed like it from what I saw.
I’d be all over those aged Vissoux for cheap if I wasn’t on a buying freeze. I’ve never aged that producer but worth a try at those prices for sure.
2021 Cote du Py for $29.25 is hard to resist if you like the wine.
I did better a few weeks ago when they had 10% off plus free shipping on everything. But I suppose that depends on where you live and what you are buying.
Vins Rare closeout is 30% now - very limited selection, down to one page.
Am I able to share Garagiste offers? Realizing that we’re on the heels of BerserkerDay, I got an email with a seemingly interesting library offering of magnums from Boyd-Cantenac.
Not sure if it’s a “good deal” but thought I’d pass the info along in case some of us still have dry powder. Perhaps @Robert.A.Jr has a view?
Here is a list of what’s on offer:
1985 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $168.70
1996 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $169.74
1998 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $168.81
2005 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $199.76
2007 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $136.70
2008 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $148.74
2011 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $138.71
2012 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $138.91
2013 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $119.76
2014 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $118.94
2015 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $148.70
2016 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $149.76
2017 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $118.78
2018 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $146.70
2019 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $126.80
2020 Chateau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux 1.5lt (Bordeaux) · $129.76
Admittedly, I have limited experience with this château, but some of those definitely look interesting
I liked Boyd; I had the Boyd-cantenac and their second wine at k&l back in the day and it impressed.
Not really sure how Garagiste works and never ordered from them, but happy to try to figure something out if anyone is interested. Just DM me.
Is this the one that you were waiting for, Zachy’s Romance Sale? Lots of champagne and Burgundy, presumably for Valentine’s Day.
Prices didnt seem special on a quick glance.
No, actually it’s their winter clearance they had the past 2-3 years. They had many wines discounted 30-40+%, but I think they stopped doing that. It was happening in mid-january.
Because Zachys.
And if there is something at a good price, you’ll order it and they’ll just not send it to you, and if you ask, they’ll shrug and say “oh we didn’t actually have that.”
Because Zachys.