Nice… Pontet-Canet is $59 at some of the local shops here.
which ones?
2006 prices are going to be slashed everywhere. No reason to dive in.
Beltramos… at least as of last Thursday it was.
The known list thus far: Updated as of 10/21/09
- Malescot St. Exupery: $48.99/bottle
- Clerc Milon: $42.99/bottle
- Leoville Barton: $72.99/bottle (arrived 10/15/09)
- Pontet Canet: $79.99/bottle (arrived 10/15/09)
- Mouton Rothschild: NA, not seen yet
- Leoville Las Cases: NA, not seen yet
- Lafite Rothschild: NA, not seen yet
*** Latour: $579.99 (spotted in Redwood City Costco) - Petrus: $999.99 (spotted in Redwood City Costco)**
- Unknown #10
- Unknown #11
- Unknown #12
W. Plano today had:
2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard $75
2004 Rubicon Estate $79
2004 or maybe 2005 Gemstone $139
Wines I have never before seen at Costco…economy must still be thin out there in the high end market for wines. Also saw a late harvest riesling and cab from Israel.
Marina, CA had an 06 Leoville Barton for $69.
I thought about it for a moment and then asked myself, “why would I want to buy that?”
96 Dom at $119 at the Rancho Bernardo Costco!
In San Diego at the Morena Costco they have the 2007 Clos the Papes for $95 and the maggies for $192 (1 left?). Passed.
Also 2006 Flaccianello for $122. Passed, I bought at PC for $69, of course delivery unknown.
Of course you did. It’s French. 
First time in a while I’ve seen a regular retailer have a wine for much less than costco. Beltramos in Menlo Park has this wine for $56.
Rob - the '06 prices @ Costco can be beat by many retailers. The price of LB and PC @ Costco is significantly higher then all Bay Area stores (K&L, Beltramos, JJBuckley, etc). Very odd, but looks like we are much better off staying away from the 06’s at Costco.
Our local Costco is roughly a year old, but I have been shocked (in comparison to other locales) at the direction they have taken in regards to pricing, inventory, and integrity in terms of their wine program.
In regards to pricing there have been zero deals in the last 5 months on wines priced over $20. Love the Paraiso, Kim Crawford SB, and Delas CdR prices which have loaded my garage refrig.
Inventory diversity is non-existent, plenty of Raymond, Sterling, and house brand Cali bordeaux varietals, but the top line is priced higher than other local merchants. They have very little Cali and RR offerings, Merlot is the heaviest. Aussie is overpriced with only bad vintages displayed. France is represented by off vintages and off labels, Spain is represented with bottles that even Dr. Jay has not given 95’s to.
Integrity, beware of markers. Enormous variety in labels being sold vs. labels being advertised. Good example is the 07 LaCrema Sonoma Coast, they brought a bunch in at $17ish and it sold very well. Eventually it was replaced with the 06, chock full of warm dusty bottles, still showing the ratings and the price for the 07’s.
In light of all of this, I have zero confidence in wine operation and will steer clear of it in the future. On the other hand, everything else in the store is awesome
The only times when Costco prices were a bargain is when prices between en primeur prices and in store prices had a discrepancy. That happened with the 2000 Bordeaux and to some extent to the 2003 Bordeaux. After that, just dissapeared.
I felt they had very reasonable 05 bordeaux prices compared to market prices through last year. Sure - you can find some better deals on 05’s right now but all in all, it was virtually impossible to find something like 05 Pontet Canet for $79/bottle this time last year.
Overall, I do agree that the deals are becoming fewer and farther between. But occasionally, there are some great wines there. One example: 2005 Keller Estate Pinot. Great wine for $18.50.
The only times when Costco prices were a bargain is when prices between en primeur prices and in store prices had a discrepancy. That happened with the 2000 Bordeaux and to some extent to the 2003 Bordeaux. After that, just dissapeared.
Or when they blow a wine out that did not sell. I grabbed nearly a case of 1999 Lail’s J. Daniel for 16.97 a bottle and many other x.97’s at great deals.
I’m still STILL kicking myself for not driving to the grand opening of the grand rapids, MI store where the manager decided to mark down 1996 Dom to 19.97 a bottle for the first day. 24 bottles on hand.
DOH.
![[swoon.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/f425e8dac3e7344bee264da02e55428971be23a9.gif "swoon"){kind=small}
Kicking yourself? You should be shot.
Saw a 4-pack Wagner gift box tonight $189.99
2007 Caymus Cab
2007 Caymus Cab SS
2007 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Silver Unoaked
2008 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Meiomi
The d’Yquem vertical was comprised of 750ml bottles in a collector’s wooden box- $2,999. There was a glossy information piece next to it saying it was one of 100 worldwide, etc. Displayed in all its glory under Costco’s unrelenting lighting.
There was a bin half full of the '06 Insignia priced at $139.99 which is $.01 less than Phelps asked its Phelps Preferred members to pay in April, '08 for the futures (plus shipping of course). I passed on it, just like I passed on the futures offer. But with 10,000 cases or so of Insignia being produced…I assume there will be other opportunities to buy if I am interested (in better times!).
Wow, that’s a TON of d’Yquem for that price!!!