When you look at Wine Searcher, they always seem to be the most expensive for any wine. They seem to have an incredible inventory, here is the list of Bordeaux:
http://www.2020wines.com/french-wines/french-red-bordeaux It seems like restaurant pricing.
How do they stay in business?
It`s Ok… they have a red from Armenia for $59.99. Maybe that is their biggest seller ![[rofl.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/a/a7452fcd8e675af869f8da01174474a545b03944.gif "rofl"){kind=small}
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They’ve been in LA for a long time, and I hear that they have a long-standing client base. I’m guessing that said client base is not price sensitive? The store is nice, and most of the older bottles I’ve seen in person seem to be in good shape.
That said, I have no idea how they get away with those prices. You’re right - it’s basically restaurant prices in many cases.
Bobby has a niche–people who don’t care what it costs and the Asian market. He used to have also a little store on the corner of Little Santa Monica that had great prices. When he moved to Cotner years ago, prices jumped, but selection and provenance are excellent. He has been around a long time.
Are they really retailers, or is it just a way for some collector to sell the occasional bottle at a supranormal price, and collect some tax writeoffs (for winery visits, tasting events etc.) since his hobby looks like a business?
Have heard celebs like to go there. Higher prices have a way of keeping the annoying customers out, and catering to higher profile types. Also if you’ve been in the place it does have that high roller feel, so my guess is that while the register doesn’t ring very often, it rings big when it does. Still, tougher and tougher to have that business model with e-commerce so important.