I think this deserves its own thread? I’m talking your local grocery store, where you do most of the daily food shopping. Lot of them have the “buy this many get % off”, and most chains heavily discount to move product. The only problem is getting a store that has a decent selection of good wine…and then…discounting it!
In the past have found Krug, DP, and BV GdL at crazy discounts. But those are getting to be a rare bird now to find.
Today at the local Raley’s…
2018 Bedrock OV Zin…$10
2017 Remoissenet Bourgogne Blanc…$12
2017 Vietti Dolcetto…$8
Cancellus Douro Premium white, from Adega Vila Real. Base price 9€, perpetually discounted at 3,50€. We have consumed… I don’t know, 100 bottles? More? The wine is delicious and an outstanding value at 9€, let alone 3,50€.
Dang, those are impressive. I bought Krug 164 at $147 from my local grocer in 2020. 08 DP at $130, but you’re right, those deals don’t come often and usually don’t stay for long
Off topic, but we used to have a wine store that offered incredible “close out” deals on back vintage wines that were purchased in quantities. I’ve had plenty of good Central Coast pinot and chards from Foley and others for $4/bottles. Anyway, that store went out of business… for other reasons! Was just reminiscing this morning about how hard it is to find those truly great deals any more. I recently bought some Rougeard at wholesale and that felt like stealing.
This is the second mention I’ve seen this week of Raley’s having a good wine sale. Does anyone know if any of the East Bay Raley’s locations have a good selection? I checked out the san pablo one but it was the standard grocery store selection.
Raley’s is my go to…they change their prices so friggin much! When I first saw Bedrock there a year ago, it was $20-21, and I would buy some every time I’d go in. In the last few months it has gone up to $25 and I’ve been passing. Now all of a sudden they are on “closeout”…has the “slash” on the price, to $14…THEN you still get the extra 30% off from there when you buy any 6 bottles! So…look for the SLASH!
They do the same at mine too. I’ve asked the wine steward lady there about it and she says they have dynamic computer driven pricing model, but I don’t think they can track vintages. So if their system says ‘blow out old dolcetto’ and puts your Vietti 2017’s on sale for $8…at my store the same price change is made but on the 2019 analog.
My one has a good local wine department and is really better than most other stores I stop in at, but deals over the last year have been scarce. Not a big deal as none of us need more wine…
The best thing about Raleys/BelAir/NobHill etc. is that they still full service butchers. It’s getting harder to find in the grocery biz - everything is case ready, or vacuum packed etc. I still like picking out cuts, and getting them wrapped up in butcher paper etc.
Just last week: 2018 Il Poggione Brancato Rose for $4.99 at our local Grocery Outlet. Picked up a case.
In the past, I’ve periodically found Keller Estate Chardonnay Oro de Plata for a very good price (<$10) at Cost Plus World Market. We don’t drink a lot of CA chardonnay, but the bottles we’ve picked up over time have been quite good, when we’re looking for something in that style.
I just bought one of those Dolcetto’s (although the 2019) for the same price.
Some of the Raley’s up by me has put a ton more stuff on closeout.
I checked a few locations, and although not exactly aligned in what gets price chopped, there is some crossover between stores sale lists.
A lot of OZ wines have started showing up, at the low prices, btw. I’m not sure they were ever sold at full price, so maybe they are collateral damage from Chinese tariffs.
2001 Musar for £28, delivered to my door, from Waitrose. Was ready to be very suspicious of the storage conditions but the couple I’ve opened have been pristine.
I have found some good Australian wines at Grocery Outlet this month at great prices. Worth checking out your local store if you are into these kind of wines.
2016 Hardys Shiraz Eileen Hardy $11.99
2018 Grant Burge The Holy Trinity GSM $9.99
2018 St. Hallett Syrah Higher Earth $9.99
The Eileen Hardy is their flagship wine and normally goes for much more $$$. I tried one and it was very good but still needs lots of age. Went back and picked up a few more for the cellar. The Grant Burge GSM was also nice and the St. Hallett Syrah was just OK for my preferences but may appeal to others. There are a few other wines available that I did not pick up, including Tintara reserve cab and shiraz, and some other St. Hallett Syrah bottlings.
That price on the Hardys Eileen is ridiculously cheap - usually AUD$100+ RRP in the home market, aside from the occasional deals. 2016 a strong vintage too.
The other two also great deals, and 2018 a fantastic vintage in Australia. Well worth grabbing a few bottles of each, sampling, and stocking up based on your preferences, IMHO.
A couple interesting finds at my local GO (Camarillo, CA) this week.
2018 Reichwage Mancini Ranch zinfandel for $6
2023 Maison Arnoux & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieux Clocher Symphonie des Galets for $8
I opened a Reichwage last night and it was a nice claret style zin with good acidity. Will be picking up more at this great price. Haven’t tried a Clocher yet but $8 for CdP is crazy!