quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:
thanks

Whatever. Look things up for yourself, then, on questions that have been asked and answered.

have been living overseas for a couple of years. still amazed that costco continues to be able to sell french and italian wines below french and italian retail. testament to the power of volume purchasing.

It's a great wine at $30. At $90, even $90CAD, surely there are better values.

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:
thanks

Whatever. Look things up for yourself, then, on questions that have been asked and answered.

ummm... that was an honest thank you. I know its hard to differentiate sarcasm from honesty on a message board, but it was honesty.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
It's a great wine at $30. At $90, even $90CAD, surely there are better values.

but if everything is inflated like this, wouldn't it be the same? I mean wouldn't all the prices go up relatively?

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:
ummm... that was an honest thank you. I know its hard to differentiate sarcasm from honesty on a message board, but it was honesty.

In which case, I apologize for my response. Somehow, the rolling eyes threw me off. I'll assume that was a mis-click.

Also, my response was a bit incomplete. Given the variety of opinions, I'd say that your mileage my vary if you want to keep your Sauternes open for longer than 3-4 days. If you think you might want / need to keep them longer, run an experiment and decide for yourself. I'll probably do that myself just for the educational value (and the excuse to pop a Sauternes ).

Also, although you were discussing the Haut Bergeron with Dave, I'm pretty sure he was looking at the $90 as an isolated inflated price and that other good and better Sauternes would be available at more reasonable prices. Sauternes really provide some exceptional values!

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
It's a great wine at $30. At $90, even $90CAD, surely there are better values.

but if everything is inflated like this, wouldn't it be the same? I mean wouldn't all the prices go up relatively?

Not everything gets inflated equally. F'rinstance, Canada gets d'Arenberg wines way cheaper than the US does. Presumably that includes The Noble, which is a very decent stickie that I paid GBP10 for a few years ago. It's about $26 here but may be much cheaper up north.

And what SD-W said.

SD,
The eyes rolling thing was my mistake, I was using it as a signal to look up, instead of just hitting the reply with quotes button. Also, I guess any excuse to drink sauternes is good, I just hate when you open something and don't get back around to it when its too late. I'm a pretty busy person and sometimes don't have time for wine every night, although, I'll take any excuse I can to try to make time. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
It's a great wine at $30. At $90, even $90CAD, surely there are better values.

but if everything is inflated like this, wouldn't it be the same? I mean wouldn't all the prices go up relatively?

Not everything gets inflated equally. F'rinstance, Canada gets d'Arenberg wines way cheaper than the US does. Presumably that includes The Noble, which is a very decent stickie that I paid GBP10 for a few years ago. It's about $26 here but may be much cheaper up north.

And what SD-W said.

That's weird, at least their not totally getting screwed up there. I just figured it was some kind of standard tax they place on all wines. Thanks.

Speaking of "screwed"... that is what US consumers are getting from the US importer of D'Arenberg!

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:

quote:

Originally posted by *lizardking*:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
It's a great wine at $30. At $90, even $90CAD, surely there are better values.

but if everything is inflated like this, wouldn't it be the same? I mean wouldn't all the prices go up relatively?

Not everything gets inflated equally. F'rinstance, Canada gets d'Arenberg wines way cheaper than the US does. Presumably that includes The Noble, which is a very decent stickie that I paid GBP10 for a few years ago. It's about $26 here but may be much cheaper up north.

And what SD-W said.

That's weird, at least their not totally getting screwed up there. I just figured it was some kind of standard tax they place on all wines. Thanks.

Let's clarify: there is a standard markup applied to all imported wines. Each province's liquor monopoly establishes their own, with BC generally running highest. After that has been applied, federal GST (6%) and provincial liquor tax (10% in BC) get added on. That's the base price. The few private wine stores must purchase through the liquor monopoly and are not allowed to undercut them. Most private stores add an additional markup to ensure profit.

Quick examples of Sauternes prices (all 375 ml): 1998 Tour Blanche C$48, D'Yquem $230; 2001 De Malle $54, D'Yquem $315; 2003 La Garde Blanc $39. That should give you some perspective. I'll bet the last one can be had dirt cheap in the US.

Regarding D'Arenberg, I don't think we get their products any cheaper, but because the markup formula is applied consistently, we don't get any middleman gouging when a wine is highly rated or retail gouging when a wine suddenly becomes desirable. I think that's what happened with Dead Arm prices in the US. A few years back I asked my wife to bring back a couple bottles of Cab from an LA trip she was taking. I didn't mention price to her, but gave her a list of wines (based on WS ratings) that I thought would be interesting, all in the $50-60 range. She brought back Duckhorn Cab, and paid $90 at a well-know LA shop which had raised their price as soon as the ratings came out. That doesn't happen in the government-run stores here. Anyway, all my griping gets me nowhere, so I'm done.

Sometimes the prices we pay actually make me sick. Then I go to the doctor, and he doesn't charge me a penny for my treatment. I think that's because he feels sorry for me, knowing how I'm being gouged by my own government.

Dead Arm, Coppermine Road and Ironstone Pressings are GBP20 in the UK, including sales tax at 17.5%. So the price without tax would be GBP17, which even at todays rates is under US$35. Yet you rarely see it for less than $55 and often around $65.

But that's an old rant.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
There's still about a glass left over from last night. Maybe I'll experiment with it and see how it goes

I gave it three nights in the refrigerator, just one glass left in the bottle. No gas, just corked. Opened it last night and it was still good. Didn't taste oxidised or flat, still bags of fruit flavour and all that sugar and acidity. Ali tasted it and pronounced it good too.

awesome, thanks Dave. I'll post something about it after I try it. I'm not too much into TNs yet, so it may just be about how long it lasted after opening.

If anyone is curious, and hadn't noticed, Costco is selling Rabbit wine openers for $19.99 at least in their Irvine, CA location. I love the Rabbit!

Alright! 2002 Guigal Hermitage for only $55! Another example of the wonderful selection we have here in Michigan.

quote:

Originally posted by napacat:
Alright! 2002 Guigal Hermitage for only $55! Another example of the wonderful selection we have here in Michigan.

Honestly, I lived in Roch. Hills for 3 years adn the best deals I found on nice wine were way up in Flint at this place called Oliver T's. Its on the south side so its about 45 from Roch Hills. You should peek in there if you ever are in the area. It's on Hill Rd, east of 75.

quote:

Originally posted by DRLSUBARU:Oliver T's. Its on the south side so its about 45 from Roch Hills. You should peek in there if you ever are in the area. It's on Hill Rd, east of 75.

Never heard of them. Next time I am on my way to Birch Run I will stop and check them out. Thanks for the tip.

2003 Pegau Reservee $72 Almaden Costco, this won't last

quote:

Originally posted by jimbo715:
If anyone is curious, and hadn't noticed, Costco is selling Rabbit wine openers for $19.99 at least in their Irvine, CA location. I love the Rabbit!

Is it the brand or a knock off?

East Bay Costco has a new shipment of 04 bordeaux. I don't remember the exact names and prices of all of them, but here are a couple:

leoville barton 43.99
chateau vieu certan ~70?

Sorry, not too helpful I'm sure, but there were about 5 04's, and they seemed like good prices, especially the leoville barton.

02 Cinq Cepages for $39 near me, a pallet full. I may be tempted to pick one up to try.

In Chicago yesterday, all 2004s:

Leoville Barton $45.99 (3-4 cases)
Pichon Lalande $69.99 (2-3 cases)
Pichon Baron $59.99? (2-3 cases)
Margaux $174.99 (2 cases)
Cheval Blanc $244.99 (1 or 2 cases)
Pontet Canet $45.99? (2 or 3 cases)
Latour $179.99 (1 case)

I walked in at about 4:45pm, and I imagine these probably hit the floor some time earlier in the day since every single case was full, sitting together on their own palate in the main aisle by the wine rack. I've had a knack for getting there the same day as Latour. When I left there was significantly less Latour there than when I arrived)