I’m starting to get some 2004 Barolo pre-arrival offers. I have never purchased Barolo futures so to the more experienced, do you tend to see prices go up when the wines hit the store like Bordeaux, or is it mainly to secure certain producers?

Like Bordeaux, like Brunello di Montalcino, like any of the greats. The general reason for buying 'pre arrival' is to secure pricing early in. I often find that, especially with the great Italians, that it, almost always, never gets cheaper. Once the WS scores are out, if the top picks are one you've been eyeing, foreget it. Like any wine though, be sure you're buying early the ones you know you're going to want. That have a 'track record' with you. Don't try to speculate for some silly notion of potential future flipping (just my opinion of course). Buy the producer and those you KNOW you'll want and buy every good vintage.

I tend to buy a few like this early, up front, and then wait to see how the market is reacting. Step at a time.

As KSC said, buy now to avoid price increases after the scores come out. Just don't expect to be able to flip any Italian for a much of a profit. They just don't seem to ever command that much interest. Unless of course one is the WOTY. But with '05 Bordeaux out this year that's not very likely.

Thanks for the response guys. My plan is to buy a few my favorite producers now so I’m guaranteed some inventory. Then I’ll probably just pick and choose when they hit the stores.

does anyone have any concrete release dates for any producers?

April 3rd, 5th-7th, and 24th-26th.

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
April 3rd, 5th-7th, and 24th-26th.

Damn, I was hoping for April 8th.