LCBO Price Alert

Good find. Also a decent buy is the '03 Scavino (normale) Barolo has also been on sale for a while at $45 from about $55.

On using the term "LCBO bashing", I'm not sure that's a fair thing to say. Reporting that Bordeaux costing $100 at LCBO is badly priced when it costs $60 elsewhere is not "bashing" but simply stating a fact.

I remember another "inventory clearance" sale thread which recommended the Torbreck Struie at $45 sale prices as a good buy. Also, with every Vintages Release thread are posts recommending good value wines. I remember one thread a while ago recommending the Madrigal from California for $20 when the same costs $35 in the US. Whether good bargains or bad deals, people here report the facts.

It's just that it's much more the case that prices are higher at LCBO that it appears is "bashing"; but instead, good or bad, it's calling a spade a spade.

Stevey - I wasn't objecting to the LCBO-bashing. It's well-deserved, and I generally share in the sentiments expressed. And I am a definite Libertarian-minded supporter of Slan's opinion that the government should get the **** out of the beverage business and other places it doesn't belong.

I do, however, think that we could use a thread that focuses on any opportunities that can be found at the LCBO for a good buy.

P.S. - Good point about the 03 Scavino. I had forgotten about that one.

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Originally posted by on the wine:
Given the popularity of the many LCBO-bashing threads that criticise them for charging too much and not letting us have enough high rating-point wines, I thought its time to stop sawing that same old log and take a different road.

So here's my first price alert...

2003 Azelia Barolo has been reduced from $53 to $42

It may not be your very best Barolo, but a good buy at the new price. Some stores don't seem to realise this has happened and their shelf stickers still reflect the original price, but you will get the lower price when you go to cash out.

Thanks for the heads up, good idea for a thread BTW.
The LCBO has this 90-91 point Barolo on sale as well, SEGHESIO BAROLO VIGNETO LA VILLA 2003
Was $55 now $43.00

2003 Italians aren't selling. HELLO!

I'm an unabashed basher.

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Azelia Barolo

Review Wine-Searcher Pro and you'll find $42 is a good, not exceptional price. As stated before, 2003 Italians are not selling well.

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Originally posted by Slan:
I'm an unabashed basher.

So I've heard - many times.

Here's a few more...picked up a few over the weekend.

2004 Chapoutier La Sizeranne $68.
1996 Royal Tokaji Aszu Nyulaszo 6 Puttonyos $80

Not bad at all. I was sorely tempted to pick up more than I could carry of the Chapoutier.

And since our out-of-town friends are dumping on 2003 Barolo, it reminds me that one of the more enjoyable wines I've had recently is...

2003 Corino Barolo @ $43

It was released through the in-store discovery program on March 15 and there's still some of it around. It's a very nicely blended (not single vineyard) Barolo for a decent price.

2006, M. Chapoutier, Invitare, Condrieu, $46.90.

Just picked up a half case of this. Nearly impossible to find Condrieu this good for this price.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Stevey - I wasn't objecting to the LCBO-bashing. It's well-deserved, and I generally share in the sentiments expressed. And I am a definite Libertarian-minded supporter of Slan's opinion that the government should get the **** out of the beverage business and other places it doesn't belong.

No sweat, agree that this would be a great thread to start because good deals are relatively rare at LCBO!

Here's another one of a very limited nature... was just at Summerhill after lunch today and see two bottles of '05 Beaucastel Hommage in the coolers. Probably a return from the May Classics. The $325 asking is a very good price but alas too rich for my blood and thus still there begging to be picked up.

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Originally posted by Stevey:

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Stevey - I wasn't objecting to the LCBO-bashing. It's well-deserved, and I generally share in the sentiments expressed. And I am a definite Libertarian-minded supporter of Slan's opinion that the government should get the **** out of the beverage business and other places it doesn't belong.

No sweat, agree that this would be a great thread to start because good deals are relatively rare at LCBO!

Here's another one of a very limited nature... was just at Summerhill after lunch today and see two bottles of '05 Beaucastel Hommage in the coolers. Probably a return from the May Classics. The $325 asking is a very good price but alas too rich for my blood and thus still there begging to be picked up.

They were just available at SAQ for $249 - might still be available

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Originally posted by theweb:
They were just available at SAQ for $249 - might still be available

Wait a minute... wasn't this suppose to be an bash-free LCBO zone? ;-)

Seriously though $249 is a great price for this wine! It's selling $400+ in many places in the US.

I just bought a bottle of Heartland Director's Cut Shiraz for $27, reduced from $32. The first time I tried this wine I loved it, the second time, not so much. This third time should tell me if I stock up or not.

Another good one is the 2002 Langoa Barton on sale for a while now at $50. Not sure why it's not being picked up faster at this price point but it's one of the extremely rare cases where a Bordeaux is priced well at LCBO.

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Originally posted by screwtop:
I just bought a bottle of Heartland Director's Cut Shiraz for $27, reduced from $32. The first time I tried this wine I loved it, the second time, not so much. This third time should tell me if I stock up or not.

$27 sounds like a very good price for that wine. I bought one bottle of the current release (@$32) and liked it as much as I did a couple of years ago. Do let us know how it went with the third bottle.

My wife and I liked the third bottle alot. So I'm going back for more today.

I already own quite a few of these that have been reduced in price, so I guess I'll have to fish out those receipts. Should be good for at least one bottle that will effectively be free

the 1996 Lanessan should be worth checking out for $35. A 12 year old Bordeaux with some legs at a decent price.

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Originally posted by Stevey:
Another good one is the 2002 Langoa Barton on sale for a while now at $50. Not sure why it's not being picked up faster at this price point but it's one of the extremely rare cases where a Bordeaux is priced well at LCBO.

I noticed today that the $50 price for 02 Langoa-Barton is a price reduction (from ~$60). That's likely because nobody is buying wines from that vintage. I also noticed that the 04 is $60. So would you say that the 02 is a better value? (Has anyone tasted them?)

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the 1996 Lanessan should be worth checking out for $35. A 12 year old Bordeaux with some legs at a decent price.

The '96 Lanessan is a decent wine for a decent price. The '96 Duhart-Milon is an exceptional wine for a decent price (if you can find it).

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Originally posted by DoktaP:

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the 1996 Lanessan should be worth checking out for $35. A 12 year old Bordeaux with some legs at a decent price.

The '96 Lanessan is a decent wine for a decent price. The '96 Duhart-Milon is an exceptional wine for a decent price (if you can find it).

maybe so, but I was referring to something fairly readily available on LCBO shelves today

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
I noticed today that the $50 price for 02 Langoa-Barton is a price reduction (from ~$60). That's likely because nobody is buying wines from that vintage. I also noticed that the 04 is $60. So would you say that the 02 is a better value? (Has anyone tasted them?)

2002 was a good (not great) year and drinking window is probably at least 5 years away. For frame of reference, I think both the '02 and '04 Langoa Barton were rated 90 by RP.

Many are back filling 2001-2004 in response to high 2005 price. In the context of outrageous LCBO prices for bordeaux, I consider $50 for the Langoa Barton to be in the good value window but not $60.

Front street store Ch Pipeau Magnums 2000 for $99 and 2003 for $89. Not cheap but at least available in large quantities.

Can't believe how quickly the Royal Tokaji's and all the Krachers went from the Front street store....

I picked up a couple more bottles of 2003 Chapoutier Chante Alouette Hermitage Blanc which has been reduced to $60.75 from its original price of $75.

I've seen some stores start to clear inventory with 30% discounts again recently. (They stopped doing this before the Christmas season.) Some of the wines I have picked up over the past week are:

2004 Tawse Chardonnay Robyn's Block @$33 (reg $48)
2004 Ch Grand Puy Lacoste @$48 (reg $69)
2004 Ch Bellegrave @$31 (reg $45)
2004 Bouchard Volnay Caillerets @$43 (reg $62)
2005 Vincent Sauvestre Corton-Marechandes @$40 (reg $58)
2004 Vasse Felix Heytsbury Cabernet Sauvignon @$40 (reg $58) - I actually only paid $25 for this due to a pricing error
2004 Burge Family Olive Hill @$30 (reg $44)
2001 Quercetto La Corte @$49 (reg $59)

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
I picked up a couple more bottles of 2003 Chapoutier Chante Alouette Hermitage Blanc which has been reduced to $60.75 from its original price of $75.

Thank-you for pointing that out. I backed the truck up today.

It was a buy at $75, in my opinion. A steal at $60! Really, really great stuff.

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Originally posted by on the wine:
2004 Tawse Chardonnay Robyn's Block @$33 (reg $48)

Thanks for the heads up! This is one of the very few local wines that I like. I picked up a few bottles this afternoon.

Which stores have them on sale? I was in Sherwood Forrest this afternoon and they knew nothing about it. They scanned the Volnay and the Heytsbury and the regular prices came up.

Would love to pick some up. Thanks.

Hello

does anyone have the web site for the entire list of markdowns??

Here was url for the Jan 2008 Markdowns as an example - but I can;t remember where I got it from ...

http://www.freewebs.com/winething7/

Some of these markdowns are done at the store level. I bought the Tawse and several others at the Dupont St store.

Has anyone been to the learance / outlet centre in Toronto just south of the 401. I've been there a couple of times but pricings have been only okay.

I went there once about 4 years ago. Waste of time.

However, if you want to hear another reason why the LCBO should be privatised, ask someone why the clearance centre is located at Rexdale Blvd instead of Ajax as originally planned.

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Originally posted by WineDaddy:
Which stores have them on sale? I was in Sherwood Forrest this afternoon and they knew nothing about it. They scanned the Volnay and the Heytsbury and the regular prices came up.

Would love to pick some up. Thanks.

I second that question... in both Vintages.com and LCBO.com there is nothing showing these special prices.
I'm looking mainly for the 2004 Ch Grand Puy Lacoste @$48.
Any advice... Advanced thanks, Gaby.

The Grand Puy Lacoste was one of the in-store markdowns I referred to above. It would not show up on their search pages.

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Originally posted by on the wine:
I went there once about 4 years ago. Waste of time.

However, if you want to hear another reason why the LCBO should be privatised, ask someone why the clearance centre is located at Rexdale Blvd instead of Ajax as originally planned.

Okay I give up...why is it in Rexdale? BTW TIA!

Unfortunately I have to give up too! I was told the story a couple of years ago, but now I can't remember the sordid details any more. However, it did have the usual wretched plot involving some kind of personal monetary gain by one of our politicians. Are you surprised? (naturally, what else would you expect?)

Meanwhile, speaking of monetary gain, I found another in-store markdown...

2004 Ch Beausejour Duffau @ $48 (reg $69)

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Unfortunately I have to give up too! I was told the story a couple of years ago, but now I can't remember the sordid details any more. However, it did have the usual wretched plot involving some kind of personal monetary gain by one of our politicians. Are you surprised? (naturally, what else would you expect?)
Meanwhile, speaking of monetary gain, I found another in-store markdown...

2004 Ch Beausejour Duffau @ $48 (reg $69)

Thanks for that! No surprises here on lining someone's wallet a bit.....

BTW, sorry to ask but I'm ssuming that the in-store discounts are in the DuPont Street Store?

Thanks again.