Vintages November Classics Catalogue

Care to share some preview highlights before I get home or Vintages posts it on their website?

quote:

Originally posted by WEc:
Care to share some preview highlights before I get home or Vintages posts it on their website?

I can't - there's too much to choose from, so it depends on your interests.

Prices are up, though.

Is the 04 Ornellaia or 04 fontodi flaccianello in this release?

I'm actually eager to see this one. I'll be attending the tasting in Ottawa on November 8.
Should be nice. Looking forward for the Mouton and LLC 2003.

No Ornellaia, no Fontodi, 1999, 2003 Mouton, 2003 Leoville Las Cases (all Bordeaux very overpriced), lots and lots of high point (RP) Aussies (Mitolo, Kilikanoon, Penfolds Grange), interesting Argentinians and Chileans (Almaviva), and some good looking Spanish (Priorat)

Wait a minute!!?? What happened to LCBO's much touted eCommerce site that's suppose to revolutionize the way wine is purchased in Ontario? How good could it be that old fashion snail mail catalogues are arriving first? Or maybe they are only using the Internet for those once in a lifetime special exclusive offers of very overpriced Bordeaux?

LOL. I didn't get my copy in the mail today. Maybe it got lost!

Oh boy!

Looks like there might be some money spent on this release

Cliff Lede
Mitolo
Kilikanoon
Sanford
Kay Brothers
Dal Forno

OUCH!?!?$!

quote:

Originally posted by WEc:
LOL. I didn't get my copy in the mail today. Maybe it got lost!

I think we've been de-listed...

Do you think? Lucky you.

My reaction on the first day was: 'Wow, what a great selection of wines!'

My reaction on day two is: 'Wow, what a crazy selection of prices!'

I have found one wine that I'm willing to pay the price for, but a lot of them are overeaching the mark as far as I am concerned.

I think the issue of increasing prices is a concern as the price spread between LCBO and US continue to grow. Even wines that have historically been reasonably priced at LCBO such as some Australians, Italians and Rhones are no longer the case. You can still find the odd "bargain" but they're becoming more and more rare.

I'm not sure if there's an end to these price increases but the good wines do continue to sell out, so I guess we're not at the ceiling of tolerance yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Stevey:
I think the issue of increasing prices is a concern as the price spread between LCBO and US continue to grow. Even wines that have historically been reasonably priced at LCBO such as some Australians, Italians and Rhones are no longer the case. You can still find the odd "bargain" but they're becoming more and more rare.

I'm not sure if there's an end to these price increases but the good wines do continue to sell out, so I guess we're not at the ceiling of tolerance yet.

I agree.

[Someone lead me to that sigh graemlin]

Mine hasn't arrived and I see it's not yet on the website either. Can anyone confirm the order deadline for me?

I still haven't gotten mine.

quote:

Originally posted by Mezzo Litro:
I received mine yesterday. Good toilet reading material.

So you are reading it with your pants down? Very appropriate!

Mine came in the mail today. Very little I'm interested in at the prices offered. Vintages releases over the next month are of greater interest.

Just picked up the catalogue from the FCP store today. Wow... just wow!... I mean the outrageous prices. I usually shop at K&L in the LA area whenever I'm down in the US, so lets just take a few samples from LCBO Classics that I may have purchased and compare:

2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Boisrenard:
LCBO = $72
K&L = $40

2003 Scavino Bric Del Fiasc:
LCBO = $125
K&L = $88

2004 Almaviva:
LCBO = $85
K&L = $50

I stopped checking after these and I didn't even bother with bordeaux since I already know LCBO prices them in the stratosphere.

You have to add California state tax of about 7%, but the difference is still enormous.

The Yalumba Muscat Reserve is interesting. The 375mL was selling at PJ Wines in Manhattan a while back for $15 (it sold out pretty quickly though) and is $25 in the Classics catalogue. I still might jump at $25 to give it a try, but that's probably about it.

Finally got mine today in the mail and it was all ripped up! Like someone mentioned before, I saw the 05 G.A.M. and thought what a deal... until I realized it was a 375...

Mine arrived today. Nothing of value and little of interest.

Got mine today. Clearly, the LCBO has decided to base their prices on the Parker / WS scores. The prices are frightening. I'm just not interested. Example:

d'Yquem 2001 (375 ml):
- B.C. Liquor Stores: $315
- LCBO this summer: $415
- LCBO November Classics: $480

I'll bet my next paycheque that this is the same inventory from summer to November. It didn't sell at $415 this summer. So, the strategy?? Raise the price 15% and put it in the Classics. Great marketing. Great monopoly.

I am interested in many of the wines from Italy, particularly from the Piedmont region. When I compared these prices with those throughout the internet I found many that were very comparable when all factors are considered. Am I missing something?? If I ordered these from the LCBO, there are no extra charges, no hassles with shipping and if the product does not meet my expectations I can return it easily. (I do not work for the LCBO, in case you were wondering) I hope those, living in Canada, who have more knowledge collecting these types of wines, will share with me on how they were able to do so, for less. All values considered.

I'll agree with everyone on the prices... How many bottles in the catalogue cost more than $1/freaking ml! Even if a single grape yields only one ml of wine... $1/grape!!! This is fu#$ing nuts!

The Galatrona is fantastic stuff, but i just don't feel like paying $95 a bottle for it. It is a good price when compared to the US, however.

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
The Galatrona is fantastic stuff, but i just don't feel like paying $95 a bottle for it. It is a good price when compared to the US, however.

...............a 96 point Italian wine for $96.00 cad seems like a decent deal to me.

If you are a fan of Australian wines the Suckfizzle Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, a 96 pointer for $39 cad might be popular.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill@IA:
...............a 96 point Italian wine for $96.00 cad seems like a decent deal to me.

True, especially when compared to other Tuscan Merlot - i.e. Masseto, Redigaffi, L'Apperita etc, but I'll be spending my wine budget on other things.

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill@IA:
...............a 96 point Italian wine for $96.00 cad seems like a decent deal to me.

True, especially when compared to other Tuscan Merlot - i.e. Masseto, Redigaffi, L'Apperita etc, but I'll be spending my wine budget on other things.

Looking forward to your further guidance and tasting notes.

I agree many of these prices are nuts, especially for Bordeaux. However, it seems to me that the 2003 Mouton and 2001 Pavie are cheaper than the LCBO Futures prices they were originally released for.

I'm surprised by the number of 04 Burgundies available, especially given the mixed reviews of the vintage. I would have thought that with 05s coming down the pike that the LCBO would have offered better deals.

Anybody been to Calgary recently? Prices for high wines are insane.

Finally got mine in the mail. Generally receive my catalogue before Ontarians so I don't understand the delay?!

Disappointed in the few Rhone wine selections, bdx is overpriced but some aussies and Italians look good.

Don't feel bad mimik, I still haven't received mine

I haven't received the next release catalogue.

I have not received mine too, but i did pick up a copy in the store.

What are the thoughts on the DRCs, 2004 is a special year for me and my wife and i would like to get some info and recommendation as to which one(s) to buy. i know that my chance of getting it maybe slim, but i may still give it a shot.

Got mine too. The Galatrona is tempting. Maybe The Chocolate Block and an Oz or two. I'm also tempted by the Chapoutier White Ermitage, except for Parker's comment about it going into a funk for a couple of decades.

Kay Amery Block 6. RP 98. WS 87. The notes aren't even close.

2004 Cascabel Fleurieu. 94 RP. 79 WS. Ouch. Harvey's note sounds like a bad bottle.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Got mine too. The Galatrona is tempting. Maybe The Chocolate Block and an Oz or two. I'm also tempted by the Chapoutier White Ermitage, except for Parker's comment about it going into a funk for a couple of decades.

Steve,

I posted a note on the 2003 Galatrona in the TNs forums. Highdesertwine opened a bottle when I was out there last year. It was decanted for a good period of time and was still only showing hints of what it will be.

Here is my small and expensive order

Tua Rita Giusto Di Notri 2004
Tua Rita Redigaffi Rosso 2004
Petrolo Galatrona 2003

I'll have to be careful with my order the SAQ is releasing the Masseto 2004

My order:

2002 Quebrada de Macul Domus Aurea Cabernet Sauvignon

quote:

Originally posted by Luc Sabourin:
I'll have to be careful with my order the SAQ is releasing the Masseto 2004

And the La La's....