What is the most egregious wine pricing you have seen?

[phillisc]

Must be the season, a myriad of emails spruiking all-sorts
One today screaming fantastic pricing, until you read...that's for a 375 ml. bottle.
Easy to hit delete for trash like that.

Cheers
Craig

[Mahmoud Ali]

Gralyn Estate: in addition to possibly winning the most egregious pricing title, their "vintage port" might win the prize of highest depreciating wine on Langtons. $495 for their VP, between $17-25 for their VP on Langtons sale history!

And for another bit of perspective, I just bought a few bottles of 1991 Ramos Pinto VP for all of $24 (the Canadian and Australian dollars being virtually equal). I suppose the small number of Australian vintage port producers and the rarity of older bottles makes for a captive market.

Mahmoud.

[Rocky]

Thanks to Michel and Mahmoud in another thread for drawing my attention to Gralyn Estate, a winery I have not run into before.

In this category, I could nominate their reserve $495 Vintage Port (but at least that has 35 years of bottle age), or their "5 Stars, Winestate Magazine, equalled Ch. Latour" 2008 reserve Cabernet but I have to plump for the museum release 2001 Shiraz Cabernet as the stand out of "ambitious" pricing at a mere $500 dollarydoos.

To quote their own sales pitch: "It is still amazingly bright and alive for a fourteen year old wine" per Winestate Magazine two years ago. For 500 bucks, you'd bloomin' well want it to be alive!

Hey fair credit to them I assume they manage to shift their wines, all pretty much $120 and up from there. But at that prospective QPR, I would really struggle to bother to try them.

Popped into Gralyn CD a couple months ago. Nice experience and picked up 6 cab sav Shiraz for $72/bottle, down from $120. Have had two bottles but sadly heavy Brett. Real disappointment. Beware.

[Craig(NZ)]

While in Aussie, $95 for latest Penfolds Bin 407
What a joke

Or is that the normal price now?

[sjw_11]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

[Con J]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

I got this offer as well and thought wow this is about double what the 2012 was.

Cheers Con.

[tarija]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

I got this offer as well and thought wow this is about double what the 2012 was.

Cheers Con.

I wonder if wine stores hold wines like this on consignment...can't imagine much demand for it.

[felixp21]

for what it's worth, I got 2015 Mouton Rothschild up here for $10 less than the Vanya is being touted at. Ridiculous.

[phillisc]

This thread very much reminds me of dodgy real estate agents who seduce vendors with a "brought listing, promising the world...Oh yes you will definitely get X". Three agents or 3 months later, whichever occurs first; no sale, a property that is on the nose and a very disgruntled and upset vendor. As for X, it may be 20-25% or more off the mark

I look at some of the wines in this thread, and if they sit in a warehouse long enough, what will they go for?
Secondly, once all this scoring rubbish and obsession stops and a certain critic puts the cue in the rack, normal transmission may resume?

Cheers
Craig

[rooman]

for what it's worth, I got 2015 Mouton Rothschild up here for $10 less than the Vanya is being touted at. Ridiculous.

Wow, if we are talking egregious pricing, the three retail shops listed in Australia who are selling Mouton Rothschild for $A1500 per bottle (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... /australia) compared to US shops who are selling it for $A640 might call into this category. (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... rance/2015)

If I was after three bottles, I would prefer to fly to San Francisco with Ms Roo for the weekend, go to dinner at the French Laundry, buy my three bottles and return home and still be ahead financially compared to buying three bottles locally.

[sjw_11]

Not so much egregious pricing as an egregious increase in pricing... Yarra Yering Magnum formats now $250 even for members, from $180 two years ago- an 18% per annum increase! And nearly over 2.5x the single bottle price!

[tarija]

Not so much egregious pricing as an egregious increase in pricing... Yarra Yering Magnum formats now $250 even for members, from $180 two years ago- an 18% per annum increase! And nearly over 2.5x the single bottle price!

'Tis a shame some of the changes at YY since the investment banker bought it. I suppose he is trying to ramp up his return on investment in a hurry.

[JakeBarnes]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

At least that is (apparently) a top quality drop though, seems like it can hold its own pretty much any of the wines in its price bracket (Grange,HoG etc). I’m sure there is a market for it and I don’t think we’ll see going for $30 A’s a black market deal - though I’d be all for that.

[phillisc]

Henschke '13 Edelstone, surely not as good as the 14 ( why was it held back?)...and knowing the marketing department at Keyneton there would be no backward step, so lets play Mt Ed lotto...$250 perhaps??

Have a good Easter everyone
Cheers
Craig

[felixp21]

for what it's worth, I got 2015 Mouton Rothschild up here for $10 less than the Vanya is being touted at. Ridiculous.

Wow, if we are talking egregious pricing, the three retail shops listed in Australia who are selling Mouton Rothschild for $A1500 per bottle (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... /australia) compared to US shops who are selling it for $A640 might call into this category. (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... rance/2015)

If I was after three bottles, I would prefer to fly to San Francisco with Ms Roo for the weekend, go to dinner at the French Laundry, buy my three bottles and return home and still be ahead financially compared to buying three bottles locally.

don't get me started again on the price of imported wine in Australia!!!!

I haven't seen the Vanya, so I can't comment on it's quality. However, I know which wine (Mouton vs Vanya) I would rather have in my cellar in 20 years time, either as an investor or a drinker
Yes, I have often said, if you are thinking of buying six bottles of FG Bordeaux, you might as well fly up to HK with your other half, have a great long weekend staying at a 5* hotel, and then pick up the six bottles... you will break even price wise.

[JakeBarnes]

for what it's worth, I got 2015 Mouton Rothschild up here for $10 less than the Vanya is being touted at. Ridiculous.

Wow, if we are talking egregious pricing, the three retail shops listed in Australia who are selling Mouton Rothschild for $A1500 per bottle (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... /australia) compared to US shops who are selling it for $A640 might call into this category. (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mouton+ro ... rance/2015)

If I was after three bottles, I would prefer to fly to San Francisco with Ms Roo for the weekend, go to dinner at the French Laundry, buy my three bottles and return home and still be ahead financially compared to buying three bottles locally.

don't get me started again on the price of imported wine in Australia!!!!

I haven't seen the Vanya, so I can't comment on it's quality. However, I know which wine (Mouton vs Vanya) I would rather have in my cellar in 20 years time, either as an investor or a drinker
Yes, I have often said, if you are thinking of buying six bottles of FG Bordeaux, you might as well fly up to HK with your other half, have a great long weekend staying at a 5* hotel, and then pick up the six bottles... you will break even price wise.

Of course we'd all take the Mouton, though if we're honest that's probably because its more famous than because of an objective assessment of what's in the bottle - though I'd love to be rich enough to make that assessment. But I reckon I'd prefer to have a Vanya in my cellar than a Grange or a Chris Ringland.

[felixp21]

got an email from Australia's most infamous wine bandit/"merchant" espousing a "sale" of their stock.

whilst perusing and laughing at their prices, and "discounts" I came across a wine we had at a restaurant in France whilst skiing earlier this year, the 1996 Fernandez Pesquera "Millenium". This is the Janus they produce in any other year. At 290 euro a magnum, we thought it worth a shot, and indeed it was pretty decent, even allowing for my ambivalence towards this winery.

Well, the bandits have "reduced" the price by $160 to $1542.60
So, a quick check on the internet and this wine is still available in the magnum format (only way it was released) for under $300.
yes, that's not a mis-print, it is $1,542.60.

When you can buy a wine in a fancy restaurant in a ritzy ski resort in France for less than a quarter the price than a retailer is trying to sell it in Australia, then you know something is SERIOUSLY wrong with the industry. Don't care what the taxes are.

[Ozzie W]

A bottle of 1951 Grange sold for $51750 at an auction in Melbourne last night.

[url]http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/home/foo ... xfcfg.html[/url]

Didn't take long to surpass this. A '51 Grange sold for $67001 at an auction last night. With 16.5% buyer’s premium, the total cost of the bottle to the buyer was $78056.

[phillisc]

A bottle of 1951 Grange sold for $51750 at an auction in Melbourne last night.

[url]http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/home/foo ... xfcfg.html[/url]

Didn't take long to surpass this. A '51 Grange sold for $67001 at an auction last night. With 16.5% buyer’s premium, the total cost of the bottle to the buyer was $78056.

Yes never to be opened...I expect a perpetual trophy in vinegar hunting .
Wonder if the three bottles of '51 that a bloke brought into the Melbourne re-corking clinic last year that Gago went gaga over on national TV will now make an appearance. 3 at once would surely realise $200 g+ and at least they have been recently assessed as good bottles.

Cheers
Craig

[tuxy85]

I recently picked up a bottle of the 2012 Hill of Grace for $640 duty free. I realise its a bit overpriced but the duty free discount down from $825 was enough to get me over the line. I am a relatively new wine collector and I feel its a must have in any Aussie wine collection. I have put it away for my 25th wedding anniversary (we were just married last year).

[JamieBahrain]

Agree. Hill of Grace is a must have in every serious Australian cellar ! And Mt Ed too. Been saying this for years on this esteemed board .

[Mike Hawkins]

Agree. Hill of Grace is a must have in every serious Australian cellar ! And Mt Ed too. Been saying this for years on this esteemed board .

I used to say that, but they’re making it harder with their pricing. That said, I own more ME than any other Aussie wine. Until a couple of years ago, I could buy a 6 pack of the ME for the price of one HoG. Sadly, no longer the case. That said, there’s no arguing the quality of either wine.

[Mike Hawkins]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

The current release of Vanya is really good (and that’s coming from someone who normally doesn’t rate Cullen’s), but give me 2 x second growths in a good year for the same coin.

[JamieBahrain]

Agree. Hill of Grace is a must have in every serious Australian cellar ! And Mt Ed too. Been saying this for years on this esteemed board .

I used to say that, but they’re making it harder with their pricing. That said, I own more ME than any other Aussie wine. Until a couple of years ago, I could buy a 6 pack of the ME for the price of one HoG. Sadly, no longer the case. That said, there’s no arguing the quality of either wine.

I don’t buy anymore either Mike. My passion is elsewhere and there are few Piedmont wines more expensive than Mt Ed.

[phillisc]

Ok for those who got in on the ground floor where Henschke is concerned.... brought a fair bit of HOG, Cryil, Mt Ed, KE years ago but all sold or drunk...the 6th generation are obsessed with brand presence and much less about the wine or whatever... opening a Henschke bar at picture theatre...WTF I'll have an overpriced Shiraz with my choc top!!
Cheers
Craig

[felixp21]

Another contender for this most dubious of awards...

Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $540 | OFFER: $479 .99 or $458 in 3

Bleeding heck, that's a spicy meatball! ... JH gave it 99pts while he gave the comparative cheap Diana Madeline ($115 on offer or $103 in 6's) a mere... 98pts. Hmmm. This is before we wonder what impact to the DM in the years the Vanya is made versus the year it is not...

.

The current release of Vanya is really good (and that’s coming from someone who normally doesn’t rate Cullen’s), but give me 2 x second growths in a good year for the same coin.

we (yet again) had perfectly cellared bottles of 1996 and 2001 Cullens the other night... bleh. Don't care what the experts say, these wines simply do not age well, they just get older without getting any more complex. Both the Moss Woods and the Cape Mentelle wines from the same vintages were far superior, but even those were lost amongst some fabulous Bordeaux and Napa wines, again of similar vintages.
Halliday has completely lost the plot, his nonsense is now even worse than James Suckling's.
I've had the Vanya several times with wine groups, it is a decent wine absolutely ridiculously priced. Worth $60, the cost of a bottle of Senejac from a good vintage, which is a far better wine with age.

[Scotty vino]

Ok for those who got in on the ground floor where Henschke is concerned.... brought a fair bit of HOG, Cryil, Mt Ed, KE years ago but all sold or drunk...the 6th generation are obsessed with brand presence and much less about the wine or whatever... opening a Henschke bar at picture theatre...WTF I'll have an overpriced Shiraz with my choc top!!
Cheers
Craig

Ha ha ha ! Classic Craig!

[phillisc]

Ok for those who got in on the ground floor where Henschke is concerned.... brought a fair bit of HOG, Cryil, Mt Ed, KE years ago but all sold or drunk...the 6th generation are obsessed with brand presence and much less about the wine or whatever... opening a Henschke bar at picture theatre...WTF I'll have an overpriced Shiraz with my choc top!!
Cheers
Craig

Ha ha ha ! Classic Craig!

Rolled Gold Matey...ScottyV, seems two threads are intertwined here...sent off the Wendouree mailer today 24 bottles for the price of 1.5 HOGs...is it just me that thinks there's something wrong there!!??

Cheers
Craig

[Mahmoud Ali]

Something very, very wrong. But be careful who you say that to.

Cheers .............. Mahmoud.

[JamieBahrain]

Yes it should be $100 a bottle so I can sell it for massive profit in Asia - making personal financial gain instead of those greedy Henschkes.

It’s good for Australia to have wine of this ilk amongst a sea of perceived pedestrian expressions in the fine wine market .