What is the most egregious wine pricing you have seen?

[Rossco]

Move over Grange and Hill of Grace. The inaugural vintage (2014) of Taylors The Legacy.... yours for only $1000!
They're so worried Rudy is going to make a counterfeit they've included as a bonus a fancy security seal with embedded NFC chip.

Hahahahaha and in 2 years VM will be running a promotion on a 'cult' clare valley wine that is 90% off rrp

[Matt@5453]

Move over Grange and Hill of Grace. The inaugural vintage (2014) of Taylors The Legacy.... yours for only $1000!
They're so worried Rudy is going to make a counterfeit they've included as a bonus a fancy security seal with embedded NFC chip.

Light on the detail again Ozzie. You'd make a good news.com journalist.

Grange and HOG are different beasts as primarily shiraz blends. This is a cabernet / bordeaux blend.

50 years as a family owned business is a very good achievement, something worth celebrating.

[Ozzie W]

Move over Grange and Hill of Grace. The inaugural vintage (2014) of Taylors The Legacy.... yours for only $1000!
They're so worried Rudy is going to make a counterfeit they've included as a bonus a fancy security seal with embedded NFC chip.

Light on the detail again Ozzie. You'd make a good news.com journalist.

Grange and HOG are different beasts as primarily shiraz blends. This is a cabernet / bordeaux blend.

50 years as a family owned business is a very good achievement, something worth celebrating.

My reference to Grange/HoG was about pricing, not grape varietals. There's been speculation for some time now which of them would go to a 4 digit price first. Taylors has beat them to the punch.

I'm all for celebrating achievements and Taylors is certainly worthy. But pricing it at $1000? IMHO that's way over the top and then some.

[Ozzie W]

Move over Grange and Hill of Grace. The inaugural vintage (2014) of Taylors The Legacy.... yours for only $1000!
They're so worried Rudy is going to make a counterfeit they've included as a bonus a fancy security seal with embedded NFC chip.

Hahahahaha and in 2 years VM will be running a promotion on a 'cult' clare valley wine that is 90% off rrp

Reminds me of Thousand Candles (no pun intended). I was one of the suckers that paid full price.

[Rossco]

50 years as a family owned business is a very good achievement, something worth celebrating.

So let's celebrate by making it out of reach for 99% of the customer base?

The same people that kept you going for those 50 years.....

[mjs]

Move over Grange and Hill of Grace. The inaugural vintage (2014) of Taylors The Legacy.... yours for only $1000!
They're so worried Rudy is going to make a counterfeit they've included as a bonus a fancy security seal with embedded NFC chip.

Light on the detail again Ozzie. You'd make a good news.com journalist.

Grange and HOG are different beasts as primarily shiraz blends. This is a cabernet / bordeaux blend.

50 years as a family owned business is a very good achievement, something worth celebrating.

My reference to Grange/HoG was about pricing, not grape varietals. There's been speculation for some time now which of them would go to a 4 digit price first. Taylors has beat them to the punch.

I'm all for celebrating achievements and Taylors is certainly worthy. But pricing it at $1000? IMHO that's way over the top and then some.

Well, the pricing is right up there I guess, but given the status of release, perhaps justifiable. Does the wine deserve the current marketing? Maybe!

[sjw_11]

50 years as a family owned business is a very good achievement, something worth celebrating.

So let's celebrate by making it out of reach for 99% of the customer base?

The same people that kept you going for those 50 years.....

+1

And to be fair we are talking about Taylors ... with all due respect, makers of perfectly OK wines but hardly the #1 producer (in my humble opinion anyway).

If you told me it was nominally $1,000 but basically was going to be given away to the company's biggest supporters and employees to thank them for their contribution I would get it but if they actually hope to flog it off then I have to say "tell 'em their dreaming"


PS I see Huon Hooke reckons it is their best wine but The Visionary is "a close second" for 1/5th the price ... Oh and it will be under screw cap, which is kinda cool but will probably frustrate some of the cork tragics!
https://www.therealreview.com/2019/04/17/tay ... ry-legacy/

[tarija]

$1,000 is a fair price for a wine, as Taylor's are celebrating a milestone. Why is price the first thing mentioned when there is 50 years of family and history here?

[sjw_11]

$1,000 is a fair price for a wine

A bit of crushed up grapes that cost $10 to make? I am sorry but I struggle to ever believe that $1,000 is a "fair" price for any wine regardless of its pedigree or its origins. It might be a price the market will bear (although I doubt it in this case) but "fair" is not right way to describe that. I would suggest "inherently exclusive" or what was the old Stella slogan, "reassuringly expensive"?

"Don't worry, when you drink this, you will be having something no poor person can have."

Why does a milestone mean they get to sell a rip off product? It didn't take all the 50 years to make this product (as against for example if they released a 50Y old port). What was wrong with having a big party, or releasing some museum stock, or some nice commemorative gizmos like branded cork screws?

I went looking... The "other" Taylor's (of Portugal, founded 1692) produced a port to celebrate their 325th anniversary and its all of fiddy bucks ... or you can buy their 50 year old single harvest special release for... oh look about £150. Now that's how you celebrate a milestone without taking the right royal proverbial.

[Dragzworthy]

I got sent an offer for.....
Royal Tokaji Essencia 2008 X 150cl at the cheap price of....

SGD 54,000 (thereabouts in 'stralian Dollars)

Naturally I declined as I only purchase wine in full cases.

[Ozzie W]

$1,000 is a fair price for a wine

A bit of crushed up grapes that cost $10 to make? I am sorry but I struggle to ever believe that $1,000 is a "fair" price for any wine regardless of its pedigree or its origins. It might be a price the market will bear (although I doubt it in this case) but "fair" is not right way to describe that. I would suggest "inherently exclusive" or what was the old Stella slogan, "reassuringly expensive"?

"Don't worry, when you drink this, you will be having something no poor person can have."

Why does a milestone mean they get to sell a rip off product? It didn't take all the 50 years to make this product (as against for example if they released a 50Y old port). What was wrong with having a big party, or releasing some museum stock, or some nice commemorative gizmos like branded cork screws?

I went looking... The "other" Taylor's (of Portugal, founded 1692) produced a port to celebrate their 325th anniversary and its all of fiddy bucks ... or you can buy their 50 year old single harvest special release for... oh look about £150. Now that's how you celebrate a milestone without taking the right royal proverbial.

+1

Contrast Taylors with Best's Great Western. When Best's celebrated their 150th anniversary not that long ago, they released 2 very special wines at a cost of $150 and a museum release for $250 RRP. 15-20% off those prices if you're a Best's Magnum/Imperial club member.

[tarija]

$1,000 is a fair price for a wine

A bit of crushed up grapes that cost $10 to make? I am sorry but I struggle to ever believe that $1,000 is a "fair" price for any wine regardless of its pedigree or its origins. It might be a price the market will bear (although I doubt it in this case) but "fair" is not right way to describe that. I would suggest "inherently exclusive" or what was the old Stella slogan, "reassuringly expensive"?

"Don't worry, when you drink this, you will be having something no poor person can have."

Why does a milestone mean they get to sell a rip off product? It didn't take all the 50 years to make this product (as against for example if they released a 50Y old port). What was wrong with having a big party, or releasing some museum stock, or some nice commemorative gizmos like branded cork screws?

I went looking... The "other" Taylor's (of Portugal, founded 1692) produced a port to celebrate their 325th anniversary and its all of fiddy bucks ... or you can buy their 50 year old single harvest special release for... oh look about £150. Now that's how you celebrate a milestone without taking the right royal proverbial.

+1

Contrast Taylors with Best's Great Western. When Best's celebrated their 150th anniversary not that long ago, they released 2 very special wines at a cost of $150 and a museum release for $250 RRP. 15-20% off those prices if you're a Best's Magnum/Imperial club member.

But but but...it's celebrating a big milestone, and it's limited edition!! Only 1000 or so bottles, once new labels and smaller bottling run are factored in, surely they're lucky to break even.! Give Taylor's more credit - surely it is about the family and not the money.

[Con J]

You can also get the Pioneer Shiraz and the Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon in Collectors Edition Magnums for $1000 each, five times the standard bottling.

Cheers Con.

[Ozzie W]

But but but...it's celebrating a big milestone, and it's limited edition!! Only 1000 or so bottles, once new labels and smaller bottling run are factored in, surely they're lucky to break even.! Give Taylor's more credit - surely it is about the family and not the money.

I still think my comparison is a good one. Taylors and Best's are both family run wineries. Both are celebrating a big milestone. Both released limited edition wines (I'm not sure of the quantities for Best's). Best's also had to produce new labels and a smaller bottling run. Furthermore, Best's is not making any follow-up vintages of their limited release wines.

The Best's wines can be bought for as little as $120 if you're a member, or $150 if you're not. Taylors charging $1000. If you reckon Taylors aren't making a profit at $1000, then Best's must be making a huge loss. I think not.

Don't get me wrong. I have much respect for Taylors and family wineries in general. In fact, it was Taylor's that started my wine journey. Taylors Eighty Acres used to be my go-to wine.

[felixp21]

Laughable.
Taylors is, at best, a fair to middling producer. Have never, ever, ever, produced a "profound" wine. Not anywhere close.
If someone offered me a case for $1000, I would laugh.
At $1000 a bottle, I would immediately call the nearest available psychiatrist.
This undoubtedly wins the award in this thread.
Ridiculous, idiotic, insulting price. Making the assumption that wine lovers are fools is a dangerous policy. I will never buy another bottle of crappy Taylor's wines..... ever.

[mychurch]

Taylor’s must have talked to some very dodgy marketing consultants to come up with this. They are not a luxury brand and I don’t believe their clientele are the type to spend $1000 on a bottle. If they were advised that it might generate some good PR in their half centenary year, then I think they were advised wrongly. My guess though, would be that some new,young person in the family has takin over the PR job and thinks that this will make a splash. Terrible idea. I hope it’s just a typo.

[mychurch]

I got sent an offer for.....
Royal Tokaji Essencia 2008 X 150cl at the cheap price of....

SGD 54,000 (thereabouts in 'stralian Dollars)

Naturally I declined as I only purchase wine in full cases.

I can’t think of anything more useless in the wine world than a mag of Essencia. I bought some 93 from another producer a while back in 2 formats - 50cl and 10cl. Having drunk all bar 1 of the 10cl bottles, I can assure you that it’s the correct size for this wine. They cost £20 each, so $500 for 150cl.

[Dragzworthy]

I got sent an offer for.....
Royal Tokaji Essencia 2008 X 150cl at the cheap price of....

SGD 54,000 (thereabouts in 'stralian Dollars)

Naturally I declined as I only purchase wine in full cases.

I can’t think of anything more useless in the wine world than a mag of Essencia. I bought some 93 from another producer a while back in 2 formats - 50cl and 10cl. Having drunk all bar 1 of the 10cl bottles, I can assure you that it’s the correct size for this wine. They cost £20 each, so $500 for 150cl.

I actually struggle to see much usage for big format dessert wines at a total level. With regards to Sauternes, I find 37.5ml is pretty much the perfect size for a dinner party comprised of 6. Beyond a neat party trick, why are people buying these..?

[mychurch]

Casinos and restaurants can use them. A friend used to open a double mag ,or larger, every weekend at the restaurant he was Sommelier at. Depends on the Cliental though - he had a 2* Wine Spectators award, but even with a great list, 90% of clients ordered the wine pairing option.

[Barney]

Really...math may be not my strong point however am fairly certain that there would be a fair amount of profit coming out of the $1,000,000.00 they will get assuming they actually sell them all at that price. Find it hard to see that production costs would be that much more than any other of their "Premium" range given that they are a winery and even if it was double would still be a pretty fair margin in it for them.

Plus Taylors are not Penfolds, or Henchke, or Mt Mary etc and find it ridiculous that they actually think they have the brand recognition to pull this off, big deal about the 50 years, as pointed out there are many wineries that have been around for much longer, that are far more respected......by myself at least that would be a great deal more entitled to pull of a stunt like this one but don't.

This is blatently an attempt to profit from an opportunity that I don't think actually exists in reality, what do we all think this wine will be worth on the open market in 5-10 years...not much methinks however fairly or not these are the market forces that dictate the crazy pricing associated with most of the other wines that have been discussed in this thread. They really cannot lose on this one it must be said though, don't think they would have to sell too many to break even and may be more about elevating the perception of their own brand not just here but overseas as a part of a boader long term strategy.

Bit of a rant for me however am sitting at work bored and twiddling my thumbs as seems the rest of the entire country has take the whole week off.

[tarija]

But but but...it's celebrating a big milestone, and it's limited edition!! Only 1000 or so bottles, once new labels and smaller bottling run are factored in, surely they're lucky to break even.! Give Taylor's more credit - surely it is about the family and not the money.

I still think my comparison is a good one. Taylors and Best's are both family run wineries. Both are celebrating a big milestone. Both released limited edition wines (I'm not sure of the quantities for Best's). Best's also had to produce new labels and a smaller bottling run. Furthermore, Best's is not making any follow-up vintages of their limited release wines.

The Best's wines can be bought for as little as $120 if you're a member, or $150 if you're not. Taylors charging $1000. If you reckon Taylors aren't making a profit at $1000, then Best's must be making a huge loss. I think not.

Don't get me wrong. I have much respect for Taylors and family wineries in general. In fact, it was Taylor's that started my wine journey. Taylors Eighty Acres used to be my go-to wine.

Sorry guys, I should have made it more obvious that my post was a pisstake on a previous poster in this thread, who made the inane comment about celebrations justifying the price.

Am still shocked that such an average producer has the cojones to pitch this price out there!

[sjw_11]

Sorry guys, I should have made it more obvious that my post was a pisstake on a previous poster in this thread, who made the inane comment about celebrations justifying the price.

Am still shocked that such an average producer has the cojones to pitch this price out there!

Yeah I gathered that from your last post but not the one I replied to!

[Matt@5453]

But but but...it's celebrating a big milestone, and it's limited edition!! Only 1000 or so bottles, once new labels and smaller bottling run are factored in, surely they're lucky to break even.! Give Taylor's more credit - surely it is about the family and not the money.

I still think my comparison is a good one. Taylors and Best's are both family run wineries. Both are celebrating a big milestone. Both released limited edition wines (I'm not sure of the quantities for Best's). Best's also had to produce new labels and a smaller bottling run. Furthermore, Best's is not making any follow-up vintages of their limited release wines.

The Best's wines can be bought for as little as $120 if you're a member, or $150 if you're not. Taylors charging $1000. If you reckon Taylors aren't making a profit at $1000, then Best's must be making a huge loss. I think not.

Don't get me wrong. I have much respect for Taylors and family wineries in general. In fact, it was Taylor's that started my wine journey. Taylors Eighty Acres used to be my go-to wine.

Sorry guys, I should have made it more obvious that my post was a pisstake on a previous poster in this thread, who made the inane comment about celebrations justifying the price.

Am still shocked that such an average producer has the cojones to pitch this price out there!

I presume you are having a crack at me? I never said that, you made an unjustified assumption. To put a wine out at $1000 takes research, time and benchmarking, yes "cojones" as you put it. It's 'exy' no doubt, i dont think anything more than $100 a bottle is 'worth it'. To he honest, the real critics (who have more experience than you or I) will no doubt judge this over time, it certainly sets a new benchmark for Australian Cabernet. , you can offer your own opinion in the absence of trying it, but in my mind, you're nothing more than an "arm chair expert". Get as upset as you like on this topic, no skin off my nose

[Mahmoud Ali]

... I went looking... The "other" Taylor's (of Portugal, founded 1692) produced a port to celebrate their 325th anniversary and its all of fiddy bucks ... or you can buy their 50 year old single harvest special release for... oh look about £150. Now that's how you celebrate a milestone without taking the right royal proverbial.

Well said.

[sjw_11]

Just adding the new Penfolds Champagnes in here!

Quote of the day goes to Monsieur Gago:

The two single vineyard champagnes will be released in 2020, with pricing in the ballpark of the $280 Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée.

"We could charge a lot more than that for these single vineyard wines. There's a lot of grower Champagne selling very expensively now," Gago says.

Jog on son, jog on.

[grhm1961]

If people are willing to pay those prices (and clearly, they are), then good luck to the winemakers. It makes me all the more chuffed when I find a fantastic wine for under $20 (usually in my cellar, bought 10+ years ago) in knowing someone has payed $1,000 or more for something not ready to drink and will only ever be slightly better than what I'm drinking right now.

I hardly like to judge, it's just whatever makes you happy, I guess. The fact that I'm precluded from buying super-expensive wines really doesn't bother me at all when we have such great wines at very affordable prices on hand everywhere.

[Mark Carrington]

I got sent an offer for.....
Royal Tokaji Essencia 2008 X 150cl at the cheap price of....

SGD 54,000 (thereabouts in 'stralian Dollars)

Naturally I declined as I only purchase wine in full cases.

I can’t think of anything more useless in the wine world than a mag of Essencia. I bought some 93 from another producer a while back in 2 formats - 50cl and 10cl. Having drunk all bar 1 of the 10cl bottles, I can assure you that it’s the correct size for this wine. They cost £20 each, so $500 for 150cl.

Is that the Pajzos? If so, it’s absolutely superb. I’ve only a single 10cl remaining & reluctant to let go.

[Ozzie W]

I can't believe I going to call out this producer, but the price of their new release top-tier wine... um, I'll let the price speak for itself.

2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz

Now $200/bottle!

[dave vino]

I can't believe I going to call out this producer, but the price of their new release top-tier wine... um, I'll let the price speak for itself.

2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz

Now $200/bottle!

LOLOLOL a $60 wine at best and I am a fan of it.

[phillisc]

I can't believe I going to call out this producer, but the price of their new release top-tier wine... um, I'll let the price speak for itself.

2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz

Now $200/bottle!

Yes this one doesn't pass the pub test, remember seeing this bottle on the front cover on a wine mag with a couple of other now very very overpriced SA Shiraz.
Problem for Langi is its stuck between a rock and hard place, the history of Seppelts and the wonderful wines of Bests...not exactly on the main drag either.
Agree with Dave, not a $60 red, not in the same ball park as Thompson's and not better than Bin 0, or St Peters which I just paid $50 for. Are they trying to build up museum stocks??

Laughable really.
Wonder what the late Trevor Mast would think of it all?

Cheers Craig