Grays On-Line

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:57 pm

Honestly - who is bidding on this stuff.

I just looked at the general auction (not the Heritage one) and all these bottles of Yalumba racehorse VP are going for $20, $30, $40.

At other auctions it gets one bid of about $9.

Even at Sterling (who I think get amazingly bizarre bids) they don't get ridiculous bids like these.

Does Grays have a system of auto bidding up to a preset reserve or are people really bidding these prices?

I actually registered with Grays about 6 mths ago but then cancelled because of the ridiculous bids but this is a new level.

Why would you pay $30 for an average vintage with no provenance when you can buy the same wine's current 2002 or 2004 release for $30???

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:13 pm

1 x bottle Henschke Julius Riesling 1999 - $79

4 x 2003 Cardinham Riesling $74 = $19 each + commission + delivery - I bought this at BWS for $13.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:17 pm

I love the ones like this:
"6 X 2005 NEW FRENCH SHIRAZ, VIN DE PAYS DOC, SOUTHERN FRANCE. EUROPEAN ORP €48 PER BOTTLE. EXPECT TO PAY $80 IN AUSTRALIA. EXCLUSIVE TO GRAYSONLINE! WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF `BEZOO THE FROG`, WHO HAS CRAFTED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU THIS NEW FRENCH SOFT AND SPICY SHIRAZ"

Apparently made by a frog. :roll:

I wonder how they can justify such outrageous claims?

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:17 pm

1 bottle of Lindemans St George 1985 - $164

I actually bought a 1986 Pyrus somewhere else for $21 last fortnight. I should just whack it in at Grays.

Sorry - I'll stop now.

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:23 pm

LOL - I actually did laugh out loud at that Brian.

Moving futher in the Summerfield Reserve Cab @ just over $12 a bottle looked alright. There are still 2-3 days left for the loonies to jump in though.

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:30 pm

About 15 years ago I had a look at what from memory was a Greys auction. At the viewing a number of people were carrying Robin Bradley's gold book and were quoting the prices in there as realistic

Similar mentality :?:

Murray · Post by **Murray** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:49 pm

Ratcatcher wrote:1 bottle of Lindemans St George 1985 - $164

I actually bought a 1986 Pyrus somewhere else for $21 last fortnight. I should just whack it in at Grays.

Sorry - I'll stop now.

Yebbut,

The 1985 was the Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, and the first of the line, created specifically created to win the jug, and therefore worthy of unprecedented levels of bidding.

On the otherhand the 1986 was just a classic wine from a classic year in Coonawarra, and therefore a complete loser wine. :shock:

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:15 pm

Murray wrote:
Ratcatcher wrote:1 bottle of Lindemans St George 1985 - $164

I actually bought a 1986 Pyrus somewhere else for $21 last fortnight. I should just whack it in at Grays.

Sorry - I'll stop now.

Yebbut,

The 1985 was the Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, and the first of the line, created specifically created to win the jug, and therefore worthy of unprecedented levels of bidding.

On the otherhand the 1986 was just a classic wine from a classic year in Coonawarra, and therefore a complete loser wine.

I guess that's why the 1985 last went for $18 on Langtons...

LINDEMANS St. George Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra 1985 Bottle $18-22 $18 2007

qwertt · Post by **qwertt** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:24 pm

I've just been looking at the latest bids. I'm absolutely gobsmacked by some of them.

We should have a competition to see who can come up with the silliest bid.

As a Wynns Black Label lover, my first bid is:

3 x 1999 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon for only $184 - with BP of $27.60 and freight of $10 that totals $73.86 per bottle!!! :shock:

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:27 pm

I have done a little Snippeton my site. This is from it. The figure in bracket is the last sale price at Langtons.

1 X 1997 PENFOLDS BIN 407 $89 ($27)
1 x 1999 HENSCHKE JULIUS` RIESLING A$54 ($18 )
1 X 2002 MERUM SEMILLON $64 ($9)
1 X 1997 MOUNTADAM MERLOT $44 ($13)
1 x 1999 FOX CREEK WINES MERLOT $44 ($7)
1 X 1985 LINDEMANS ST GEORGE $159 ($18 )
2 X 1997 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE JOHN RIDDOCH $120 each ($44 each)
1 X 1994 PETER LEHMANN STONEWELL SHIRAZ $104 ($51)
1 X 1997 FOX CREEK WINES RESERVE SHIRAZ $89 ($41)
1 X 1990 PENFOLDS MAGILL ESTATE SHIRAZ $159 ($54)
1 X 1998 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE MICHAEL SHIRAZ MAGNUM $209 ($120)

griff · Post by **griff** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:09 pm

TORB wrote:I have done a little Snippeton my site. This is from it. The figure in bracket is the last sale price at Langtons.

1 X 1997 PENFOLDS BIN 407 $89 ($27)
1 x 1999 HENSCHKE JULIUS` RIESLING A$54 ($18 )
1 X 2002 MERUM SEMILLON $64 ($9)
1 X 1997 MOUNTADAM MERLOT $44 ($13)
1 x 1999 FOX CREEK WINES MERLOT $44 ($7)
1 X 1985 LINDEMANS ST GEORGE $159 ($18 )
2 X 1997 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE JOHN RIDDOCH $120 each ($44 each)
1 X 1994 PETER LEHMANN STONEWELL SHIRAZ $104 ($51)
1 X 1997 FOX CREEK WINES RESERVE SHIRAZ $89 ($41)
1 X 1990 PENFOLDS MAGILL ESTATE SHIRAZ $159 ($54)
1 X 1998 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE MICHAEL SHIRAZ MAGNUM $209 ($120)

They would be about right by the case

cheers

Carl

roughred · Post by **roughred** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:40 pm

This is really turning into a car crash...horrible, but I just can't look away...

Six Morris Cannister Muscats for $319 is pretty good going...could get almost two dozen for that sort of money...

LL

Ian S · Post by **Ian S** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:51 am

Is there a regulator who is entitled to check that this bidding is 'above board'?

You often see occasional daft bids at auction, when someone gets confused and thinks a wine is something it isn't (e.g. La Tour Carnet confused with Latour). From what's suggested here, this goes well beyond that, although I do note the comments about Grays previous auctions.

regards

Ian

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:52 am

I wonder how these bidders found out about this sale? Many have probably bid at Gray's before. I wonder what these bidders know of the Heritage saga, or of current prices.

My favorite is

1 X 1991 PENFOLDS `ST HENRI` SHIRAZ, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. (SN:268) (87922-465) $189
LangtonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Range $60-90, Last Sale (2007) $86.

According to LangtonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s there are a few vintages of St Henri that would command more (1955, 1957, 1959, 1961) otherwise you really need to be looking at magnums to get that sort of price.

Mike

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:37 am

KMP wrote:I wonder how these bidders found out about this sale? Many have probably bid at Gray's before. I wonder what these bidders know of the Heritage saga, or of current prices.

Mike, their was a fair bit of pre-auction publicity via wine pages in the newspapers and in the Australian Financial Review.

Grays have wine auctions every day as well a a huge variety of other auctions going all then time. In the regular wine auctions the same crap shows up day after day for weeks on end.

The other lots that amuse me are pallet lots for big drinkers or half-pallet lots of "returned" wine. If it was crappy enough for someone to wade through the tortuous return process and send it back, why would anyone want to buy it again.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:42 am

It was also advertised in today's Good Living Section of the SMH. Alan Jones has also been advertising it with live reads on his show and has previously given positive wraps to Grays wine auctions, stating that all his wines comes from there. :shock:

roughred · Post by **roughred** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:57 am

It is amazing what drumming up a little bit of interest can do though...A good few months back I picked up a case of 03 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon from Grays for the princely sum of $34 plus delivery, and it has made for some reasonably good glugging.

A case of the same is now at $134 plus delivery!

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:10 pm

TORB wrote: Alan Jones has also been advertising it with live reads on his show and has previously given positive wraps to Grays wine auctions, stating that all his wines comes from there.

That explains a lot.... :roll:

n4sir · Post by **n4sir** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:28 pm

TORB wrote:Alan Jones has also been advertising it with live reads on his show and has previously given positive wraps to Grays wine auctions, stating that all his wines comes from there.

So is this what you call 'splash for comment'? :twisted:

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:09 pm

I was considering bidding on some of the Hanging Rock & Summerfield reds but I don't like to send my C/C details from my home PC because I'm not confident enough in my internet security. I'm sure it's secure at the other end but not sure at my end.

Grays wouldn't record my C/C details over the phone so I guess I won't be bidding.

I thought the current bids for those wines were reasonable and there are multiple lots.

I wonder if some people listening to that shock jock think there is some prestige associated with picking up wine from the Heritage sale? Saying at dinner, "Oh yes, I picked this up from the Heritage liquidation sale. Didn't you hear about it? Oh, Alan Jones mentioned it on his show. You missed out if you didn't get in on it"

If you've produced a big name label and that spiel it may impress some people. Just hope they don't ask what you paid for it or if they do that they don't know much about wine.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:21 pm

Ratcatcher wrote:I was considering bidding on some of the Hanging Rock & Summerfield reds but I don't like to send my C/C details from my home PC because I'm not confident enough in my internet security. I'm sure it's secure at the other end but not sure at my end.

https encryption works for the whole transaction at both ends, the only way you would have a problem is if there is a key-logger or other nasty trojan already on your PC. Do you buy any of your wine from your home PC? Do internet banking?

It doesn't cost a lot to keep your PC security up to date, there is a lot of free stuff out there too.

PS, stop pointing people to wines you think are still good value...

roughred · Post by **roughred** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:53 pm

PS, stop pointing people to wines you think are still good value...

That's right...stay away from those $99 97 407's, they're all mine!

silkwood · Post by **silkwood** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:54 pm

"PS, stop pointing people to wines you think are still good value... Sad"

Spoilsport, Brian! :wink:

Cheers,

Mark

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:30 pm

TORB wrote:I have done a little Snippeton my site. This is from it. The figure in bracket is the last sale price at Langtons.

1 X 1997 PENFOLDS BIN 407 $89 ($27)
1 x 1999 HENSCHKE JULIUS` RIESLING A$54 ($18 )
1 X 2002 MERUM SEMILLON $64 ($9)
1 X 1997 MOUNTADAM MERLOT $44 ($13)
1 x 1999 FOX CREEK WINES MERLOT $44 ($7)
1 X 1985 LINDEMANS ST GEORGE $159 ($18 )
2 X 1997 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE JOHN RIDDOCH $120 each ($44 each)
1 X 1994 PETER LEHMANN STONEWELL SHIRAZ $104 ($51)
1 X 1997 FOX CREEK WINES RESERVE SHIRAZ $89 ($41)
1 X 1990 PENFOLDS MAGILL ESTATE SHIRAZ $159 ($54)
1 X 1998 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE MICHAEL SHIRAZ MAGNUM $209 ($120)

The train is about to come crashing into the station, most of the prices Torb quoted have nearly doubled :shock:

$100 for a Julius or $160 for a 407. You really have to feel sorry for the bidders they are in for some big disappointments. The vendor must be quietly smiling, I wonder whether they can sustain the price for a couple of million bottles though.

Glen

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:26 pm

GRB wrote:The train is about to come crashing into the station, most of the prices Torb quoted have nearly doubled $100 for a Julius or $160 for a 407. You really have to feel sorry for the bidders they are in for some big disappointments. The vendor must be quietly smiling, I wonder whether they can sustain the price for a couple of million bottles though.

Glen

I wonder what these people will do when the box arrives with one bottle instead of a 6-pack or dozen. :-(

I scored a dozen Sandhurst Ridge Shiraz 2002 @ around $17.50pb delivered (out of about 8 bids), still have a couple of possibles in the second auction, but not hopeful.

I hope enough people get burnt and stay away from the next one.

qwertt · Post by **qwertt** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:32 pm

Delighted to say that not one of my bids were successful. Given that I did not know that much about the provenance, etc, I kept my bids to bargain level. Clearly there were many who had a definition of bargain different to mine.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:56 pm

Don't look now, but the next one has started already, finishing Friday 1630. :-)

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:12 pm

Do they have a results page, where we can go and laugh ourselves hoarse?
cheers,
Graeme

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:07 pm

GraemeG wrote:Do they have a results page, where we can go and laugh ourselves hoarse?
cheers,
Graeme

No, they don't want to embarrass their clients.

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:37 am

qwertt wrote:Delighted to say that not one of my bids were successful. Given that I did not know that much about the provenance, etc, I kept my bids to bargain level. Clearly there were many who had a definition of bargain different to mine.

Hi qwertt

Provenance should be OK at least with the later vintage wines as Heritage used temp controlled storage.

Glen