The joys of auctions

graham · Post by **graham** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:30 pm

Took recent delivery on my most recent wine win from Grays, 24 bottles of Stefano Lubiana 2003 Chardonnay. I guess I should have noted that their return policy didn't apply to this lot..... To cut a long story short every bottle went down the sink as they were undrinkable. Sent email but was ignored. Live and learn :cry:

Don't know about the rest of you but that's the 4th time i've been burned with auction wine from various suppliers over the last 10 months

Last one was a Bollinger Grande Annee, almost cried then

anymore sad stories??

fivewells · Post by **fivewells** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:41 pm

Graham, I really feel for you.

For myself, I have been using www.Langtons.com.au for the last 2 1/2 years. So far from over 18 successful auctions only 1 'dud' ... more my fault - an old Italian Moscato.

For my part I feel it is very much 'buyer beware' at auction, as opposed in store purchases.

So with care I continue on finding amazing wines at reasonable prices, each month... at auction !!!

Geoff

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:32 pm

I have had my occasional share of auction duds but largely have purchased with vigilance, particularly mindful of vintages etc. This broad tactic has served me quite well... recent purchase of two Seppelt Dorrien 94 Cabernets with hacked out labels and dodgy sale stickers etc didn't hold high hopes but ended up a pleasant surprise.
Duds have mostly been older Chardonnays (and not necessarily very prestigious marques either) so now I don't bother with them.

Taswegian · Post by **Taswegian** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:31 am

no duds so far (wood touching), thought I was buying one bottle of Stonyridge larose. I should have looked harder, ended up with six and a slightly lighter wallet.

Ian S · Post by **Ian S** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:45 am

One or two, duds along the way, but don't believe any have been anything other than a weak gamble failing to pay off.

Generally I'd back up that chardonnay comment - they've consistently been the problem area - though based here they've been chablis, macon-villages and Pouilly-Fuisse. Just a grape whose wines are all too liable to get over the hill & start ski-ing down the other side!

Still yet to try a bottle of the Hidalgo Oloroso sherry (3 bottles - we split a dozen between friends). I'm told it's very much in the local spanish style of very dry oloroso - only to be drunk with olives, salted nuts etc. and drier than a (insert clean / semi-clean analogy here)

Nice for once to have a thread around the crap, rather than the auction bargains

n.b. sipping on a 1992 Primo Joseph Amarone as I write (recent auction purchase), a bit of a big sweet overripe fruit-bastard of a wine still. Tempted to gamble on keeping the other two bottles a while longer, though no guarantee it won't go downhill from here.

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:54 pm

graham wrote:Took recent delivery on my most recent wine win from Grays, 24 bottles of Stefano Lubiana 2003 Chardonnay. I guess I should have noted that their return policy didn't apply to this lot..... To cut a long story short every bottle went down the sink as they were undrinkable. Sent email but was ignored. Live and learn

Don't know about the rest of you but that's the 4th time i've been burned with auction wine from various suppliers over the last 10 months

Last one was a Bollinger Grande Annee, almost cried then
anymore sad stories??

Probably best advice I can give would be stay away from Grays for wine.......shoes and clothes they are ok for though. :wink:

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:11 pm

rednut wrote:Probably best advice I can give would be stay away from Grays for wine.......shoes and clothes they are ok for though.

...unless you are prepared to do a bit of research and are patient.

I've bought a lot of wine from Gray's (mostly for friends, not much from the ex-investment auctions, but there are some real bargains if you are in the market for early drinking wines.

Most of the wines I've bought have been good value for the money (nearly all $5-$8pb delivered, some under $3pb, some a bit more expensive), some well-known brands, mostly not, all at half to one third retail price (where that can be checked, not relying on vendor-supplied ORP). I've returned one 6-pack and am in the process of returning another one that has a sulphide/mercapten problem.

I've only had one real disaster, a dozen 2001 Barossa shiraz from the ex-investment auctions, all horribly volatile and down the drain.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:32 pm

havent been to an auction for about 7 years. i got put off. they are slow, boring and very disorganised in NZ (or were back then). I was victim of a few mistakes but the dice of chance rolled in my favour everytime which was a laugh i guess

Matthew Moate · Post by **Matthew Moate** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:11 pm

Never done it to be honest. Not for wine anyway. Got over my E-bay (or should I saw Trade Me - when I was in NZ) bug quite a few years back.

However, I was lucky enough to have some lovely Pewsey Vale 1994 Riesling at a winery friends place just before xmas which was purchased from Grays and it was a treat.

But I'd have to agree with RB that good research and patience will often be rewarded. I recently purchased 6 bottles of 1997 St Henri from a publican for only $30 a bottle as he was clearing out. So pretty happy with that. They seem to be drinking fine to me...

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:55 pm

I've bought a few from Gray's lately and all been ok so far and quite the bargain. Some nice drinking now pinot around $10 a bottle, some cleanskin riesling $29 the case + costs (hard to go wrong here unlike chardy) and awaiting delivery of some cab shiraz to be used for cooking. I'm sure it will be at least that good and at $19 + costs a case, it was a risk I was willing to take.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:30 pm

I've bought a few wines at Mark Wickman's auction site, mainly Rockford and a couple of Penfolds, and also sold a few.

No issues so far, going to open a bottle of Penfolds 1990 Bin90A for my brothers 40th next month that I bought.

Also, Mark has had a provenance rating for a while now.

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:04 pm

I have found the cheaper unlabelled reds from Grays quite reliable. They are often from (semi-)serious producers and at $4-5 p/b delivered make quite good buying. Langhorne Creek/McLaren stuff is usually pretty reliable and comes from places like Lake Breeze and Woodstock which aren't too shabby. Now that you can pick up some of these in screwcaps, they are better value and less risk. A couple of cheaper bottles like these mid week increase the budget for the Friday Night Special.

Important though to not get caught bidding more than you want to pay (obvious I know). Do your research where possible, decide what you are prepared to pay and don't budge. With Grays there is always tomorrow (if not later on that day :shock:

).

As others have noted I have had less luck with whites, but these are often varietals/blends that aren't meant to be drunk much more than a year or two after bottling, so I never go for older stuff.

For better quality stuff Langtons or Wickmans is the go. At Langtons though, the shipping and insurance costs virtually obligate you to make up a full case which can be a trap for young "playas".

Jay60A · Post by **Jay60A** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:02 am

Agree with Craig that the Webbs auctions in Auckland are so boring. There used to be some Australian bargains at Fitzgeralds online auctions but far fewer now as people are asking stupid prices. However I'd had no issue with dodgy bottles so far even on older stuff.

btw I just picked up 4 x Wynns Centenary 1991 at about 50nzd which I felt was reasonable for a wine of this quality -- I drank my last two but it's certainly got a few years left in it.

Cheers -- Jay

monkeyboy · Post by **monkeyboy** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:25 am

Just had a look at the results from the last Langton's auction, it seems like quite a bit of stuff was passed in. Anyone have any idea as to what the clearance rates have been like for the last few auctions?.

I wonder if Langton's are starting to feel the pinch with all the current events going on in the financial world?

Interesting times.

Ian S · Post by **Ian S** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:08 am

Craig(NZ) wrote: i got put off. they are slow, boring and very disorganised in NZ

Partagas · Post by **Partagas** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:20 am

Have been buying from Sterling auctions for about 4+ years and am very satisfied (lucky). DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t ever recall any real issues. A lot of people are reluctant to buy from auction out of obvious fear but I can only endorse due to my experience. Reckon that most people who originally purchase good wine will try and store it well (never buy any ulage issue wines). Always buy below current price for great vintage great wine. Glad theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re there

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:49 pm

Hi Graham,

I'm curious about the (slightly) longer version.

What was the fault? Were they all the same. What was the closure?

I haven't heard anything about Lubiana wines specifically so I'm interested if it was a winemaking, closure or storage problem.

Cheers
Rodney

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:52 pm

Partagas,

I have looked at Sterling a few times and made a couple of purchases last year but the prices people bid seem a bit on the high side compared to other auction sites so I've steered away lately.

Maybe it's just that booming WA economy?

Partagas · Post by **Partagas** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:46 pm

Partagas,

I have looked at Sterling a few times and made a couple of purchases last year but the prices people bid seem a bit on the high side compared to other auction sites so I've steered away lately.

Maybe it's just that booming WA economy?

I think it depends on what youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re after and luck of the day with any auction. It is harder to see great wines manage to slip through the radar. I have bought some bargains of all sorts over time but some auctions of late have been ridiculous though I must agree and therefore havenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t bought much of late. Oddbins can be good but I never know what I've got. Could have a dozen or none by the end?????

The main thing is freight.costs. I live in Perth so no further cost. It can sometimes add quite a bit on original purchase price.

As for the boom, I think the workers up north are still drinking beer and bourbon :shock:

graham · Post by **graham** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:26 pm

Ratcatcher

They were all heat effected to such an extent they were stewed :!:

Seems to me that the seller had a reason to sell. I'm glad to say that having collected for ten years I am now starting to get some nicely aged reds and do not need to rely on auctions to get what I need. But.....the occasional punt is fun :wink:

griff · Post by **griff** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:42 pm

graham wrote:Ratcatcher

They were all heat effected to such an extent they were stewed Seems to me that the seller had a reason to sell. I'm glad to say that having collected for ten years I am now starting to get some nicely aged reds and do not need to rely on auctions to get what I need. But.....the occasional punt is fun

Ah but they are located in Perth. I hope you weren't buying in summer if you were shipping to Brisbane!

cheers

Carl

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