If 2005 Pontet Canet now looks cheap...

[Craig(NZ)]

...because the 2010 is twice as much, does that mean the 2015's will make the 2010 will look cheap?

Just wondering. Regretfully have passed by the opportunity to make myself broke on the 2010

[Hacker]

Sad, because it was underpriced at $150, but at $265 it is an easy pass for me. And that is with our strong dollar Don't PC produce something like 20,000 cases pa of this stuff? I don't think the Chinese are going to soak it up; they are only interested in Latour and Lafite. And don't PC have to sell their 2008's and 2009's yet, let alone whatever 2007's are left over?

[Craig(NZ)]

just looked it up. my 2005's were $117 1st installment. $224 from memory this year
close to 20% increase a year?

[dave vino]

I hope people have long memories. Which is why I admire the likes of Rockford/Wendouree et al who keep their wines at decent prices even though they could charge a lot more for it.

[ticklenow1]

I hope people have long memories. Which is why I admire the likes of Rockford/Wendouree et al who keep their wines at decent prices even though they could charge a lot more for it.

I agree. The likes of Noon, Greenock Creek, Rockford, Kalleske and Wendouree etc (if I could get on the mailing list!) are to be congratulated. I see these price rises on French wines (there is no doubt some Oz wineries get greedy as well) and it just reinforces why I don't buy them. There is so much better value for money in Australian wine at the moment, even with our strong dollar. I know some will disagree with this, but I for one will always buy from the companies that show tremendous loyalty to their customers. I have read that some of the French wineries still have not sold some of their last vintage and even the one before that. The fact that they think that the Chinese will make up the shortfall, is sheer ignorance in my book. To have a price rise of 20% a year (on the wine mentioned above) is nothing more than over the top greed. Wine lovers have no problem with small increases to cover the rising costs of production, this happens with every product that consumers buy. But 20%, come on. I won't shed a tear if they have financial difficulties but would be deeply saddened if one of the more fair dinkum, customer loyal outfits did.

With regards to your "long Memories" comment, I have one and just stop buying the wines that go up in price astronomically, no matter how good they are.

[Polymer]

Even 2009 looks cheap...In the US you could get 2009 for 105-120ish...now it's 170-190ish...

I think because allocations got taken so quickly in 2009 they decided to bump 2010..a LOT...crazy...

[simon1980]

I have to say that is just a crazy price! When I was in the UK, I happily bought Pontet Canet, as I thought it was "on the up". I was lucky to pay £38 for the 03, and £26 for the 04 (about $70 / $50) which I thought was fair. No matter how good it is, it cannot be worth what they are now asking.

I agree fully with the comments about Wendouree and Rockford et al (not that I can source Rockord BP for $50!). I would also add some of the new guys doing stunning things with Shiraz (Head and Collector come to mind). They deserve a medal for producing stunning wines in the mid $20 area, selling them very fast, and not cranking up the prices.

Since moving to Australia, I have eagerly spent my money with the "little guys" and will continue to do so. The only Bordeaux I would look to buy now would be Leoville / Langoa Barton, as they have historically priced fairly for the customer, considering the consistent quality. I suspect the bubble will burst for the other guys at some point. I just hope it is not the customers that suffer when this happens...

Right, I'm off to open a bottle of Aussie Riesling - a wine that is as under-priced as much as Classed Growth Bordeaux is over-priced!

Simon

[Craig(NZ)]

I have to say that is just a crazy price! When I was in the UK, I happily bought Pontet Canet, as I thought it was "on the up". I was lucky to pay £38 for the 03, and £26 for the 04 (about $70 / $50) which I thought was fair. No matter how good it is, it cannot be worth what they are now asking.

Agree but it is still half the price of Grange and no doubt just as good.

I remember when drinking the 96 PC it was only about $80 NZ...oh the days when a fine wine passion was affordable!

Yes I read on some website that PC is up 39% 2010 vs 2009. It was very recently in NZ that you could still buy the 2005 for $220 retail, walk in walk out with the bottle

I thought if it came out at $150ish a bottle I MAY have been tempted for one bottle but....like Palmer in 2005 the price is beyond what i am willing to part with for the sake of my curiousity

I wonder what the firsts will be going for! I may feel too guilty drinking the 95's and 96's I have instead of selling them to someone silly to help pay for the kids tertairy education!!

[Polymer]

Yeah...Definitely not going in early on any 2010..If the prices stay high, I'll just stick to older vintages or no Bordeaux at all...One bottle of 2010 PC EP overseas is almost as much as I bought a case of Lapierre Morgon 2009 (N)...

There are still a few value Bordeaux out there...but it's just crazy....Would rather just go Barolo..Some Burg (which oddly seems very accessible compared to Bordeaux now)..Beaujolais...and aged riesling/semillon...

I seriously hope it's a bubble..

[simon1980]

Craig, good point on the Grange...another example of a wine I can't really justify! Maybe you should save one of the firsts, and flog the rest. Buy yourself something nice with the money you get (like a Ferrari or small plane).

Oh, how I wish I had not missed the period when the top fine wines were drunk by wine lovers...and not locked in storage as part of a "portfolio". On second thoughts, keep the firsts, and drink them with the respect they deserve!

Simon

[tpang]

Hands up, who has anyone reaped the benefits of the strong AUD? *crickets* I thought so.

I don't know how much more shipping is to Australia compared to Singapore where I buy and store EP (I've never bought in AUS), but I've got PC 2010 for less than AUD$200. My calculations include factoring in exchange rates and relevant taxes (est +$10 per btl alcohol tax and 7% GST). Do we float-tow the bottles over such that it adds $70 per bottle in its cost?

I don't think it's appropriate to compare Bordeaux price increases as per PC with Wendouree or Noon, different production scale and business models.

[Polymer]

That's exactly what I've been saying...People are just getting ripped in Australia...Maybe it's different in Autralia with EP and you don't pay until it arrives? Normally you pay ahead of time which would make it a no lose situation unless you're the buyer that is gambling it'll drop and you don't buy it with the money you receive...

Bordeaux is a different type of market...very very market driven with large volume but huge demand as well...

Wendouree, Noon, etc...They're more like cult wines. Decent volume but compared to demand, it's not enough. They could charge more but they don't because that's probably not what they're in the business for...At the end of the day though, unless you're lucky enough to have allocation, you're paying market anyways...except in a less controlled environment..who knows where the bottles were that are at auction?

[rooman]

FYI the price for the release of the second tranche next week will be $320. Makes the price this week look cheap.

[Peter NZ]

Sad, because it was underpriced at $150, but at $265 it is an easy pass for me. And that is with our strong dollar Don't PC produce something like 20,000 cases pa of this stuff? I don't think the Chinese are going to soak it up; they are only interested in Latour and Lafite. And don't PC have to sell their 2008's and 2009's yet, let alone whatever 2007's are left over?

NZD 280 all in here, = AUD 220, so the Aus price above is interesting. As to whether PC's 'worth it' at these prices, Parker's 1st growth comparision (" ... it is of first-growth quality (some may even argue that it eclipses several first-growths) ... ) is relevant, as is Craig's Grange analogy ... at this level the relevant test is surely what the market's willing to pay, rather than last year's price or the price 5 or 10 years ago ... but for me, whereas I did buy 3 x the '09 at circa NZD 200, it's also an easy pass for me this year ...

Cheers
Peter

[Craig(NZ)]

Hold the line, maybe it was a bargain after all. Was surprised to see 3 bottles of 2005 Henschke Hill of Grace at my local wine shop today. I casually out of interest asked for a price. $760 a bottle was the reply. WTF!!???

[platinum]

World class Shiraz Craig

[Craig(NZ)]

yes it is world class shiraz, but I prefered paying for it when it was cheaper...or should I say I did pay for it when it was cheaper and wont anymore