So what have you bought lately?

[Nicklasss]

The two last post (jckba and stefan) are just insane!

[JimHow]

Insanity plus!
Well done! Very well done need!

[JCNorthway]

That's quite a haul vs. expecting to win a couple of lots!

[JimHow]

7 x 2020 Felsina Berardenga Chianti
4 x 2019 La Croix de Beaucaillou
1 x 2018 La Croix de Gay

I keep adding that Chianti to my cellar, Jon, it just always hits the spot.
I think this may be my first La Croix de Beaucaillou since I was turn off this wine following a watery 1996. I'll uncork one and report back.

[Nicklasss]

1 bottle of each:

Louis Nicaise brut Champagne
Collet Art Deco brut Champagne
2022 Vera Cruz Luneau-Papin MSeM
2021 Boesch Pierres Rouges Alsace Sylvaner
2021 Les Garçons Brouilly
2021 Domaine des Deux Frères Chinon

[Comte Flaneur]

Good work guys. At a recent auction, for good prices I bought:

10 x Lafite 96
6 x Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Badarina 2018
3 x Burlotto Pelaverga 2021

Otherwise

3 x Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Camilla 2018
1 X Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Bricco Ambrogio 2018

2 x Gian Luca Colombo Pinot Noir 2021
2 x Gian Luca Colombo Barolo 2020
2 x Garesio Langhe Nebbiolo 2021
2 x Agostino Bosco Barolo Commune La Morra 2020
2 x Stefano Amerighi Syrah 2021
2 x Cigliano di Sopra Chianti Classico 2021

6 x Cavalotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2004

Probably not done yet buying 2020 Barolos

[stefan]

I thought about drinking a 2010 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla tonight but instead instead opened a 2010 il Poggione Brunello. I think it will be better with pasta Bolognese.

[Comte Flaneur]

Il Pogg is a reliable steed; the quality at Bruna Grimaldi has come on in leaps and bounds…I had a very enjoyable visit there in 2022, with Martina

[stefan]

I agree, Ian.

The 2010 il Poggione is still primary, but the Bolognese sauce smooths it out. I saved some to drink tomorrow at lunch.

[JimHow]

I'm curious about that 1996 Lafite purchase.
I'm wondering what the market for Lafite is these days and the staying power of its prices.

[stefan]

1996 at USA retail is $900-$1300.

[JimHow]

Thanks Stefan what is the 2016 Lafite going for?

[stefan]

About the same, Jim, as the 1996, and hard to get at auctions for under $900 all in. Probably considerably less in the UK at auctions; right, Ian?

Occasionally at USA auctions you can get "bargains" on Lafite. My most recent purchase was the equivalent of $410/ bottle all in for the 1983 Lafite (which is good, but not at the level of 1996 and, apparently, 2016) in December, 2023. This was for 4 bottles, two half bottles, and one magnum. Probably the mixed format kept the bidding down. Low retail for 1983 Lafite is $700-$800, so I got a "bargain".

[Comte Flaneur]

That was a great bargain for the 1983 Lafite stefan a wine I really rate.

The price of Lafite has come off a lot - the range on retail here is very wide and now for the 1996 £720 (equivalent to $900) to £1450, with the lower price being the fresher one, and more indicative of the market.

For mine the hammer price was £550 per bottle which works out at £650 on the table or a little over $800. The case was purchased from Berry Bros, and it seems to have good provenance.

I very reluctantly sold a case of this in Hong Kong in early 2011 for around £15k, so it is nice to be able to buy this wine back more cheaply with 13 more years of bottle age and without paying the storage costs. In our 25th anniversary tasting of the top 1996s it shaded Ch Margaux to top spot. It is more expensive and more backward than Ch Margaux but I suspect it is up there with the greatest Lafites.

[JimHow]

What are your thoughts on 2016 Lafite at $691 Ian?

[Comte Flaneur]

I think that is a good price Jim especially if it includes taxes.

For reference I bought 2x3 at £500 pb ex taxes or £1500 ex tax per three pack, and three packs now are being listed around £2.3-2.5k ex taxes but suspect the lower price is more indicative.

So $691 is not much higher than the ex-tax price I originally paid.

[JimHow]

It is $691 tax free, Ian. I bought a sealed owc six pack a couple months ago, I'm considering buying 6 to 18 more. I'm mad. I'm a madman.

[Comte Flaneur]

Better to be mad than sad

[Comte Flaneur]

In these instances I employ a ‘least regrets’ approach - and usually the ‘mad’ option, buying the wine and shelling out a fortune, beats the ‘sad’ option, of deciding not to bite and losing the chance to buy…

[JimHow]

Yeah I hear you, I mean, if it's probably insured and nothing else goes wrong, at worst my heirs should be able to sell them at break even prices, I would think. And heck when I'm 78 years old and they are feeding me my steaks in my pajamas in a room with CNN on what do I care if I uncork them then, I can't take them with me.

[JimHow]

My email to them:
Let's see how they respond.

Hi Stores 73 and 76.

A few months ago I bought a sealed original wood case from I think the Hampton north store.
It looks like you have 10 bottles at the North store and 8 bottles at the South store.
I haven't made the decision to pull the trigger yet but I have a couple questions:

1. How much of those 18 bottles, if any, are in their original sealed case? (I note that there is a bottle on display in the southbound store, I would probably not want to buy that bottle.)

2. I haven't decided whether I am going to buy none, 6, 12, or 18, but if I bought 12 or more would I be able to get the 20% off European wine discount even if they are not all from the same store?

3. By my calculations, $864.49 x 0.80% = $691.59, does that sound about right?

I'm in NYC right now and won't be coming back til the second week of April but I'm assuming I could purchase these over the phone or on line before the sale ends this weekend.

Thanks,
Jim Howaniec

[stefan]

$691 tax free is a very good price for 2016 Lafite, Jim. I doubt that you could get that price at auction.


>>
I can't take them with me
>>

Are you sure? Save one to share with me in That Great Tasting Room in the Sky.

[JimHow]

Yes, they should be reaching their plateau of maturity by then....
Mmmm.... I can taste the cedar and cassis and black currant now....

[JimHow]

This guy is being an asshole at the Hampton South store, Gerry, I know he’s bullshitting me….


Hello,

Unfortunately, Online ordering is down for a system update and there is a transfer freeze (so neither store could get 12 bottles in one location). We also cannot take orders/payment over the phone. You would have to buy 10 bottles from across the street before the end of the sale in person and then return and buy 2 more here.

I would still happily check to see if we have it in a wooden case for you if you would like.

Let me know if I can assist any further.

Thanks,
Thomas

[marcs]

My email to them:
Let's see how they respond.

Hi Stores 73 and 76.

A few months ago I bought a sealed original wood case from I think the Hampton north store.
It looks like you have 10 bottles at the North store and 8 bottles at the South store.
I haven't made the decision to pull the trigger yet but I have a couple questions:

1. How much of those 18 bottles, if any, are in their original sealed case? (I note that there is a bottle on display in the southbound store, I would probably not want to buy that bottle.)

2. I haven't decided whether I am going to buy none, 6, 12, or 18, but if I bought 12 or more would I be able to get the 20% off European wine discount even if they are not all from the same store?

3. By my calculations, $864.49 x 0.80% = $691.59, does that sound about right?

I'm in NYC right now and won't be coming back til the second week of April but I'm assuming I could purchase these over the phone or on line before the sale ends this weekend.

Thanks,
Jim Howaniec

I'm imagining Jim is a legend/celebrity in NH state liquor monopoly circles

[JimHow]

This guy is being a dink, they have worked with me before.

[Gerry M.]

On their website it did say online ordering was down, it's not just him. If you have a relationship with one of the stores they can usually transfer if the qty or $$ is significant. They can contact the store and ask about wood vs no wood. I did that with 2016 Calon.

[Gerry M.]

On their website it did say online ordering was down, it's not just him. If you have a relationship with one of the stores they can usually transfer if the qty or $$ is significant. They can contact the store and ask about wood vs no wood. I did that with 2016 Calon.

[JimHow]

Ah well probably for the best, they are protecting me from myself.
They have bent the rules for me before, letting me close out the purchases after the sale is over, etc.
I would think they would be willing to work with me to sell me 18 bottles of wine for $12k but I guess not, ah well, it's not all about me.

[DavidG]

Thanks Stefan what is the 2016 Lafite going for?

Auction prices for 2016 Lafite ranged from $731-782/btl in 2023 per Wine Market Journal. I believe those are hammer prices, not including seller or buyer premiums.

[JimHow]

Thanks David, I think I will buy more if they will work with me.

[Nicklasss]

Pick up the last bottle of that Champagne at my local wine store… +2 dry white.

[Nicklasss]

Don’t know what is the fuzz about that producer, but finaly found a bottle of the 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet vieilles vignes from Pierre- Yves Colin-Morey.

[JimHow]

1 x 2019 Felsina Rancia
1 x 2019 Produttori del Barbaresco
2 x 2020 Beaucastel (half bottles)
16 x 2016 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
8 x 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou

[Nicklasss]

My uncontrollable love of Côte Rôtie…

1 X 2020 Chapoutier Côte Rôtie Nève

[barsacpinci]

I’m into Oregon and Portuguese wines and some Spanish lately. Just some daily drinkers
2019 Brittan Vineyards Pinot Noir Cygnus Block
2021 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Goodrich Vineyard
2021 Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Laurelwood District
2021 Dominio de Pingus Ribera del Duero PSI
2017 Joao Portugal Vinha Regional Alentejano Quinta da Viscosa

[Nicklasss]

3 X 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de Labastida Rioja

[stefan]

I need whites for Texas, but I do not like the selection available locally. Lucie agreed that we can substitute Champagne, so I bought

3 Clouet Silver
1 Clouet Rose
2 2016 Trudon

[JimHow]

5 x 1989 Chateau Lynch Bages.

You talked me into it, Nicola.
I am mad. I am a madman.

[stefan]

I hope you have enough $$$ left over to buy a fridge.