Anybody savvy about current Costco wine deals and / or selection ?

[baldman]

Afternoon all !

Anyone have any tips/info on current Costco wine deals? I'm primarily interested in any quality imports they have at the moment. Last time I went through their range was about twelve months ago and the selection - at the Moorabbin Vic store - was mundane and a number of their exclusive imports that I purchased, turned out to be real duds.

Thanks in advance for any tips, etc,

 

[Buzzard]

I think you're better off checking out the Dan's thread.

 

[baldman]

I think you're better off checking out the Dan's thread.

That’s because ??

i know when Costco first came into Australia, the Melb store had some pretty sexy stuff - Ch Mouton etc - at really good prices , but my trip to Moorabbin was very humdrum.

 

[blackcat20]

Their wine offerings have really dropped off over the last few years. Champagne used to be well priced but these days it's no better than Dan's.

 

[baldman]

Their wine offerings have really dropped off over the last few years. Champagne used to be well priced but these days it's no better than Dan's.

Thanks for that. That was certainly my impression based on my very limited visits.

 

[blackcat20]

Thanks for that. That was certainly my impression based on my very limited visits.

Not to say there aren't still well priced wines. I regularly pick up a few favourites at sharp prices.

 

[baldman]

Not to say there aren't still well priced wines. I regularly pick up a few favourites at sharp prices.

Feel free to share any specifics !

 

[SleepyPolarBear]

That’s because ??

i know when Costco first came into Australia, the Melb store had some pretty sexy stuff - Ch Mouton etc - at really good prices , but my trip to Moorabbin was very humdrum.

Because Costco (in Aus) is a bricks and mortar retailer, and they will set one price for each item, which includes their profit margin. This is contrasted to the big boys in industry such as Endeavour group (Dans, BWS etc) and Coles Group (First Choice, VCs), who are competing for market share and will tank losses to do so. They also probably have multiple marketing departments, and given how huge their operation is, you will find often that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, allowing for the "Stacking" of promotions. So that's why the best deals are still found within the online monopoly's.

Here is an example of a recent purchase: Mouton Cadet Vintage Edition ($39.99) single price on 40% off promotion. HASEL promo code: free bottle of HaselGrove Ambassador and Col Cross each. Triple Points in Wine club equivalent to 15% credit refund. And 9% Cash Back at the moment with SB off original amount equivalent to ~$40ish.

 

[Buzzard]

That’s because ??

That's what the thread was set up for.
It's not called Dan Murphy's and Other Wine Deals for nothing. (my bolding)

 

[baldman]

Thanks to all for responding.

When I mentioned Ch Mouton in an earlier post. I was referring to Ch Mouton Rothschild, 2eme cru in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and elevated to Premier Cru Classe status in 1973, joining the other four Premier Cru Classe of Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Haut-Brion. The retail price in Oz for recent vintages of Mouton, ranges between $1k-$2K, per bottle depending on the year and vendor in question. ( The superb 82 Mouton can still - astonishingly - be found at auction for circa $800-$1000

I mention this only to make the point that in their very early years, Costco had some serious imports including this legendary Bordeaux chateau; as distinct from it's various "diffusion" labels such as Mouton Cadet etc

Does anyone know if they still stock any juice of this calibre, if not this specific chateau/domaine?

 

[SleepyPolarBear]

Thanks to all for responding.

When I mentioned Ch Mouton in an earlier post. I was referring to Ch Mouton Rothschild, 2eme cru in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and elevated to Premier Cru Classe status in 1973, joining the other four Premier Cru Classe of Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Haut-Brion. The retail price in Oz for recent vintages of Mouton, ranges between $1k-$2K, per bottle depending on the year and vendor in question. ( The superb 82 Mouton can still - astonishingly - be found at auction for circa $800-$1000

I mention this only to make the point that in their very early years, Costco had some serious imports including this legendary Bordeaux chateau; as distinct from it's various "diffusion" labels such as Mouton Cadet etc

Does anyone know if they still stock any juice of this calibre, if not this specific chateau/domaine?

Ahh the high end Bordeaux, well as said before still applies, but requires a tad more patience.
Auctions as you say, can provide the best value for money, but is bought as-is which obviously carries risk. A decent one closing soon would be:

Grays.com: Australia's Premier Online Auction Platform

Explore Grays.com, Australia's leading online auction platform. Bid on diverse items from cars to wine. Easy selling & listing. Start bidding now!

www.graysonline.com

From Retail, in the last few months, I have purchased a '95 Latour (I know its not a '96!) from CMs for around $800. Still pricey but considering it was a 2013 Cellar Release from the Chateau, recorked/fresh label and topped up, I found it to be fair value. If you're willing to cross the seas, I've found '14 Opus One on sale for less than $500 at The Wine Collective, that's roughly Cellar Door price. And DMs will occasionally throw their 2eme/4eme classes on sale, the ones hitting the market at this time would contain a fair few of '09, '10s. So, yes, deals can still be found on the Cru classes, but it is far slimmer. Australia's geographical location generally makes it a bad deal for us, short of importing it yourself.

The recent Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals have been somewhat disappointing, so the next round of deals would generally be Boxing Day. So I'd recommend, having a look then.

PS: Mate, Stop being so French and drink Australian!

 

[sietes]

just chiming in on the auctions. MW Wines has a massive auction closing tomorrow. I'm pretty sure i saw some first growths at good prices.

 

[baldman]

Ahh the high end Bordeaux, well as said before still applies, but requires a tad more patience.
Auctions as you say, can provide the best value for money, but is bought as-is which obviously carries risk. A decent one closing soon would be:

Grays.com: Australia's Premier Online Auction Platform

Explore Grays.com, Australia's leading online auction platform. Bid on diverse items from cars to wine. Easy selling & listing. Start bidding now!

www.graysonline.com

From Retail, in the last few months, I have purchased a '95 Latour (I know its not a '96!) from CMs for around $800. Still pricey but considering it was a 2013 Cellar Release from the Chateau, recorked/fresh label and topped up, I found it to be fair value. If you're willing to cross the seas, I've found '14 Opus One on sale for less than $500 at The Wine Collective, that's roughly Cellar Door price. And DMs will occasionally throw their 2eme/4eme classes on sale, the ones hitting the market at this time would contain a fair few of '09, '10s. So, yes, deals can still be found on the Cru classes, but it is far slimmer. Australia's geographical location generally makes it a bad deal for us, short of importing it yourself.

The recent Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals have been somewhat disappointing, so the next round of deals would generally be Boxing Day. So I'd recommend, having a look then.

PS: Mate, Stop being so French and drink Australian!

just chiming in on the auctions. MW Wines has a massive auction closing tomorrow. I'm pretty sure i saw some first growths at good prices.

Indeed, the MW sale has some good gear - both Frog and Oz - at what are attractive prices by global standards. Lots of Ravenau Chablis , Rousseau, 1st growth Bordeaux, Italian. Oz with Bass Phillip, Moss Wood, Cullen etc so I'm watching the action keenly.