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Staete Landt sauvignon blanc

Hi all. I have been lurking for a couple of weeks, and wanted to ask your opinion on what seems to be an odd pricing. I live in a small town in southern New Mexico, and the local low end grocery carries Staete Landt 2001 and 2002 sauvignon blanc, which it sells for $4 a bottle. Because the wine seems far better than its price would indicate, I checked on the internet and found that the Wine Spectator rated it 86 and that it can be had for about $14 a bottle elsewhere. I have been buying it for my house white for about a year and a half, and it has always been good -- crisp, with apple and gooseberry, and a good even finish. Sometimes there are a few 2001s in the bin too, and they have been just as reliable.

My question: how can they sell it for so little? How does the distributor make any money in a case like this?

Baldin Pramer

Reply to
BaldinPramer
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"Baldin Pramer" asked ........

Staete Landt is a respected Marlborough (New ZEaland) Sauvignon Blanc.

As to why it is so inexpensive in New Mexico is a mystery - maybe the wholesaler just didn't know his stuff and wanted to quit an excellent wine.

Reply to
st.helier

Couple possibilities:

1) Regular old closeout. Most folks drink NZ SB pretty young, 2006s are out, 2004 is oldest vintage I'd expect to see on shelves. Glad to hear the 2001/2002 are drinking well, but if I saw a NZ SB I didn't know on shelf even at $4 I'd probably buy 1 to try before getting more. In this case distributor might be losing a bit, but if its drinkable now and likely dead next year, he just wants to move it before its worthless.

2)importer/distributor dump. It's not uncommon if a producer switches importers (or importer switches distributor) for there to be a product dump. Say Producer Andrew switches to Importer Bob and tells Importer Carlo goodbye. Carlo takes his remaining stock of Andrew's Chateau X and marks it down from $15 wholesale to $6 wholesale. This (a) quickly moves a product that has no future interest for Carlo, and (b) brings down value of the brand, as consumers/retailers get used to lower prices. So next time when Producer Dave decides to think about switching, he knows what Carlo might do and thinks twice.

Reply to
DaleW

Couple possibilities:

1) Regular old closeout. Most folks drink NZ SB pretty young, 2006s are out, 2004 is oldest vintage I'd expect to see on shelves. Glad to hear the 2001/2002 are drinking well, but if I saw a NZ SB I didn't know on shelf even at $4 I'd probably buy 1 to try before getting more. In this case distributor might be losing a bit, but if its drinkable now and likely dead next year, he just wants to move it before its worthless.

2)importer/distributor dump. It's not uncommon if a producer switches importers (or importer switches distributor) for there to be a product dump. Say Producer Andrew switches to Importer Bob and tells Importer Carlo goodbye. Carlo takes his remaining stock of Andrew's Chateau X and marks it down from $15 wholesale to $6 wholesale. This (a) quickly moves a product that has no future interest for Carlo, and (b) brings down value of the brand, as consumers/retailers get used to lower prices. So next time when Producer Dave decides to think about switching, he knows what Carlo might do and thinks twice.

Reply to
DaleW

Buy one is just what I did, followed by a case the next day. The same distributor loaded them up with Bushman's Gully the year before, and we were getting them for $2 and $3 for the 2001 white and red, so I bet this is just what happened. Thanks!

Baldin Pramer

Reply to
BaldinPramer

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