TN: Chiantis, Loires, old satellite Bdx, more

Sadly the Clos du Bourg has increased in price by 15% and 20% for the demi-sec "depart" over the last 2 years. New ownership clearly looking to profit, but they are putting the wine in a different (although perhaps deserved) price class.

-E

Emery Davis` wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net:

Emery,

as a buyer, give me the wines at the lowest price, of course.

However, if they continued with the old price schemas, they would probably dissapear because if the winery makes no profit, then it is not a business anymore.

That's why a substantial porion of the shares of Domaine Huet had to be sold to "an investor". That means they were not generating enough cash flow and had to sell a part of the company to get cash and keep running. No good.

I have purchased at the winery since 2001 and currently receive their price list.

Haut-Lieu Sec 2014 at 15 euro. In 2005, the price for Haut Lieu 2004 was

More expensive than before? yes. Worth their price? Yes, still.

I can think of a lot of lesser wines than Haut Lieu that cost more than 15 euro / bottle. I am a man of Clos du Bourg myself, and still think that 22 euro is a fair deal. Past prices were astonishingly good for the quality, the reputation of the winery, and the ability to age.

I have also noticed that other renamed properties, like Clos Naudin have also raised prices comparably. A recent offer at ventealapropriete.com had

Well yes, and I wasn't arguing that the wine isn't worth it, (at 22 fir DdB anyway) just that it prices it out or range for me for most occasions.

Well now, that's something of a bugaboo in France. If the winery can't make a profit at 15€ départ for the entry level wines, they're definitely doing something wrong. I know many winemakers who drive nice cars and have very fine profit margins who sell their very good lower priced wines at much less. Biodynamic, too.

Wine is considered an integral part of life by many, and among them charging what the market will bear in the foreign market to the detriment of traditional consumers is rather badly seen. All very globalized and capitalist, but not in keeping with the avocation of the vigneron and the fabric of "traditional values".

This may seem rather sappy to most but it is one of the things I love about France, and interestingly is being very much carried on by much of the current generation of young vignerons.

Now I know this isn't exactly what you're saying, and I don't think anyone would question the secs becoming somewhat more expensive, as have virtually all wines since 2005, usually by around 10% But I don't think that's exactly what's happening here. Rather it seems like the new owners are aiming on turning the entire domain into a "luxury product" over the next few years. We've seen this before, and while it may be more successful at Huet because of the huge reputation, it doesn't always work.

cheers,

-E

ith shrimp, lentils, & green beans, the 2014 Thomas Labaille "Monts Damnees " Sancerre. Full, rich, balanced by good acids. Citrus, mineral, herb. Real ly lovely bottle of Sancerre, get more. B+/A-

u Bourg" Vouvray. Apples, wool, moderate length, not the most complex but p lenty of life left. B

cal church. I offered to bring a couple of wines to lure more folks to our table. Cocktail area had a silent auction and some nice nibbles, and couple of wines:

ti decided to display his ugly views on race. Haven't bought since. But wha t better way to use some of the wines I still have than to support social j ustice. Unfortunately, I caught a whiff of TCA when double-decanting before dinner- not 100% sure but enough to open backup. At dinner this was defini tely corked (though one person really liked) NR

ied cherry, leather and just a hint of coffee. Subtle tannins remain, nice acids, good showing. A-/B+

shtray but while this is tiring it's actually pretty tasty, and popular. B

duos, some movements from quartets (Hayden, Dvorak, Shostakovich) then back to dining room for dessert. I had donated some bottles of 1996 Fonterutoli Chianti, but couple hadn't made it around. Fuller style of Chianti, black plum fruit, quite alive but needing a touch more acid for my tastes (tried from 2 bottles). B

pigny while I waited on Betsy's return. Red plums, flint and smoke, juicy and fun. B+/B

e, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objecti vity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Frankly I'm always shocked at how good the QPR is on these wines yet they a re relatively easy to find in the USA market.

Emery Davis` wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net:

I understand what you mean and the tradition of wine as another type of everyday life ingredient. That's quite a romantic vision which I share, but I feel that's not very common out of France.

Are they going to pursue a luxury strategy? maybe. If they do not, maybe an importer or a distributor will do. Ever heard of Rue Cler in Chapel Hill? they are very fond of Bernard Baudry wines and it is a pilgrimage restaurant for Texier, Rougeard, Baudry lovers. Do you want to know how much do they sell La Croix Boiss?e 2004 for? $129. Importer price for that wine, back in 2006, was probably below 10 euro. So, Croix Boiss?e is now a luxury product but the winery made less than 10% of the profit. Unfair in my opinion, three-tier system effect already discounted.

So, there are many sides to these price rises by Huet. They are also probably making room to have distributors and importers buying at a lower price so that the wines can be available in different countries at prices not that different from those they are offering when buying direct. Or maybe they just want to sit on a pile of cash which is what investors typically do.

s.