New Sale Info?

A week or so ago, someone on the wine end of the restaurant business mentioned to me that he had gotten, directly from the PLCB, a list of a big sale on slow-moving, upper-end wines, supposed to start on the 23rd of September.

Has anyone here got any more information, or, alternatively, is anyone with better connections than I have able to get some?

Yes, there there will be a sale on higher end wines. I saw the list and we're talking wines that are regularly priced from $100-$400 per bottle. We'll have to see how much they are discounted. I heard it would be an online sale and was starting October 1st. Maybe the promotion ads will start September 23rd ?!

I hope us individuals get a fair chance at some of these bottles and not just the restaurants. One of the previous sales had 100 bottles of Cheval Blanc that were gone in the first minute!

My PLCB contact indicated the 23rd also...
Could make for a late night on the 22nd.

I'm wondering if dontime has it right: the 23rd for the trade, the 1st for the rest of us. That would not be nice...

Anyway, without a list to help with the planning, I'm helpless either way.

It will likely include quite a few bordeaux from 2003 and 2004. If you do a search you will see that wines priced above ~ $100 show inventory for the online site, but do not come up as available when you select the link.

I hope the restaurants save me a few 2004....it was my son's birth year and I have been waiting for prices to drop before picking up a few bottles.

Unfortunately the ones I was watching for the past 2 yrs were pulled from there cold room storage at my local specialty store, and now are mixed in with the rest of the inventory from the state. So now it is only a guess at what condition some of these bottles have been in ;o( (rant...rant...rant!)

I have the list but without the sale prices, so it's not much use.
DOMAINE LEROY CLOS VOUGEOT 03 ----$429 is on the list. But will it be $214 on sale or $314 on sale? Any takers??

I have the list but without the sale prices, so it's not much use.

Sure it is...cough it up!

$214 or $314? Even if the wine comes with a free bowl of soup I'm not dropping that kind of coin on it.

I have the list but without the sale prices, so it's not much use.

J2K. Please send me an email if you don't want to post. I would like to see the list to know what might be available, and it would give me some more time to look up values on these.

For instance, 2004 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab. If this is on the list, the web site shows over 200 units at $114.99. Winebid shows a low auction price of $89....so if PLCB comes in a good bit lower than this say $50-60. I'm willing to take some risk on storage and pick up a few.

Steve, my guess is the 2004 Montelena will be @ $70.

Mark, you didn't bring the Sea Smoke to the last tasting. I should just send the list to Dontime ;-) Just kidding, here is the list of what should be on sale. These are the regular prices. I don't have the sale prices...yet.

10000 CH. D'YQUEM 04 750ML 254.49
10871 CH. D'YQUEM 02 375ML 135.99
11205 CAIN VINEYARDS FIVE BLEND RED 04 750ML 113.99
11309 CH.MONTELENA ESTATE CABERNET 02 750ML 112.99
11331 SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT CABERNET 04 750ML 208.99
11393 PAUL HOBBS BECKSTOFFER CAB 99 750ML 189.99
11397 VERITE LE DESIR 03 750ML 116.99
11483 RUBICON ESTATE 03 750ML 115.99
11541 RUDD OAKVILLE EST PROP.RED MERITAGE 04 750ML 124.99
11616 STAGLIN CABERNET RUTHERFORD 03 750ML 129.99
11694 RUDD OAKVILLE EST PROP RED 03 750ML 119.99
11709 CH.MONTELENA EST CABERNET 04 750ML 114.99
11756 CH.MONTELENA EST CAB 03 750ML 112.99
11823 BLANKIET ESTATE CAB 04 750ML 205.99
11843 HEITZ CABERNET MARTHA'S VNYRD 02 750ML 132.49
11859 KENDALL JACKSON CARDINALE 04 750ML 131.49
11896 RIDGE MONTE BELLO 04 750ML 129.49
11907 PLUMPJACK RES CAB 04 750ML 254.99
11918 TERLATO EPISODE 04 750ML 114.99
11955 DUNN CABERNET HOWELL MNTN 04 750ML 110.49
12060 MAYACAMAS CABERNET '91 750ML 145.99
12093 SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT CAB 04 750ML 208.99
12239 BLANKIET ESTATE MERLOT 04 750ML 148.49
18902 PALMER 03 750ML 101.99
18907 DOM.LEROY CLOS VOUGEOT 03 750ML 429.99
18937 LEROY CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 04 750ML 267.99
18965 GUIGAL CH.D'AMPUIS COTE ROTIE 03 750ML 121.99
19033 ROBERT GROFFIER BONNES MARES 04 750ML 132.99
19318 COS D'ESTOURNEL 04 750ML 103.49
19322 CH. MARGAUX 04 750ML 239.99
19435 CHEVAL BLANC 04 750ML 199.99
19440 CHAVE HERMITAGE ROUGE 04 750ML 153.99
20050 LA CONSEILLANTE 2000 750ML 208.99
20120 PALMER 01 750ML 124.99
20212 GUIGAL CH.D'AMPUIS COTE ROTIE 04 750ML 133.99
20278 LATOUR PAUILLAC 04 750ML 254.49
20289 LEOVILLE LAS CASES ST.JULIEN 04 750ML 109.49
20291 CHEVAL BLANC 03 750ML 367.49
20292 HAUT BRION 03 750ML 449.99
20296 MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 03 750ML 312.39
20301 COS D'ESTOURNEL 03 750ML 153.99
20306 HOSANNA 03 750ML 108.99
20308 LA MISSION HAUT BRION 03 750ML 155.49
20309 LEOVILLE LAS CASES 03 750ML 257.79
20315 PICHON COMTESSE LALANDE 03 750ML 126.69
20328 PAVIE ST.EMILION 04 750ML 165.49
20333 HAUT BRION GRAVES ROUGE 04 750ML 239.99
20334 MISSION HAUT BRION GRAVES ROUGE 04 750ML 127.49
20364 JABOULET HERMITAGE LA CHAPELLE 04 750ML 109.99
21240 LOUIS LATOUR CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE 03 750ML 113.99
21384 BICHOT CHARLEMAGNE GR.DOM DU PAV CHARDONNAY 04 750ML 106.99
21537 LOUIS LATOUR BATARD MONTRACHET GR.CRU 01 750ML 104.99
21906 LATOUR BIENVENUE BATARD MONTRACHET GR.CRU 04 750ML 181.99
22050 CH.D'YQUEM 03 750ML 312.39
22065 DROUHIN MONTRACHET MARQUIS LAGUICHE 03 750ML 258.99
22068 DOM.JEAN JACQUES CONFURON CLOS VOUGEOT 04 750ML 127.49
22096 DOM.FONT-GAG.CRIOTS BATARD-MONTRACHET GR.CRU 04 750ML 138.99
22126 DOM.FOLLIN-ARBELET CORTON CHARLEMAGNE 04 750ML 107.99
23120 ANTINORI SOLAIA 01 750ML 116.49
23231 GAJA BARBARESCO DOCG 04 750ML 152.99
23407 TENUTA DELL'ORNELLAIA MASSETO 03 750ML 229.99
23440 BIONDI SANTI BRUN.DI MONTALCINO DOCG ANNATA 01 750ML 132.99
23444 ANTINORI SOLAIA 04 750ML 169.99
23648 ORNELLAIA 03 750ML 136.99
23806 ALTESINO BRUNELLO MONTOSOLI DOCG 03 750ML 120.49
23817 SALICUTTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PIAGGIONE DOCG 03 750ML 105.99
24086 TERRICCIO LUPICAIA 04 750ML 123.99
24511 ANTINORI SOLAIA 03 750ML 137.99
24543 BANFI POGGIO ALL'ORO BRUNELLO RISERVA 99 750ML 118.99
24678 ORNELLAIA 04 750ML 141.49
24682 PIO CESARE BAROLO ORNATO 03 1.5L 216.49
25585 PESQUERA JANUS '95 750ML 150.99
25937 VEGA SICILIA VALBUENA 02 750ML 141.99
25940 VEGA SICILIA UNICO '96 750ML 311.99
26649 CLOS MOGADOR 02 1.5L 148.99
26715 TERMANTHIA 03 750ML 165.49
26808 CONDE NEO PUNTA ESENCIA 05 750ML 75.99
27145 PENFOLDS GRANGE 02 750ML 224.99
27209 ELDERTON "COMMAND" SHIRAZ 04 1.5L 216.49
27213 PENFOLDS GRANGE 03 750ML 280.99
27567 TORBRECK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER RUNRIG 03 750ML 133.99
27585 ELDERTON ASHMEAD CABERNET 04 1.5L 147.99
27907 TWO HANDS ARES SHIRAZ 05 750ML 121.99
28800 COBOS MALBEC 04 750ML 134.99
29468 GOSSET CELEBRIS BRUT CHAMPAGNE '98 750ML 124.99
29492 DOM PERIGNON OENOTHEQUE '93 750ML 189.99
29516 KRUG ROSE MULTI-VINTAGE 750ML 142.99
29532 VEUVE CLICQUOT LA GRAND DAME CHAMPAGNE '98 750ML 129.99
29582 FEUILLATTLE PALMES D'OR '97 750ML 104.99
29589 PERRIER JOUET BL.DE BLANC FLEUR '99 750ML 165.49
29675 CHAMP.BOLLINGER LA GRANDE ANNEE BRUT '99 750ML 102.49
29677 G.H.MUMM CUVEE R LALOU BRUT CHAMPAGNE '98 750ML 121.99
29718 GRAHAM'S VINTAGE PORTO 1980 750ML 110.99
29725 GRAHAM'S TAWNY 40 YEAR 750ML 146.99

For instance, 2004 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab. If this is on the list, the web site shows over 200 units at $114.99. Winebid shows a low auction price of $89....so if PLCB comes in a good bit lower than this say $50-60. I'm willing to take some risk on storage and pick up a few.

I could be convinced to pick up a couple of the '02 myself, if I can afford them.

Just guessing here, but in the past they've been fond of discounts around 40% or so. If that turns out to be the case, most of these will stay well out of my range. We'll see.

Thanks for the list J2K.

Looks like some group already has access as LLC, Latour & Cheval '04, Cos '03, & Shafer HS have already disappeared from inventory this morning. We'll see what's left once the cherry picking is over.

That makes no sense. The wines are still listed at full price. What would be the point?

Unless they had the discount moved up as well? That doesn't sound very PLCB... I can see staff setting stuff aside and removing it from inventory, though.

Anyway, I'm not going to eat myself up over this one. We'll see what we see.

O-tay!

I hate being confused, so I went and checked with The Most Wonderful Customer Service Person Eh-vah!, aka Jane at the Online Store, and thusly she spake unto me:

The sale doesn't actually start until October 1st; it will be online only; inventory disappeared because stock was supposedly transferred to the online store, and shouldn't reappear until the 1st (any stock you see is either imaginary, or someone's cheating); today's date was significant only because they had expected to change the prices to reflect the discount, but the update failed - hopefully prices will change overnight tonight; they are aiming for 10am on the 1st as a starting time; there will be an e-mail announcing the sale sometime before then.

Here endeth the lesson.

Did she give or mention any sale prices. Looking at the retail prices, I suspect the sale prices will be anywhere from $70-$300 a bottle so I don't think stock will be flying out of the warehouse like previous sales.

Did she give or mention any sale prices.

No. Since they're going to be widely available before the sale, I thought waiting would be no hardship. Just asked about the mechanics of the affair, and the various issues raised here.

Looking at the retail prices, I suspect the sale prices will be anywhere from $70-$300 a bottle so I don't think stock will be flying out of the warehouse like previous sales.

Possible. I posted the same thought above. Still, I intend to parse the offerings very carefully.

You know, all kidding aside, some of these prices are pretty decent without a discount: in the Real World, the '03 Cos starts at $175 and races past $200 very quickly on its way to a high of $300, according to WineSearcher. Makes the $153 regular PLCB price look downright fair.

Generally, the better regarded wines are better deals, which makes sense considering what we know of PLCB pricing policies.

Other considerations may skew our sense of value, of course, but if we assume decent storage, the sale price could be a very considerable savings over the going retail.

Well, it's not the sale we have been waiting for (and discussing above), but a sale did begin today:

URL

30% off selectioned Burgundies from one importer.

Just reading the descriptions of some of those and was thinking, gee, if only they could use a smaller font...;-) Seriously, was happy to see a few reviews from Allen Meadows aka "BH." I think that's a new addition to the PLCB's repertoire of quoted reviews.

Just received an e-mail from a local store, apparently a few of these wines are available at the sale price in stores as well. Not sure why the sale price does not show up in www.lcb.state.pa.us.

Which store and what wines??

WAS (NOW)
19050 DOM JACQ CACH & FILS VOSNE ROMANCE AUX REAS 05 $59.49 $(41.64)
22267 DOM BALLOT-MILLOT MEURSAULT GENEVRIERES 04 $64.99 $(45.49)
21296 FONTAINE GAGNARD CHASSAGNE MONTRACHET LES VERGERS 06 $79.49 $(55.64)
19857 FONTAINE-GAGNARD VOLNAY CLOS DES CHENES 04 $55.49 $(38.84)

I got the e-mail from the Eastside store (247) but presumably some of those are available in other stores as well?

These are all part of the 30% off Burgundy sale, I believe.

Get out your checkbooks.....Screaming Eagle is down to a cool six grand.

No e-mail, no change in the prices when I look up the codes. Am I missing something?

No news.....What sayeth Jane?

Since there were no adds for the Burg-sale, perhaps this will just appear tomorrow on the web site.

A few of the wines from sale-list show up as still being in stores. Wonder if these actually exist, and if they will be discounted as well?

Capaneus, just to clarify, I did not receive any official announcement e-mail. The e-mail I received was from a store that regularly sends out announcements, mentioning that they had several of the sale wines in stock for the same discounted price. That's the info I posted above. Perhaps just that store is running some sort of local "manager's special" on those wines?

Finally broke down and called Jane. The failure to update the prices on the inventory look-up is an IT failure, apparently. There should be a teaser e-mail sometime today, and another e-mail tomorrow.

As it turns out, the list is a bit iffy: these were things that weren't available in any great quantities to start with, and the consensus is that the reason some items show as available in stores is that they were put on hold for Favorite Customers. As a result, the Online Store got no stock, or very little stock, on some of these wines. If you see something you really want listed as available in stores, and if you have more faith in Human goodness than I do, you might try calling and trying to have it set aside. My guess is that they won't "find" it, and will "regret" it greatly.

I guess I should have asked the specifics on the ones I want, but I didn't.

@Mark: yeah, I understood that. Jane was the one who had told me an e-mail would go out, and I just assumed it would go out much earlier than it turns out to be the case.

Presumably everyone's gotten the announcement of the "original" sale described in this thread? "Harvest Sale - Discounts up to 50% off nearly 100 collectible wines." Online only, starts Oct. 1 (no time given...Midnight? 9:00AM?) and lasts until inventory is gone. Sample discounts:
Rudd Oakville Estate 2004 Code 11541 Was $124.99 Now $69.99
Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Code 11843 Was $132.49 Now $74.99
G.H. Mumm Cuvee R. Lalou Brut Champagne 1998 Code 29677 Was $121.99 Now $59.99
Cheval Blanc 2003 Code 20291 Was $367.49 Now $199.99

All are included in J2K's list above (which also has just under 100 wines) so it would seem that that list is spot on.

Well, even though this is a sale in PA it looks like the prices are falling in line with outside PA prices: http://www.snooth.com/wine/heitz-cellars-cabernet- sauvignon-2002/

PA always starts at retail and marks down from there. You might as well take a day trip to Virginia.