48 Waitrose wines will be discounted -- check this list if thinking of buying before 2 Sept.

http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Con ... wsAreaID=2

My local Waitrose is show casing Warwick's 'First Lady' currently. All those who buy --like I almost did -- will be hacked off by seeing discounted by £4 in a weeks time

Is it me, or has the cost of wine jumped quite considerably over the last eighteen months or so?

I look at the discounted wines now and think- this was the standard price not so long ago. This isn’t just Waitrose, it’s everywhere, Tesco, Sainsburys, online.

On the subject of Tesco, I think their recent venture into broadening their wine range is coming to an end, loads of stuff has been discounted to clear at two branches near me, I managed to grab a case of their TF Denman Semillon for £3.34 a bottle, once I had doubled-up £10 of vouchers to £20 the case was paid for. Take a look in your local store, I suspect this clearance will be nation-wide. Sadly, we will be left with even less choice.

same here GK.
End of last week I picked up my local's last 2 bottles of Yarra Valley PN down to a tenner and a bottle of Stockman's station PN to try also down to a tenner
They had a lot of stuff on their reduced to clear section including a 99 Bolli Grand Annee down to £40 that I kinda regret not buying but couldn't justify spending the cash on (espesh not being a massive fizzy fan)

Just came back from Tesco metro near work and they have a number of wines on sale but not to clear - Flagstone Dragontree down to £4.99. might stop by and give a couple a go after the previous good reviews on the other thread.
Their Yarra PN was still full price there tho....

I notice Tesco have increased the standard delivery charge online, gone up to £6.25 from £5.

Thats a 25% increase.

I don't ever bother buying off them on line any more. Prefer to have a mooch around the shelves in store now

Yeah GK, I third that observation. I did advise that the credit crunch was over for fine wine a while back. But now I recon that they are all at it on the medium range stuff as well. They jacked the price up, now they are knocking a bit off, to where it was when they bought the stock on contract prices, and had already made a decent mark-up. Hmmnn... bloody cheek.

M&S have a current offer of 25% on loads of wines. It is a scam, and I'm disappointed that Waitrose are also in the game now. They are positively greedy with half decent Burgundy mark-up.

Shezza, I will look out that Pinot Noir you picked up - I picked up my local's last 2 bottles of Yarra Valley PN down to a tenner and a bottle of Stockman's station PN to try also down to a tenner. Thanks for that tip
I'm also concluding that buying online from big T is also a trap to encourage you to buy more of a style of wine that you may have wanted only to try, or keep a few. What is the point of buying volume online, if you don't earn proper discount !

£6.25 for a delivery is treating Tesco customers like morons - which many of them are. I know independant and small time merchants who will deliver free, when you commit to a 12 bottle case.

I'm voting with my wallet

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Duncan

Has anyone been down to Waitrose now that the WoW Showcase is on ?

Have had a look online (Waitrose WoW Showcase) and there isn't much jumping out at me that screams snap me up.
Most appealing is the Wither Hills PN which also happens to be the most expensive in there at 11.99 a bottle (down from 15.99). IIRC Was in top 3 of my favourite NZ PN tasted at decanter's New World tasting earlier this year

Anyone spot something there worth a go?

I've not been it yet but was planning to pop in tomorrow morning, Ill be dropping off the little one at her grandmothers and drive past a store on the way.

I will have a look at-
Wachau Grüner Veltliner- Im increasing becoming a fan of GV, I remember enjoying some lovely Wachau wines in Austria two years ago.
Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris- Not sure, Im finding VM wines are loosing their finesse of late, bold, aggressive wines appear to be in favour.
Domaine de Mayole? A Morrocan Cab? Yeah, Id give that a go.
Morgenhof Estate Chenin Blanc- I like Sth African Chenin, just not a fan of heavily oaked whites, would probably give this a miss.
Anciano 7-Year-Old Gran Reserva, Valdepeñas- A lot of age and nurturing for under £6, this will make up a six case.
Poggiotondo, Cerro del Masso 2006 Chianti- A Very good year for Italian reds.
Château du Gazin 2006 Canon-Fronsac- Pomerol? Merlot? Something to put away for a couple of years?
Gallo Family Vineyards White Grenache 2007- My lawnmower runs on it.

That’ll do pig, that’ll do

Château du Gazin 2006, Cannon Fronsac - north east of Limbourne, area within Fronsac near the bank of the Dordoyne. Right bank style, a bit like Lalande de Pom or Graves de Vraye. I like Fronsac. This is a popular wine, and sold in the USA. I've had this du Gazin before, 2000 and ripe 2003 vintages, maybe some in the 90's.

This is a genuine reduction, and the wine is £9 -10 even across the pond. 2006 was more consistent and riper on the Right bank than the ordinary Medocs on the Left. It could be a bargain, and as GK says, will benefit from a year or three laying down.

I wonder why they need to move it ? Perhaps American petite chateau sales and demand for eco clarets is down the plug.

** Astrolabe Shearwater 2008 - What is Shearwater, (other than a bird that is under constant threat from serious changes to its habitat ?) A trading name perhaps, or something rare. Is this the wine in the white A on black label MSB bottle - Could be a real bargain - a Bob Campbell favourite for 2006/07/08 - and an international medal winner when on the A label. Is Shearwater a 3rd wine of the textbook Kekerengu what's it cuvee, or a marketing thing ? to avoid brand management ?

This is the link http://www.astrolabewines.co.nz/
Phone the sole importers in London and see what they say ? The number is on the web site.

All NZ wines are discounted by 20% in Laithwaites / Sunday Times WC. Marks & Sparks Hawkes Bay single domaine chardonay Lone * Range 2008 discounted by 40% now £5.99 for singles in the large stores. NZ pushing global sales in the recession .......

** Hmnnn - A job for Goose to investigate - and not expensive at the price .

GK - You shouldn't abuse your trusty motor mower.

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Duncan