SAQ , a few stats . . .

[Luc Gauthier]

The SAQ topped 2 billion in wine sales in 2009 .
Since 2000 , Vintage Port sales have dropped .................................... 80 %
Ruby and 20 yr old tawny sales have doubled

[Lamont Huxley]

I'm waiting for the prices to drop 80%...

[Derek T.]

Since 2000 , Vintage Port sales have dropped .................................... 80 %

That is an extremely sad statistic. Is that purely down to prices, or, over the same period, has there been an increase in other premium styles such as Colheita?

[Luc Gauthier]

Hi Derek ,
From what I was able to gather , colheita sales account for very little .
In 2007 , LBV sales had the lions share and 20 yr old tawny sales were non existent .
At least now , 20 yr old sales are on the radar . Which could be due to the drop in VP sales .
The most interesting fact is the Ramos Pinto 10 yr old tawny sold for 16.00 $ before 2000 .
The price changed progressively to ............... 42.00 $ !! by 2008 .

[Roy Hersh]

Luc,

I am not sure exactly which VPs are available at the moment, but from what I have seen of the SAQ ... the prices are typically the worst of the 3 Canadian Provinces that I follow (also Alberta and BC). For whatever reason, the SAQ does their best to preclude sales of Vintage Port based on absolutely ridiculous pricing. If I were a Port lover there, I'd be forced to move or smuggle, one or the other!

[Frederick Blais]

Last friday was held in Montreal a special Port tasting so we start talking about VP again in Quebec. lets hope it will work!

For the ramos Pinto, 16$ must be for a half bottle. Even in 2000, Cabral was the chespest and was selling for about 20$.

[Frederick Blais]

Just for fun, latest news on VP 2007 release in Quebec is for Fall 2010..... 90 bottles of Graham's will be sold for the entire province.... Hope is lost!

[Roy Hersh]

I wonder why the SAQ has waited an entire year to get their allocations into the province? Very odd.

It is not only the very sad fact that you are limited to 90 bottles of the G'07 ... but I bet the SAQ will be priced at 100 CDN.

[Luc Gauthier]

I wonder why the SAQ has waited an entire year to get their allocations into the province? Very odd.

It is not only the very sad fact that you are limited to 90 bottles of the G'07 ... but I bet the SAQ will be priced at 100 CDN.

Roy , don't be surprised .
Up until this year , in order to get wine from the SAQ , you had to
1- get the catalog .
2- place your order by fax .
3- wait a few months for the confirmation .
(maybe or maybe not , you'd get what you asked . . .) Why ?
Your order would be put in a lottery !!
Now the SAQ has reached the 21st century , you can order by email , wow !!
The SAQ is acting like any company with a monopoly .
They tend to adopt a style that is opposite consumer satisfaction .
Those 90 bottles are going to be gobled up no matter the price , and the SAQ knows It !!
The incentive to lower costs is non existent .
People think that the ridiculously high prices are due to transport costs and taxes .
Nothing can be fufther from the truth .
One bottle of wine imported from Europe , the SAQ's profit margin is ......................................... 46.60 % !!!!!!!
And don't get me started on their selection .
Since you brought It up , they got It all wrong !!
Here goes ( in order of importance )
The #1 factor " Financial performance "
#2 Notariety ( Is it a well known brand !! )
#3 Environmental issues ?
#4 Price/quality ratio
#5 Quality !!!
Is there something blatently wrong with this scenario
Is It any wonder that the SAQ could only muster up enough to get 90 bottles
It's enough to make a member cry

[Frederick Blais]

They did order 300 cases of Graham's 2003 and sold only 10% after one year.... Now they gonna bring in 90 bottles and sell 100% within a week. Numbers never lies, it is going to be a huge success

By the way Luc or anyone in Montreal, there was 3 bottles of Noval and Fonseca 2007 at the SAQ branch of 440 boul Maisonneuve. These are products returned from the labs.... 125$ and 139$ if I recall correctly... I'm so happy of having bought mine at the Ontario liquor board :)

[Luc Gauthier]

Luckily we have the LCBO . . . n'est-ce-pas Fred ?