Bordeaux wine prices in France vs Norway

Vinforum has an article in their latest magazine where they complain about the increase in Bordeaux prices from 2005 and onwards. Some of the best Bordeaux nearly doubled their prices for the 2005 vintage and have not been very much reduced in the lesser vintages 2006 and 2007. This observation on increased prices I totally share and it has forced me to buy more of the second label wines from the top Grand Cru Classe for 2005 and onwards or invest more in the 2003 and 2004 vintages for the top chateaux.

There is still a lot of very good 2003 and 2004 to be found with wine merchants and supermarkets with prices ranging from 15€ to 30€ here in France! So if you don't like the revised (higher) prices I urge you to buy these vintages now before they also increase in price!

Part of the problem for Norwegian buyers though are that the price level in Norway seems to be too high for god Bordeaux. Normal tax duty to be paid for one bottle is around 5 € per bottle. I have checked some prices differences between Norway and France and they are as follows for some of these great wines;

Beychevelle 2003 75€ vs 40€

Sociando Mallet 2004 55€ vs 25€

Malescot St.Exupery 2003 80€ vs 40€

Lagrange 2003 70€ vs 30€

Cantenac Brown 2003 55€ vs 35€

As you can see the difference between Norway and France as a sale point varies between 20 to 40 € per bottle (not taking into account the 5€ tax on the french prices)!

What I would like to know is how the difference can be this big while it for for ex Cote du Rhone by Guigal its only a few €! It costs 16€ in Norway and 6€ in France, which with 5€ tax added to the french price comes down to 5€ difference!

Someone is having a party! but its certainly NOT the Norwegian Bordeaux lovers which are forced to buy their Bordeaux wine at the Vinmonopolet.

Seems like I need a bigger cave here in France because there are some true bargains out there for around 20 euro.....

You can also check the french prices under the "foire" label for among other the 2005 vintage.

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