At a time when household budgets are getting tighter and everyone is being far more prudent with their finances I would say that Berry Bros & Rudd are acting in a cavalier and reckless fashion in offering fine claret at these prices. For example:
1999 Ch. Leoville-Poyferre @ £49.40 per bottle
2003 Ch. Lynch Bages @ £53.56 pb
2005 ch. Talbot @ £40.75 pb
These are drinkers' claret - this is not for investment but for enjoyment. And all are marked down by at least 20%. If you want to really push the boat out there is a whole swathe of 2005 classed growths with a similar level of discount including my desert island claret the 2005 Ch. Figeac @ £70.65 pb, thats a whopping 23.5% discount!
Berry Bros & Rudd is a London institution and a key part of our wine heritage and industry. For nearly ten years I worked around the corner in Carlton House Terrace, and Berry's was there to fuel my growing passion for wine. Loosing Friday lunchtime in Crown Passage enjoying the Davy's house burgundy before popping into Berry's would always set me up nicely for the weekend. And back then you could slip into Dunhill's for an havana cigar (Cohiba Siglo no.III please) if you just couldn't face the afternoon in the office!
Binge drinking is often touted in the press as symptomatic of our failing society, with the low cost of alcohol being identified as fueling this trend. I think Berry's deserve to be taken to task and asked to justify their own prices which are encouraging weak-willed wine-pips to 'binge cellar' often with long term implications to their families and financial well-being!
Questions should be asked in the House, because they already are in mine!
Long live Berry Bros & Rudd!
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