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Update for November 2007
A quick browse around some of the seasonal offers in the leading newspapers suggests that if you buy into these offers you probably are. The Telegraph is offering Coudoulet de Beaucastel 1995 at £155 per dozen (our price of £95 in bond equates to just over £130). The Guardian's current offer purports to give a 50% discount: that would be unprofitable with normal mark-ups (see below) and we have caluculated that the offer price of around £113 is about right - so no discount whatsoever. For more of the same, read on...

Price Watch

This is our page of scary facts. Click here for our table of how much wine you get for your money and go to the very bottom of the page to find out how much the supermarkets make out of you.

It has come to our attention that there are considerable differences in prices being charged in the UK for the same wines and that our prices are considerably lower than many of our competitors. Whilst we don't want to rub their noses in it, we think it's only fair to you, the consumer, to alert you to the facts and to promise to match a better price should you come across one. Here are some examples in case you want to go elsewhere to pay more (IB prices are for cases of 12, wines shown in bold are in excess of 15% more expensive from reputable UK merchants and those in bold are more than 25% more expensive. The completely outstanding prices, over 40% higher than ours are depicted in bond. Interesting to note that the worst culprits are amongst the most highly respected names! All prices are current and correct to the best of our knowledge.

Last updated: 19th January 2007

Wines (listed alphabetically by estate)	Our Price (before case discount)	Comparisons	% Difference
Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000	£31.50	£43.50 (BBR)	38%
Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000 (IB)	£300	£320 (FRW)	7%
Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001 (IB)	£340	£363 (FRW)	7%
Clos des Brusquieres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001	£13.75	£15.95 (Indigo)	16%
Brusset, Gigondas 2001 "Les Hauts de Montmirail"	£16.95	£20 (Noel Young)	18%
Brusset, Gigondas 2003 "Le Grand Montmirail"	£12.00	£14.91 (Everywine)	24%
Brusset, Gigondas 2003 "Le Grand Montmirail" (IB)	£95	£103 (FRW)	8%
Brusset, Gigondas 2003 "Les Hauts de Montmirail" (IB)	£150	£192 (Fine & Rare)	28%
Cailloux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001 "Centenaire"	£95.80	£140 (BBR)	46%
Cristia, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004	£14.50	£15.75 (Andrew Wilson)	9%
Cristia, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004 "Vieilles Vignes" (IB)	£235	£277 (FRW)	18%
Cristia, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004 "Renaissance" (IB)	£285	£319 (FRW)	12%
Lacroix, Bordeaux Superieur 2003	£6.95	£8 (Villeneuve)	15%
Liebart-Regnier, Champagne Brut NV	£15	£15.95 (Imbibros)	6%
Luigi Einaudi, Dolcetto di Dogliani 2004	£7.75	£9.99 (Ballantynes)	29%
Luigi Einaudi, Barolo 1999 "Nei Cannubi"	£32.00	£45 (Ballantynes)	41%
Grand Veneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001 "Les Origines" (IB)	£180	£208 (FRW)	15%
Il Molino di Grace, Chianti Classico 2003	£9.85	£10.99 (Bennetts)	11%
Il Molino di Grace, Chianti Classico Riserva 2000	£13.95	£17.95 (Barrels and Bottles)	29%
La Nerthe, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000 "Clos de la Graniere"	£12.50	£17.99 (Oddbins)	44%
Perrin, CDRV Vinsobres 2004 "Les Cornuds"	£7.99	£9.95 (Bentleys)	25%
Perrin, CDRV Rasteau 2004 "L'Andeol"	£8.75	£9.70 (Tanners)	11%
Perrrin, Vacqueyras 2003 "Les Christins"	£9.75	£10.50 (Cambridge Wine)	8%
Redortier, Gigondas 2000 (IB)	£90	£120 (Nickolls & Perks)	33%
Rostaing, Cote Rotie 2003 "La Landonne" (IB)	£1000	£1145 (FRW)	14%
Domaine du Seuil, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux 2003	£7.99	£13.75 (Wine Buy The Case)	72%
Pierre Usseglio, , Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000 "Mon Aieul"	£50	£57.50 (BBR)	15%
Raymond Usseglio, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001	£14.50	£19.99 (The Winery)	38%
Raymond Usseglio, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2001 "Imperiale" (IB)	£220	£267 (FRW)	21%
Raymond Usseglio, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2003 (IB)	£130	£140 (FRW)	8%
Raymond Usseglio, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2003 "Imperiale" (IB)	£220	£256 (FRW)	16%

How much is it worth? Want to spend over £18.50 per bottle? Anything less means the producer gets less than half of what you spend (based on industry averages) - updated May 2008

Sale price	VAT	Merchant's profit (trade averages 30%*)	Duty (still wines from within EU - others are more expensive)	Shipping and Bond costs (based on small shipments for fine wines)	Amount producer receives for wine, bottle, cork, packaging and profit!
£3.99	£0.60	£1.02	£1.46	£0.30	£0.61
£4.99	£0.74	£1.27	£1.46	£0.30	£1.22
£5.99	£0.89	£1.53	£1.46	£0.30	£1.81
£6.99	£1.04	£1.78	£1.46	£0.30	£2.41
£7.99	£1.19	£2.04	£1.46	£0.30	£3.00
£8.99	£1.34	£2.30	£1.46	£0.30	£3.59
£9.99	£1.49	£2.55	£1.46	£0.30	£4.19
£11	£1.64	£2.81	£1.46	£0.30	£4.79
£12	£1.79	£3.06	£1.46	£0.30	£5.39
£13	£1.94	£3.32	£1.46	£0.30	£5.98
£14	£2.09	£3.57	£1.46	£0.30	£6.58
£15	£2.23	£3.83	£1.46	£0.30	£7.18
£16	£2.38	£4.09	£1.46	£0.30	£7.77
£17	£2.53	£4.34	£1.46	£0.30	£8.37
£18	£2.68	£4.60	£1.46	£0.30	£8.96
£18.50	£2.76	£4.72	£1.46	£0.30	£9.26
£19	£2.83	£4.85	£1.46	£0.30	£9.55
£20	£2.98	£5.11	£1.46	£0.30	£10.15
£25	£3.72	£6.38	£1.46	£0.30	£13.14
£30	£4.47	£7.65	£1.46	£0.30	£16.12

* The first table on this page shows that some merchants clearly make well in excess of 30 or even 40%. As the second table shows, a £5 bottle will cost around 1.5€ ex cellars (trade price from the producer); however, we have been informed by producers that supermarkets try to strong-arm them to supply the same wine for only 1€ and still keep the £4.99 price tag, making their mark-ups around 50% even allowing for much lower shipping and bond costs - and that's before they start their so-called discounting practices!