Brett happens

A year and a half ago, in response to unsubstantiated claims on Chowhound, I spent a lunch hour comparing the prices of identical wines at the LCBO and the SAQ. The results were strongly in the SAQ’s favour.

The latest issue of the LCBO’s Vintages magazine arrived today, showcasing the 126 wines in the October 16th release. Sixteen of the wines are also sold in Quebec. Here’s a comparison of the prices:

SAQ / LCBO

$14.30 / $14.95 – Capitel Nicalò 2008, Valpolicella Classico Superiore (SAQ marked down from $16.30)
$16.95 / $16.95 – Château d’Argadens 2006, Bordeaux Supérieur
$17.85 / $16.95 – VMR 2008, The Black Chook
$19.90 / $17.95 – Carmenère 2008, Arboleda
$22.05 / $17.95 – Nine Lives Shiraz 2007, Cat Amongst the Pigeons
$21.35 / $18.95 – Pierre Sparr Brut Réserve, Crémant d’Alsace
$20.95 / $18.95 – Viognier 2007, Bonterra
$18.05 / $19.95 – Seigneurs d’Aiguilhe 2006, Côtes de Castillon
$19.25 / $19.95 – Louis Bouillot Pèrle Rare Brut 2006, Crémant de Bourgogne
$23.50 / $24.95 – Château de Cruzeau (blanc) 2007, Pessac-Léognan
$23.50 / $29.95 – Côtes Rocheuses 2005, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
$23.90 / $24.95 – Meritage 2007, Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
$30.25 / $33.95 – Salmos 2007, Torres
$37.00 / $39.95 – Do Ut Des 2007, Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino
$43.50 / $44.95 – The Tryconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey
$47.75 / $54.95 – Guidalberto 2008, Tenuta San Guido

Disclaimer: It’s only a snapshot, albeit a current and impartial one.

Once again, the SAQ comes out on top, though the LCBO does appear to mark up low-end bottles less.

Several more of the wines in the release are available in Quebec but in different vintages, while others have been in the recent past and probably will be again in the not so distant future. That said, it’s interesting that the overlap is so small, that the two monopolies are more complementary than competitive. Great for those of us who live near Quebec’s western border.