Saturday 19 September 2015

Salesmen.



A cautionary tale.

Yesterday a smart looking red van pulled up at the house, and the fast-talking driver at once engaged me in conversation. "What a beautiful location", " What a friendly dog"; that sort of thing.

Only after a while did he mention that he was visiting the area selling his wonderful Bordeaux grand cru wines; and would I have a couple of minutes to taste them. Like a fool, I said 'yes'.

Well his wine was really excellent; I tried about four different reds, and one in particular stood out as being far superior. When I asked him the price, I nearly fell over backwards.

Now you have to understand that Cro is used to paying €1.10 per litre for his daily sustenance, and being told the price of his stuff had me reeling. But by this time his salesmanship was working its magic, and I foolishly signed-up for a 12 bottle case (with two free bottles thrown in). 

His little visit cost me €150, for which I could have bought 136 litres of my usual wine; instead of 14 bottles of his.

I hardly knew what had hit me. I'm not at all the sort to be bamboozled into buying anything; let alone wine. 

OK, I feel like a bit of a mug, but, hey, what the hell; the wine is wonderful. We had the first bottle last night.

Ch. Haut Meyreau.  Legende D'Autumne 2012. You can look it up.



21 comments:

  1. If you are going to be taken by somebody, it is better to be taken by one carrying fine wine.

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    Replies
    1. There's a good side to everything; even being bamboozled by a wine salesman!

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  2. At least the wine you've opened has actually lived up to expectations. It could have been a cheap substitute in the bottles you bought.

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  3. I shall be on the look out for smart red vans. Not sure if we would send him on his way or be tempted to try his tasters. I do like drinking expensive wine but preferably when someone else is paying!

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    Replies
    1. I'm just as happy with my €1.10 wine from St Martin le Redon.

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  4. Better that than dodgy double glazing eh!
    Arilx

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  5. When we were on Lake Como a few years ago, the wine in a litre carton from the nearby shop, at 1 euro I think, was far nicer than any of the wine we had with dinner in the hotel, costing about 15/17 euros !

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    Replies
    1. It's very often the case; and probably far more 'natural' too.

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  6. Here's what to do the next time a salesman rolls around...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtlUNhbODCQ

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  7. We once did a part exchange on an old Rayburn for some wine. It was pretty darned good. Didn't last very long though - the old Rayburn will have lasted a lot longer, and kept them warmer!

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    Replies
    1. That doesn't sound like a very good deal; unless it was a wine lake.

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  8. Some saleman Cro - you have to admire his wily ways.

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  9. Oh well! At least you got wine out of it! :)

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  10. Obviously a very good salesman but, hey, never regret a decision: live with it and enjoy.

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  11. If it was that good then it was worth the price I'd say.

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  12. Well...now you've bought it, the best thing to do is shrug your shoulders gallically, (Gallicly?) (In a Gallic manner) and enjoy it!
    We bought a Grand Cru bottle by mistake in Carrefour once upon a time (round about 50€ the bottle) We kept it, and kept it for a "special ocassion" that never materialised as being "special" enough. In the end, we had some good friends round for a meal, and considering that probably good friends are the best reason for celebrating, we opened it on the spur of the moment, and thoroughly enjoyed it!!

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  13. The only door-to-door folk that come around these parts are those spreading the 'Good Word'. I'd rather a wine salesman any day!

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