Over 400 keen wine lovers packed the main auditorium of the Brisbane City Hall for the auction of over 400 lots of premium wine, being offered for sale by the Brisbane City Council.
The extreme quality of the cellar, along with it's notoriority (it was assembled from the proceeds of a major parking meter fraud) saw keen and competitive bidding continue throughout the night.
The highest price paid on the night was $2,800 for a double magnum of Ch d'Yquem 1989, whilst a set of 14 Penfolds Grange magnums from 1979 - 1992 realised $16,100, an average of $1,150 per magnum.
Other wines in great demand were Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1993 and 1994 at $120 a bottle; Henschke Abbots Prayer 1990 - $95; Henschke Hill of Grace 1990 - $400; magnum Mount Edelstone 1990 - $420 and 1994 Mt Edelstone - $95; magnum of Mt Mary Quintets 1991 - $580.
Large format bottles sold well, an imperial of Petaluma Coonawarra 1991 - $550; imperial Grant Burge Meshach $720; double magnum of Ch de Beaucastel 1986 - $500; while a magnum of Gaja Barbaresco achieved $420.
Penfolds Grange was in strong demand, with vintages from 1965 - 1992 being represented. Vintages to show well were 1965 (HS) - $380; 1969 - $320; 1971 - $700; 1980 - $360; 1981 - $260; 1984 - $260, whilst 8 dozen 1990 (comprising 16 lots of 6 in the original wooden boxes) made $450 a bottle, selling to the one bidder.
Of the imported wines, a ½ bottles of 19983 d'Yquem - $360, 1985 Krug Champagne - $290, magnum 1976 dom Perignon - $400; Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill 1979 - $200 attested to the Queenslanders love of fine Champagne.
The sale was a great success, for the Brisbane Council and Oddbins, as well as the ratepayers. Once we have overcome some interesting and challenging licensing laws, we will be back to conduct future wine auctions.