Over 600 lots of premium Australian wine tempted buyers at Oddbins March 28 silent bid auction.
The highlight of the sale was a world record price paid for a set of Penfolds Grange magnums, of $29,800 ($1,700 each). The seventeen magnums comprised one each from the 1979 to 1995 vintages, and were sold to an anonymous Melbourne bidder.
After a period in the doldrums the demand for Grange magnums has soared, exceeding the upper estimate, by quite a lot. Interestingly two of the magnums had been through red wine clinics, the 1979 - $1,240,and 1981 - $1,350. The 1987 $1,400, 1992 - $1,200 and 1995 - $1,300 showed the keen and competitive bidding.
Henschke Hill of Grace and Penfolds Grange continued their tussle for market dominance, particularly for vintage from 1992 on. Hill of Grace has consistently outperformed Grange from these vintages, perhaps the result of Hill of Grace being seen as a single vineyard estate wine, rather than the multi-regional blend that is Grange.
Shiraz continued to be the wine in most demand - Hardys Eileen hardy continued its recent strong showing, Rockford Basket Press and St Hallett Old block prominent among the Barossa Valley wines.
The sale contained vintages of some more commercial but very well made wines such as Penfolds Koonunga Hill and Wynns Coonawarra and Ovens Valley Shiraz from the 1980's and 1990's, which attracted bids in excess of $25 per bottle.
A good offering of Hunter semillon and chardonnay saw many of these wines going offshore.
A small selection of imported wines completed the auction, with some single bottles of super Tuscans from the great 1997 vintage generally selling well.
Whilst our next auction will be held on May 23, we will be in the Barossa for the Vintage Festival conducting the Penfolds Barossa Rare Wine Auction on Friday April 20.
| Hammer Price $ per bottle |
|
| Bass Philip Reserve pinot noir 1994 | 240 |
| Hardys Eileen Hardy shiraz 1988 | 60 |
| Hardys Eileen Hardy shiraz 1991 | 65 |
| Henschke Hill of Grace 1988 | 210 |
| Henschke Hill of Grace 1990 | 350 |
| Henschke Hill of Grace 1991 | 260 |
| Henschke Hill of Grace 1995 | 240 |
| McWilliams Mt Pleasant Lovedale semillon 1984 | 50 |
| Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna shiraz 1986 | 40 |
| Penfolds Bin 389 cabernet shiraz 1971 (Clinic label) | 90 |
| Rockford Basket Press shiraz 1992 | 85 |
| Rockford Basket Press shiraz 1994 | 75 |
| Rockford Basket Press shiraz 1995 | 70 |
| Rockford Basket Press shiraz 1996 | 70 |
| St Hallett Old Block shiraz 1990 | 60 |
| Isole et Olena Cepparello | 210 |
| Solaia 1997 | 260 |
| Penfolds Grange Magnums | |
| Set (1979 - 1995) | 1,700 |
| 1979 (Clinic Label) | 1,240 |
| 1981 (Clinic Label) | 1,350 |
| 1987 | 1,400 |
| 1992 | 1,350 |
| 1993 | 1,200 |
| 1995 | 1,300 |