Penfolds Grange and Imported Wines dominated Oddbins September auction. The Grange juggernaut keeps on rolling on, closely followed by Premier Cru Red Bordeaux.
Highlights from the sale included a magnum of 1983 Penfolds Grange signed by Max Schubert $3100, compared to a magnum of the famous 1986 vintage for $1300. The wine enjoyed good clearance rates with high demand and strong bidding reflecting its position as Australia’s most recognisable and desirable wine.
Penfolds St Henri, for so long neglected by bidders has enjoyed a resurgence of interest. The much heralded 90 vintage achieved $90 a bottle, whilst a magnum of 1985 signed by Max Schubert achieved $301.
The sale continued the trends evident from the beginning of the year, that Barossa Shiraz remains a staple of the secondary market. McLaren Vale Shiraz, led by the very impressive d’Arenberg Dead Arm, leads the way for McLaren Vale producers.
Wendouree and Jim Barry’s The Armagh dominate the wines from the Clare region, with Wendouree Shiraz 1990 achieving $130 per bottle. Some Clare wines present good opportunities on the secondary market, Tim Adams Aberfeldy, Leasingham Classic Clare and Neil Pikes Reserve Range offering terrific value for money, and the opportunity for future improvement.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra continues to lag behind Barossa Shiraz in the popularity and quality stakes. Its position as Australia’s best red wine region has been challenged for many years as witnessed by the decline in demand for the once famous Lindemans trio of Coonawarra based wines: St George, Limestone Ridge and Pyrus. Bowen Estate continues as a perennial auction favourite, as do the wines from Zema Estate, whilst the very well made wines from Majella, Parker Coonawarra Estate, and Odyssey and Prodigy labels from Katnook Estate reaffirm the areas reputation and potential for quality. Recent bottles of the 1953 Woodleys Queen Adelaide Treasure Series Claret shows the heights that have been achieved in the past.
Cabernet Sauvignon is dominated by the big four, Mt Mary Quintet, Moss Wood, Cullen and Penfolds Bin 707. Whilst these wines perform strongly, the demand for cabernet continues to play second fiddle to that of Shiraz.
The demand for cult Shiraz, and ‘Parker’ wines remains volatile, with difficulties in matching wines with buyers. It appears this section of the market is no longer content with the blessing of a 90+ point score for high alcohol and extracted oaky red wines. Time will be the judge of these wines and their market price.
Red Bordeaux and Sauternes dominated the imported wines, a bottle of Ch d’Yquem 1975 achieving $680. The bidding and clearance rates for imported lots was very good with good interest across all regions.