Foster-owned Penfolds has announced that it is set to release an ultra-premium wine that could cost even more than its flagship Grange which sells for around $550 a bottle and is exceeded in price only by the Laird Shiraz 2005 released in September this year for about US $665.
The new wine is expected to be called Bin 620 - a label already used once before, in 1966 (still drinking well and selling for over $800). It will be released in May 2012 at the same time as the 2007 Grange. The 2008 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from Coonawarra region, won the trophy for best cabernet-dominant wine at the Great Australian Red competition, a wine show featuring red wines made only with Cabernet and Shiraz, a signature Aussie blend. It will have the option of a screw-cap or cork.
The Chief winemaker of Penfolds, Peter Gago reportedly said that the wine would be priced similar to Grange, perhaps slightly higher. He also feels that it may fetch much more in exceptional vintages.
Despite the price Gago does not anticipate any difficulty in selling it. "People clamour for wines like these. We'll sell out in microseconds because they (these wines) don't happen every day," he said, adding that it would probably be sold online ballot, with allocations and random selection to ensure fair distribution.
Despite Torbreck’s offering of Laird Shiraz at higher price, Penfolds Grange Bin 95 Shiraz is acknowledged as Australia's most prestigious fine wine. Setting the benchmark for power and consistency for well over 50 years, it is universally recognised amongst the greatest wines in the world.
Created by Max Schubert in 1951, the first Grange was a revolutionary wine driven by the principle of absolute quality. The wine is made in a unique and enduring style featuring the most outstanding fruit from multiple vineyards and aged in new oak barrels. It has shaped the landscape of the Australian wine industry and is now registered by the National Trust as an official heritage icon.
Penfolds Grange is highly sought after by collectors and a single bottle of the original 1951 vintage is now valued in excess of A$30,000.
For an earlier related article, click here
Torbreck Launches Australia’s Most Expensive Wine |
