Sterling Wine Auctions Australia

Every now and then I an exposed to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Usually in my capacity as bottle washer or Valet.

Last week a group of high profile media Czars and retail Barrons sat to lunch with some nice wines. I was lucky enough to be there as a helper. The centre piece was a trio of 1990 heavy weights.

Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz
Penfolds Bin 90a Cabernet Shiraz
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz

Splashes of Leeuwin Art Chardonnay 1996 and some vintage Champagne were the palate cleansers.

Big bucks, Big names and Big bangs!

As you would expect the Hill of Grace was sublime. A gentle giant that took control by sheer force of delicate and persistent fruit harnessed by stunning oak. I can still taste it!

The 90a, the only Penfolds 1990 wine that is better than the 1990 Grange. So rare and special it has been made from only 3 vintages since 1962. The granddaddy, the Bin 60a is widely acknowledges as one of the top 20 wines make in the 20th century.

Huge reputation and what a wine, the whole Cab Shiraz thing, it works so very, very well. Imagine a microscopic liliputian orchestra, in your mouth, playing Mozart, The Shiraz in the 90a is the violin solo. So complex, so kind and loving, lingering and lifting.

The poor old Bin 389, it was always there to make up the numbers. How could a wine that retailed on release for under $15 compete with such awesome talent and achievement?

The answer? Very Bloody well! In fact the comparison between the two Penfolds wines was remarkable. Same vintage, similar blend of Cabernet and Shiraz. The 90a being the blue blood with no expense or attention spared. The Bin 389 is the red wine I would choose if I could only drink one wines for the rest of my life. It has been recognised as Australia's most collected wine. Click here to see the story on research of over one million bottles in storage.

The conclusion, try it yourself, put together some mates with too much money and do a set of 1990 stars. Maybe throw in the Bin 707, the Grange and the Mount Mary Quintet for good measure. Slip in a few roughies like the Bin 389 and Lindemans Limestone Ridge just for fun.

Here it is again, what you already know, buy good vintages of Bin 389 and keep them to drink. The 1996 even at $50 a bottle is a steal that has 20 plus good drinking years left in it.

September 2006