Penfolds Re-corking Clinics 2012

[dan_smee]

I'd much rather buy a Clinic'ed bottle, shame the Auction houses don't seem to list this detail.

Langton's generally have it in the info box - the Melbourne auction just gone had it for a couple of the 77's (looking at buying a 77 for an anniversary celebration for my parents).

Does anyone know if Langton's put the notes themselves, or rely on the sellers? Maybe even if you do get them cliniced they won't advertise the,?

[TiggerK]

They do it themselves, you drop your wine off, they go through it making notes, give you a copy of those notes and it gets listed like that, so a clinic bottle will certainly get listed as a clinic bottle.

BTW, Enjoyed a 77 Grange a few years back, excellent wine.

I'd also much rather buy a cliniced bottle, and can't understand why anyone wouldn't??

[winenovice]

Absolutely, John. In some ways, getting a clean bill of health on a couple of thousand dollars worth of wine partially justifies the expense of building and running the cellar! The cellar has 1000 in it at present, and it is nice to know the extra care is making a difference.

Cheers

Allan[/quote]

That is fantastic to hear, Allan. Your write up on Tahblik a couple of months ago inspired to me make a visit there myself. I must say it was 2 hours driving each way well spent.

The winery was so endearing, I made another trip last weekend just past. Great place.

John

[dan_smee]

I think the only reason you would not want it is the fact that a very small percentage of your wonderful grange is the (likely this year, inferior) current vintage, and the bottle itself has been opened, even for a short time.

Most of this is psychological, and collectors I think rather them not cliniced in 'original condition'. A lot of collectors and investors never intend to drink the collection, so care less about the drinkability and drinking windows of their collections.

I'd be interested to see stats on who buys grange from Langton's - is it occasional buy-to-drink consumers, or is it people completing collections?

I really think if people are buying to drink, then having the health check is a wonderful thing, and I don't think you would lose much, if any money at an auction by going through the process.

[xsorxpire]

As it turns out, she is going to drink them.


Got to love her style.


Hopefully i get invited to dinner....

[damonpeyo]

Sorry if sounds dumb question, does other brands/wineries offer this kind of Re-corking services? Henschke, etc?

The only other place I know re-corks is Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, only at their chateau as far I know, after recently looking up langtons auction house, they got CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD, 1er cru classe, Pauillac 1811 Vintage, Re-Corked in 1983 at the Chateau. Currently bidding at $73599, while Langtons has it valued between the $80,000-$120,000 range.

$18,000-$38,000 per glass type of drop or something like that.

Crazy.

http://www.langtons.com.au/Auction/BrowseDetail.aspx?Auction_Id=2112&Lot_Num=2055

Question is:

If you had the money....would you fork out this much for wine?

My answer would be no... due I am uncertain how long it's been in Australia, how often has it been moved around? How long been sitting for? Cellar/Transport Conditions in between?

But if I was in some cellar in France or some other European Country, or here, and stumbled into a cellar and money was no issue, the wines have been sitting at the same place for decades, never been moved much, just build up layers of dust, and there's a kitchen in close WALKING distance where I can cook up a storm and open the wine, might be the option.

Otherwise just hire and fly in a 3 starred Michelin chef to all the work for you, especially if you can afford it.