Someone recently asked me whether I would pay $500 for a bottle of Grange. I said that it was all relative to what you could afford.
Not many of you would dispute Grange is a top drop, but if I gave you $500 to spend at the Penfolds Cellar Door what would you choose - assuming a good vintage (refer Poll)?
I arrived late enough to catch the new poll, so 8 St H it is! And it mirrors real life, since it is the most numerous Penfolds wine in my cellar. (technically equal with 389, but I'm likely to buy some 04 Henri, whereas I've passed on 389 since the 98 vintage.)
cheers,
Graeme
They already have in my local dan's.
or at least stopped being 'discounted'
Their regular price on Bin 389 has gone up $8 in the last 2 months or so.
with similar sorts of increases across most of the penfolds range.
Was in the Barossa on the weekend and the cellar door rrp is 51.90 for the 389
Damo961 wrote:They already have in my local dan's. or at least stopped being 'discounted' Their regular price on Bin 389 has gone up $8 in the last 2 months or so. with similar sorts of increases across most of the penfolds range.
Was in the Barossa on the weekend and the cellar door rrp is 51.90 for the 389
VC single bottle price is $52.99.
It's possible I'll never buy another Penfolds red to cellar, maybe the odd bottle to try, there are too many alternatives that attract me at present.
That would definitely be the end of an era of drinking Penfolds reds that started for me about 40 years ago.
Cheers Brian Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
It's possible I'll never buy another Penfolds red to cellar, maybe the odd bottle to try, there are too many alternatives that attract me at present. That would definitely be the end of an era of drinking Penfolds reds that started for me about 40 years ago.
I think I'm about to go the same way.
I have half a dozen of the 04 389 from before the price rise and they may be my last for quite some time.
The value for money just isn't there anymore
And at the cellar door - while the staff were friendly - a tasting line-up that stops at 389 really isn't good enough.
Sure you can pay for a premium tasting. But at Torbrek for example a $5 fee gets you a full flight tasting - including 5 wines between $125 and $225
And they said the fee was really only to discourage freeloaders - it obviously doesn't go anywhere close to covering the cost.
Penfolds seem all corporate marketing these days. and there are plenty of other guys out there just trying to make good wine.
GraemeG wrote:I arrived late enough to catch the new poll, so 8 St H it is! And it mirrors real life, since it is the most numerous Penfolds wine in my cellar. (technically equal with 389, but I'm likely to buy some 04 Henri, whereas I've passed on 389 since the 98 vintage.) cheers, Graeme
Ditto, it would be St Henri for me and with the price around $35USD I could get a dozen for the $500, but I only ever get a six-pack of each vintage. So with the extra $250USD I might buy a bottle of Grange or not.
It's possible I'll never buy another Penfolds red to cellar, maybe the odd bottle to try, there are too many alternatives that attract me at present. That would definitely be the end of an era of drinking Penfolds reds that started for me about 40 years ago.
I think I'm about to go the same way. I have half a dozen of the 04 389 from before the price rise and they may be my last for quite some time. The value for money just isn't there anymore
And at the cellar door - while the staff were friendly - a tasting line-up that stops at 389 really isn't good enough. Sure you can pay for a premium tasting. But at Torbrek for example a $5 fee gets you a full flight tasting - including 5 wines between $125 and $225 And they said the fee was really only to discourage freeloaders - it obviously doesn't go anywhere close to covering the cost.
Penfolds seem all corporate marketing these days. and there are plenty of other guys out there just trying to make good wine.
Have more Penfolds reds than any other brand by far including all those mentioned above, with recent discounting have always found them pretty good VFM. This will change over the next few years if the price increases become a reality, I think they will struggle with volumes if they increase prices too much. Is it possible the are banking on an increase in prices across the board in the next year or so as a result of decreased yields ?.
I think I'm about to go the same way. I have half a dozen of the 04 389 from before the price rise and they may be my last for quite some time. The value for money just isn't there anymore
I bought most of my 2004 389 for NZ$27, one for NZ$30 and one for NZ$10.
Amazing how price for St Henri has rocketed in Australia. Seen it for $80+ there. Its not a very trendy wine in NZ and I see it reasonably regularly on special at under $50. I have never spent over $50 on a St Henri.
Personally assuming a good vintage (ie 94,96,98 or 04) id go the case of 389 (or 9x 389 and 2x st henri)
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
It's a bit dependent on the particular vintages of the wines being offered too - normally St Henri would be the go for me, but with the current release (2003) I would opt for something else (in order of preference, 2004 Bin 707, RWT, Magill Estate then Bin 389).
I still nominated St Henri as that would normally be my pick, but that could change in future if there's even further significant price hikes in store next year.
Had to vote the Grange, as it is still the best Australian red I have had by a long shot. It's ability to keep, and drinkability 30+ years on, even in sub-standard vintages eg '77, make it an easy decision.
platinum wrote: I would consider paying $50 for 389 if its in the class of the 96 in future but I highly doubt it.
I tried a bottle of the 2005 Bin 389 at the NWS, a half-empty bottle from judging made it to lunch. I'm not sure what score/medal it got, but to me it's a very good wine, showing good fruit richness and impeccable balance/backbone, it could be the best since 98 and maybe up there with the 96. It is certainly the most immediately satisfying 389 I've tried since the 98, all the others have left niggling doubts about fruit, acid, balance, structure, this one hit all the right spots, nothing out of place.
Whether it's worth $50+ or even a $40 street price is up to personal preference, I'll try it again on release and decide then.
Cheers Brian Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Just a bit of fun! 
