The Auswine Forum

The August/September 2006 issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine contains an interesting insert - a commemorative posterdisplaying the top 50 labels of the most collected wines in Australia.

Now whether this really is the definitive listing of the most collected wines in Australia is probably debatable, but it is certainly an excellent starting point as the list has been generated from a study of over 1 million bottles held for over 3,500 private wine collectors. The total number of bottles of each wine, irrespective of vintage, was determined and each label was then ranked according to those totals.

The study was done by Wine Ark, said to be Australia’s largest wine storage provider. The figures come from a June 2006 stocktake of their managed cellars. The count revealed that 84% of the collection was red with shiraz being the most popular grape (46%), follow by Cabernet sauvignon (33%). Sixty-six percent of the wines were from South Australia with 19% coming from each of Barossa and Coonawarra.

Wine Ark was founded in 1999 and provides not only storage, but also wine sales, wine cabinets and a Cellar Club. Its not clear whether the wines sales of Wine Ark influence what ends up being stored by its customers. There is bound to be some influence, although as noted by Judy Sarris in her Gourmet Traveller WINE article, Wine Ark does not offer Penfolds through their Wine Ark Club. That is significant because the top two wines are from Penfolds, poor man’s Grange, followed by the big boy himself.

The Top 50 Most Collected Wines are-
1 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz Blend
2 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz
3 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
4 Lake's Folly Cabernet Blend
5 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
6 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
7 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon
8 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz
9 Cullen Cabernet Merlot (inc Diane Madellene)
10 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz
11 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
12 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon
13 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz
14 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
15 Petaluma Riesling (inc Hanlin Hill)
16 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
17 Orlando (Jacob's Creek) St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon
18 Howard Park Cabernet Merlot
19 Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock Shiraz
20 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz
21 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz
22 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz
23 Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot
24 Mount Mary Quintet Cabernet Blend
25 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet Blend
26 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
27 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz
28 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
29 Torbreck The Steading Grenache Mataro Shiraz
30 Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth Cabernet Blend
31 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon
32 Tyrrell's Vat 47 Pinot Chardonnay
33 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz
34 Lindemans Pyrus Cabernet Blend
35 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz
36 Giaconda Chardonnay
37 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz
38 De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon
39 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz
40 Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz
41 Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
42 Lindemans St. George Cabernet Sauvignon
43 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz
44 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz
45 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
46 Grosset Watervale Riesling
47 Pierro Chardonnay
48 Tyrrell's Vat 9 Shiraz
49 Turkey Flat Shiraz
50 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz

What are the top collected Shiraz? I knew you would ask. Here are the top twenty.

1 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz
2 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz
3 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz
4 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
5 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz
6 Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock Shiraz
7 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz
8 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz
9 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz
10 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
11 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz
12 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
13 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz
14 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz
15 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz
16 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz
17 Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz
18 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz
19 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz
20 Tyrrell's Vat 9 Shiraz

How many do you have?

The Top 100 Collected wines and other lists are here.

Mike

Hmmm, I have 9 out of 50 and 3 out of 20. I must pull up my socks and buy more expensive labels.

I thought this definitive proof that regionalism (or parochialism) is alive and well in Australian cellars. That Penfolds holds 6 of the top twelve spots was perhaps not such a surprise – except to highlight how strong Penfolds reputation is, and possibly how conservative we all are – but evidence that this is a Sydney-based cellaring business is well and truly proven by the presence of Lakes Folly at 4! I can’t imagine a Melbourne or Brisbane business showing that! In fact, seeing the other Hunter wines – Graveyard and the three Tyrrells Vats at 31, 32, 33, 48 was a bit of a surprise. Similarly, the long-established Victorian reputational giants – Mt Mary (24) YYering, Wantirna (both absent), Jasper Hill (19), Giaconda (36) – would surely rank higher on a Melbourne equivalent.

Although I thought it interesting to see how the newcomers have fared – the wines that have only recently joined the Langtons list: Clonakilla S/V (26) just pips Torbrek’s lone representative Steading (29), what really surprised me was how many long-standing commercial wines remain on the list – even perhaps the ones that have lost some ‘gloss’ over recent years. Lindemans Coonawarra trio (25, 34, 42) all remain, as does Wynns Shiraz (27), Noble One (38) Bowen CS (41). How Bin 407 ever got to 12 I’ll never understand!

That Petaluma’s Riesling is the highest rank (15) is surprising, perhaps not that the only two others are the Grossets (16, 49). No Lovedale Semillon – perhaps a reflection of irregular release until very recently.

What would have been more interesting would be the average age of these wines cellared. I was surprised to find I hold 9 of the top 10 wines in my cellar, but only 9 of the remaining 40.

Thanks for posting this Mike – I was going to write something, but felt I’d have to provide the list, and couldn’t be bothered typing it!

Cheers,
Graeme

Davo wrote:Hmmm, I have 9 out of 50 and 3 out of 20. I must pull up my socks and buy more expensive labels.

Just send me your credit card details

and

I'll organise it for you.

You can trust me!

13/50 and 4/20 - but mostly only 1 or 2 of each.

I feel tragic and traumatised now - I shouldn't have read this post!!

daz

20 and 7 here and some only 1 or 2 bottles

38 and 17. Gees I live a sad life, brightened by the consumption of wines I like.

16 and 6 (which for a small collection is surprisingly high). In the context of the survey, it's not too surprising as the vast majority are classic cellaring wines, with many years behind them. It also demonstrates some idea of volume of production. In this context Torbreck The Steading's presence surprised me and perhaps the classic cheap cellaring white Tahbilk Marsanne not being there - perhaps this is just too cheap to put in storage?

duplicate posting

31 and 14.

Some only a few bottles.

No Seppelt St Peters/Great Western?

Hey Ric, 31 & 14......Yeah right, you putting red cordial in these? Well if we are bragging about see throughs, I have 16, 31, 32, 38 & 46...

Regards Finney

TORB wrote:31 and 14.

Some only a few bottles.

Nice!

It seems you prefer shiraz with 14/20..................

Cheers

daz

31 and 19. Yes, the last figure's correct ! I dont have the Dalwinnie shiraz.

Finney wrote:Hey Ric, 31 & 14......Yeah right, you putting red cordial in these? Well if we are bragging about see throughs, I have 16, 31, 32, 38 & 46...

Regards Finney

Humrumph Don't give up your day job Finny!

26 out of the 50 and 10 out of the 20!

platinum wrote:No Seppelt St Peters/Great Western?

Perhaps evidence of the roller-coaster ride that the entire Seppelts range suffered in the90s - not so much the actual wines themselves, but the branding, labelling and general visibility.

Although a few wines only recently launches have made it - RWT has only 6 vintages to choose, yet has made it to 28th - it's surprising how many other recent 'high profile' names are absent entirely - even wines that have got onto the Langtons list.

It may be that, given the prices to move wine in and out of storage, some of these collectors keep the Tahbilk Marsanne and other 5-10 year wines at home anyway, and only use the high-price premium storage for the pricier wines...

cheers,
Graeme

39 and 15

For me 18/50 and 9/20.

25 and 12. Most of them bought in the first 2 or 3 years of me getting into wine. Dont seem to buy as widely from Australia anymore. Just a few favourites

28 and 11. Limited quantities of some.

MMMMMM
20 and 9
Should I feel vindicated in what I collect

In terms of my current cellar I'm at a dismal 6 and 2. And it will only get worse with time.

Mike

KMP wrote:In terms of my current cellar I'm at a dismal 6 and 2. And it will only get worse with time.

Mike

Don't feel bad Mike. I think I am at 2 and 1 (predict 0-0 by the end of the year!). And I couldn't give a rat's. I have been lucky with life, love and children.

Not that I begrudge you 'big boys' your scores!! If you have great cellars and enjoy them, that's truly wonderful. But remember that size doesn't matter .

Michael

Almost embarrassed to write it, but 4 and 1.

My excuse, I have just discovered Oz wine after moving here 7 months ago.

Good and Bad:

Good - trying the vast array of wines listed
Bad - My bank balance!

Michael, ah lad 'tis not the size as you said but it certainly does not hurt
Like you, my supplies will continue to dwindle as the "creature", my 17month old eats at my finances. Bady traded for Grange, think the authorities will mind

Oppps, Freudian slip. Bady=baby

19 & 10. I expect to increase those numbers in time.

Michael McNally wrote:

KMP wrote:In terms of my current cellar I'm at a dismal 6 and 2. And it will only get worse with time.

Mike

Don't feel bad Mike. I think I am at 2 and 1 (predict 0-0 by the end of the year!). And I couldn't give a rat's. I have been lucky with life, love and children.

Not that I begrudge you 'big boys' your scores!! If you have great cellars and enjoy them, that's truly wonderful. But remember that size doesn't matter .

Michael

None of it is a measure of the worth of a cellar. It's just how far from the average you are. If you've got all 50, i guess it just means that yours is the perfect 'average' cellar! At least as far as the first 50 listed wines are concerned, you could put together a pretty good cellar from the Australian wines not on that list...

Besides, your cellar muight be all Lafite, Leroy, Prüm and Krug...

cheers,
Graeme

Only 16 and 6 for me but there is always next week.

Glen