The Auswine Forum

I'm off to a local auction this week and noticed a bottle of Hardys Number 1 Claret 1976 on the list. Anyone have any info on it? I understand it's mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. Presumably at that age it's a gamble, but not sure how much. Any clue on what it might go for in Oz (though this undoubtedly won't match up to the price it goes for in UK).

Also any recent tastes of Tim Adams Cab and Tim Adams Shiraz from 94 & 95? The big name scribes seem to suggest the wines have just started on the downward path, though I wonder if this is based on the original tasting or a later retaste. I suspect some basement level bids might be in order.


thanks

Ian

Ian,

I had the Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz 1994 a few months back and it easily had another 5 years in it. Without checking JO I suspect the straight Shiraz might still be drinking at peak as 1994 was a fairly backward tannic vintage in SA.

Cheers -- Jay

Ian,

Where's this auction being held? I might have to go along and outbid you! Only kidding

Seriously though, you often mention you pick up stuff from Auction, are any of these online? If so which ones?

Cheers

Ollie

Ollie
Very little in the way of on-line bidding in UK. Winebiz seem to be getting a throughput of about 20 bottles a month. There was another startup project but can't remember their name (Cellar 27 or something similar). It seems the (pockets of) concentration of population in Australia makes online + logistics much more feasible than UK with it's larger number of conurbations. Or that we're still old stick in the muds completely resistant to change

I make a point on the UK wine pages forum of not mentioning the lesser known auctions (it's really easy to find them, but having seen the bidding frenzy at Strakers, I do think it would be bidding suicide to talk the auctions up). If people want to find them, then they will (web searches will bring them up). I don't know of any that do wine auctions in Sussex, but that's not to say there aren't any.

The biggies are Christies, Bonhams, Sothebys and now Straker Chadwick seem to have established themselves as a big hitter in wine. Dreweatt Neate in Newbury are also worth a look. Most have web listings maybe a week before the auction.

What I would say, is get along to one, as the auction is an experience in itself. Living within easy striking distance of Christies, I'd suggest getting along there to sample the experience.

regards

Ian

Thanks for the advice Ian and I can understand why you wouldn't want to name certain auctions.

Cheers

Ollie

Ian S wrote:I'm off to a local auction this week and noticed a bottle of Hardys Number 1 Claret 1976 on the list. Anyone have any info on it? I understand it's mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. Presumably at that age it's a gamble, but not sure how much. Any clue on what it might go for in Oz (though this undoubtedly won't match up to the price it goes for in UK).

thanks

Ian

I didn't have any luck finding out anything specifically about this wine, but I would guess the use of the name 'Claret' would suggest it's a blend, most probably Shiraz Cabernet.

1976 was a strong vintage in McLaren Vale, but this bottle would be a big gamble and I doubt it would sell for much - if you do get it don't bid high and expect it to be probably curio value only, although it could turn out to be a nice surprise too.

Cheers,
Ian

Thanks for the info folks. Much appreciated.

Postscript:

It turned out that the 1976 'Hardys' No. 1 Claret was actually 1976 'Harveys' No. 1 Claret - I believe a basic level generic Bordeaux from the Bristol wine merchant Harveys. A lesson to always check the lots at the pre-auction viewing. However the up-side was they failed to catalogue two other bottles in the lot, including a Volnay from 1999 and one of my favourite Pinot Noirs (Hamilton-Russell from South Africa). Thus I ended up buying the lot anyway!

regards

Ian