Penfold's $3000 "Port"

[Eric Menchen]

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2014/02/ ... ollar-port

[Glenn E.]

Wow! $3000 for a mere 50-yr old??? O.o

[Miguel Simoes]

Maybe that will get the top end market in Asia interested?

[Brian C.]

How much of this 3 grand is for the juice, and how much is for the commissioned bottle? Check the related story about their six figure cab offering.

[Paul Fountain]

Maybe that will get the top end market in Asia interested?

That's exactly what they are aiming for.
Penfolds are increasingly aiming their higher end products like Grange and the 707 Cabernet at the Asian market and prices for both have been raised steeply over the past few years (they are also the only 2 penfolds wines still sealed with cork). The same thing now appears to be happening with the Wynns John Riddoch cabernet and Michael shiraz. Wynns are, like Penfolds, part of the Treasury Wine Estates groups

Personally, if I had the sort of coin where I could afford a $3000 wine and was going shopping for Australian tawny I'd be looking at the 100 year old Para. I'd have change left over at the end of it too.

[Tom D.]

So does Australia have any laws governing what constitutes a "50-year" Tawny? Or did Penfolds call it that just because they felt like it? What's in the blend other than the (presumably small) 1915 component mentioned in the article?

[Paul Fountain]

So does Australia have any laws governing what constitutes a "50-year" Tawny? Or did Penfolds call it that just because they felt like it? What's in the blend other than the (presumably small) 1915 component mentioned in the article?

It would be an average age of at least 50 years. I think there are laws about claiming indication of age, but I haven't been able to dig them up. There are also truth in labeling laws that Penfolds would be in breach of if this blend wasn't an average age of 50 years, because that it what is stated on the label.

[Tom D.]

I'll at least give them credit for not using the word "Port" on the label.

[Andy Velebil]

I'll at least give them credit for not using the word "Port" on the label.

So very true!

And agree, way pricey for something so young. Or are we just jaded due to our low Port prices?

[Paul Fountain]

I'll at least give them credit for not using the word "Port" on the label.

So very true!

And agree, way pricey for something so young. Or are we just jaded due to our low Port prices?

There is an agreement between Australia and the EU which means no Australian fortified can be labeled as Port so that wasn't Penfolds' choice.
Also, Peter Gago (Penfolds' head winemaker) would have to answer to David Guimaraens on that as they know each other well. When I met him during the harvest tour, David mentioned he was going to be spending Christmas in Adelaide so I wonder whether he got the opportunity to taste this.

[Tom D.]

I'll at least give them credit for not using the word "Port" on the label.

There is an agreement between Australia and the EU which means no Australian fortified can be labeled as Port so that wasn't Penfolds' choice.

Then I take that back. I give them no credit at all (other than perhaps for plainly admitting all they care about is money).

[Eric Menchen]

The use of "Port" is subject to international agreements between many nations now, but in all cases I'm aware of, there have been grandfather provisions for existing products/labels. This is a new product.