Fine Wine Market Report

Auction results of fine and rare wines for end of October 2011
[All sold prices are in Australian Dollars, per bottle and exclude buyer’s premium]

Comments: Mark Wickman, Auctioneer:
“Some excellent results were achieved for mature Bordeaux and for a majority of our Penfolds wines on offer, with some record prices being paid for very rare 'special bin' wines which have always been steeped in the aura and secrecy surrounding the conception of Penfolds Grange since the 1950's.

However, whilst the other special bin wines achieved record highs, two bottles of the most famous ones, the 1962 Penfolds Bin 60a, were passed in with a number of buyers making comment that they would have 'snapped up both bottles' if they had been submitted at a Penfolds red wine clinic but they were not prepared to take risks at this stage. A very rare cliniced bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange with a verified laboratory label was also passed in.

Excellent results were achieved from all wines entered at $1 reserves, which encouraged extremely competitive bidding throughout the week, resulting in prices either near the expected high range or well placed at the lower end of the spectrum.

A clearance rate of around 44% was to be expected in the current financial climate and was certainly much better than the national average.

With one final auction for 2011, I believe we can expect strong bidding and good prices to be paid in the lead up to Christmas, despite the uncertainty in the financial markets.”

Highlights of interest

PRICE ESTIMATE BUYER National Avge (3 Mnths)

$1003 $900 - $1050 NSW Private $789
Chateau Haut Brion Vintage 1982

$672 $440 - $600 NSW Trade $618
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Vintage 1983

$226 $170 - $240 NSW Private $196
Chateau Leoville-Barton Vintage 1982

$1012 $920 - $1300 SA Private $897
Chateau Margaux Vintage 1982

$506 $320 - $380 VIC Private $311
Henschke Hill of Grace Vintage 1994 (Note: Served to Queen on recent visit)

$344 $330 - $400 VIC Trade $327
Penfolds Grange Vintage 1980

$540 $600 - $850 NSW Private No trades for 2 years
Penfolds 'Special Bin 62' Vintage 1963

$399 $438 - $516 NSW Private No trades for 2 years
Penfolds 'Special Bin 51' Vintage 1960

$453 $495 - $585 WA Private $392
Penfolds 'Special Bin 61' Vintage 1963

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Notes for Editors:

About Wickman Fine Wine Auctions;
Distinguished by innovation and driven by passion, Wickman’s Fine Wine Auctions has been a lively and profitable meeting ground for wine buyers and sellers since 2003. A family business based in South Australia, Wickman’s prides itself on its position as a reliable resource with a well-spring of extraordinary values and opportunities.

Over the years, Wickman’s has continued to launch unique initiatives in an attempt to set the company apart from traditional online wine auction websites, introducing guaranteed provenance into Australian wine auctions and holding regular wine tasting events and dinners for its members.

Visit Wickman’s online at www.wickman.net.au

Twitter: @WickWine

YouTube Channel: WickWineAuction

National figures are aggregated from publicly available data on the internet made available by 3 other Australian auction houses.