|  Treasury Wine Estate’s iconic wine is strictly on allocation - the Indian importer Mohan Bros. has been allocated 12 bottles, most of which are destined for ITC Maurya at the pre-contracted rates. Yet it will be available at lesser than the company declared prices across the globe and our affluent connoisseurs and collectors would do well to pick up two or three bottles from Singapore or Hong Kong. Legally, 2 liters of liquor is allowed duty-free but most of the time the rational customs officers allow 3 bottles (750 mL) without any fuss.
Hong Kong-based Asia’s biggest online retailer Slurp.Asia lists it at HK $4800 but has sale-priced it at HK $4200 (US$ 540), offering a discount of 12.5% on their listed price and around 30% on the company recommended price of US $ 785, making it the best bargain available.
Farr Vintners in UK lists it marginally higher at $542.50. A Californian retailer has an online deal of $584 for a bottle of the 2008 Grange, claiming it to be, incorrectly, as the second-cheapest in the world for the Australian wine, according to a price tracking site for wine. It is followed by two German sites and an online retailer in Switzerland offering a price of about $600 according to Sunday Morning Herald. Wine-Searcher.com rates the price at an average of $608.
Penfolds global brand business director Sandy Mayo reportedly says that there has been an ''unprecedented level of demand'' from all over the world, with particular pitches for more supply from Europe, Britain and Asia. This allowed Penfolds this month to lift the recommended retail price by $160.’ A major portion of the increase is being perhaps waived off for the established distributors. Rohit Mehra, the Managing Director of Mohan Bros. says that the prices have not been changed for them but he rues the very low allocation for India and is trying to get more quantity.
Grange is one of the most talked about wines of Australia and always score very high in the ratings by experts. However, the 2008 vintage had received the perfect 100 point rating from Robert Parker in early March this year and the interest has been at an all time high. It is the first time in 32 years that the wine has received 100 points. The wine was rated by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW who has taken over as the taster for Wine Advocate. Seemingly, she has proved to be lucky for Grange.
While giving 100 points Lisa states that the wine is 'deep purple-black in color and puts forward a very complex nose packed with aromas of mulberries, layers of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon with nuances of minced meat, anise, potpourri and whiffs of dried mint and chocolate. It is framed by firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing acid line before finishing very long with aniseed and lingering blackberry preserves notes. This is clearly a wonderfully opulent and a magic vintage for this label.’ She recommends to drink it from 2018 to 2035 and even after.
It’s clearly a vintage you can keep for your unborn child or a grandchild for the 21st birthday or for your silver or golden wedding anniversary 20 years later; this wine can be enjoyed for a long, long time. But it is too young to be consumed now.
Penfolds Grange Shiraz has a long history of excellence since its inception by creator Max Schubert in 1951 (experimental vintage). Originally criticized by wine experts at the time, Penfolds Grange gained acceptance when the 1955 was awarded Gold Medals at International and local wine competitions. Unlike any wine of its time, it changed the face of the Australian wine industry and went on to become a National Trust heritage-listed wine.
 If you want to drink this iconic wine today, your best bet is to rush to Hyatt Regency where the 2002 vintage, drinking very well now, is available for a special price of Rs.35,000 (+taxes). Luckily for the consumer, this wine was purchased when the excise duty was more reasonable in Delhi. Shaji Paul, Beverage Director at the Hyatt Regency, informs delWine, ‘it has been very well stored and we can supply it at any of our restaurants.’ Hotel Sheraton in Saket also sells it for Rs. 38,000 +taxes which is extremely reasonable, considering that wine-searcher lists the average price at Rs.31,000 + local taxes. The wine is available at ITC Maurya for a justifiable Rs.59,900, according to the Beverage Director, Rishi Raj Singh. Claridges lists it at Rs. 59,000. Leela Delhi is a bit expensive at Rs.60,000 while Leela Gurgaon is more reasonable at Rs.46,000 due to lower excise burden.
Enjoy this iconic Shiraz at great value-for-money-offer at Hyatt Regency. For ordinary mortals or the novices, this should be a good party conversation point when you are drinking the ubiquitous Jacobs Creek Shiraz from Australia, which is the biggest selling brand in India from the land of Grange.
Subhash Arora
Tags: Australia, Grange, Penfolds, Treasury Wine Estate’s, Penfolds Grange Shiraz |