Wine traders and collectors will doubtless be counting the seconds until 6pm, Friday November 30, the cut-off time for the Penfolds Grange Shiraz 50th Anniversary Auction, an event scheduled to commemorate half a century since Max Schubert created Penfolds Grange Hermitage. Odd timing, perhaps, since the 1951 was only ever an experimental Grange, and was never commercially released. The first commercially released Grange was the 1952 vintage. Irrespective of all of that, the auction comprises 300 lots valued around $700,000. They include (yet another) complete set of Grange, magnums, Imperials and pristine case offerings. Incidentally, auctioneer Stewart Langton believes there are only 40 or so sets of Grange in existence. One sold last year for $176,000. Potential bidders can obtain a catalogue by calling 03 9662 3355 or emailing [email protected]
