Take this for size. A number of benefactorial Americans, led by Ron Kuhn from Wheaton, Ill, spent an incredible US$7.6 billion to raise money for local charities at the Napa Valley Wine Auction in June. Kuhn spent a total of US$955,500 on a variety of auction lots, including US$650,000 for eight 3-litre bottles of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, from 1992 to 1999. Top bid at the barrel auction was US$102,050 for Staglin Family Vineyard’s 1998 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. Twenty consective vintages of Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon in 3-litre bottles fetched US$260,000, a 9-litre bottle of Harlan Estate’s 1997 Cabernet Blend Colgin Cellars fetched $160,000 and a 3-litre bottle of 1995 Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph Phelps Vineyards was bought for $130,000.
