Move over Grange, make room for a new Penfolds flagship wine… the release of the most expensive bottle of wine, the 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon. Only a dozen available, at $168,000 per bottle, this special wine is made from grapes of a rare, single 10-acre vineyard, planted in the mid 1880’s. The vines, according to Penfolds are thought to be the oldest continuously producing Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world!  The 2004 Block 42 is only released in the best vintages.

The packaging, the story and the wine itself, extraordinary, with the wine encased in a specially designed hand-blown glass “ampoule”, suspended inside a bespoke glass container which sits inside a wooden cabinet. There is no cork, no screw cap and can only be opened by a trained wine expert. Not to worry, included in the price, a senior member of Penfolds’ winemaking team will be dispatched to you at the location of your choice, anywhere in the world to open and decant the ampoule in a special ceremony, complete with the sampling of the wine using a specially crafted sterling silver tastevin.

For those of us with a little more limited budget, we can enjoy Penfolds with the recent release here in Ontario of the BIN 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2008, referred to as the "Poor Man’s Grange” or “Baby Grange” for many wine lovers, their preferred Penfolds wine. $39.95

Deep garnet-purple in colour, with an aroma offering up notes of mocha, cloves and chocolate over a core of blueberries and cherries, nuances of tobacco and leather. Full bodied, with lively acidity, good structure and tannins.