The Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Purchased in New Zealand
Fine Wine Delivery Company Managing Director and major shareholder Jeff Poole recently paid New Zealand’s highest price
for a single bottle of wine parting with over NZ$18,000 for the first ever release of a 6 litre Imperial of the stunning
single vineyard Penfolds 2004 Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is the first such purchase in Poole’s long term mission to put together the finest collection of 6 litre Bordeaux
style reds from around the world. Poole chose the Penfolds 2004 Block 42 as his first purchase and only Australian
selection saying; “Block 42 is a unique Australian Cabernet produced in tiny quantities from fruit grown on original pre
phylloxera root stock vines over 100-years old. I believe this is the finest Australian Cabernet ever made, it’s such a
unique wine and opportunities to purchase such a wine in a rare large format happen few times in ones lifetime. I was
not about to let this wine slip from my grasp no matter what the cost,” said Poole.
Poole’s successful bid came after a fiercely fought online bidding battle where the price almost doubled in the final
two hours before he received the news he was hoping for with his last minute final bid. “The process was nerve wracking
but the online bidding process run by Langtons Auction House is both fair and precise so I always felt comfortable that
I was in with a chance to make the winning bid. However being away from office on the final day of bidding and without
access to a computer I had to communicate closely via mobile with Fine Wine Delivery Company cellar manager Brett
Taylor. Brett kept me up to date with fresh bids as they occurred in order that I could make the final winning bid.”
Poole with his business partner and wife Virginia recently traveled to Sydney to oversee the packaging of their
cherished acquisition returning to New Zealand with it on the same flight to ensure it arrived in mint condition. “We
immediately took possession of it on arrival at Auckland airport and ferried it safely to its new home in my private
cellar at our Auckland Cook Street store where it will remain on public view to all wine lovers wishing to come in and
see it. Unique wines like this should be preserved for wine lovers to admire like a Mona Lisa or a Michelangelo,” says
Poole.
“We have become the care takers of this great wine and will add to the collection in the coming years as and when these
rare unique wines become available. I’m currently searching in New Zealand for my next acquisition and will be keeping a
close eye on several outstanding Bordeaux style reds that I expect the 2007 vintage to yield,” said Poole with a glimmer
of excitement and apprehension in his eyes. “That the wine was auctioned on behalf of Penfolds with the proceeds being
donated to charity made my purchase all that much more satisfying,” were Poole’s final comments.
ENDS