Almost as spectacular was the price, launched at $150 US dollars, whilst nowadays a current release will set you back around $350. The detail and attention in the vineyard was second to none, and the resulting wine, a 2010 cabernet was (all things considered) nothing short of spectacular. He moved to the area and planted a small vineyard on land possibly (by his admission) better suited to avocados. We didn’t have Robert Parker but we did have another American man, one by the name of Will Berliner. Twenty years on from its Right Bank peak, the Garagiste movement finally reached Western Australia. Some of these continue to attract big prices though most now sit in the market at a price relative to the inherent quality of the wine.
A decade later the trend hit the Barossa Valley, with the backing of the same critic & based on very old vines and a similar extremity of style. Most eventually went by the wayside into oblivion, or back to more reasonable prices though a few notable exceptions including Le Pin and arguably Valandraud held onto their cult status. The proprietors fashioned extreme styled cuvees based on new oak and ripe fruit, in small volumes aimed at high prices and backed by favourable reviews (generally from a certain American critic). Peaking perhaps in the mid 90’s on the Right Bank a movement took place termed the ‘garagistes’.
