"This is gonna leave a mark," says Caduceus winemaker Maynard James Keenan of his preferred Exmess tinctures, Penfolds '67 Bin 7, '62 Bin 60A and Petrus '75. Along with the DRINKSTER's New Orleans hero, Allen Toussaint, Maynard's one of the Penfolds Grange lovers featured in the big book I wrote this last year with my beloved photographer mate Milton Wordley ... photo Maynard James Keenan
A year in the life of Grange
"This is the title of one of the most amazing books to ever appear on the Australian vinous landscape. It is the work of Milton Wordley, a professional photographer for more than 40 years, and a master photographer with the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers. No less importantly, winemakers, vineyards and wines have been one of Wordley’s abiding interests.
"The
words have been contributed by Philip White, who has for long been at the
absolute forefront of creative wine prose; to call him a wine writer is to damn
him by faint praise. He has been around for far longer than Campbell Mattinson,
but the two leave the rest of us in their wake when it comes to setting the
scene.
"The third contributor to the book is John Nowland, with more than 35
years’ experience in the design industry, winning awards both in Australia and
around the world.
Penfolds Magill winemaker, Jason Barrette, Ray Beckwith's pH meter and Maynard getting the healing treatment from Whitey ... photo Milton Wordley"So I can hear you say OK, it’s a book about Grange, and three highly talented people came together to create the book. Well, it comes in three forms, all measuring the 38 x 31cm; I’ve got well over a thousand wine books in my library, and only one comes close – which is just as well, because it doesn’t fit in any bookshelf. But it is at this point that the story becomes interesting. Three editions are available, and at least two are intended for pride of place on a coffee table or in a wealthy collector’s wine cellar.
Maynard and Penfolds chief winemaker, Peter Gago ... photo Milton Wordley"The Collector’s Edition is of 100 copies numbered 1 – 100, leather bound with a kangaroo hide spine, and includes a folio of seven original museum grade giclee photographs from the book printed on archival paper, window-matted and presented in a leather portfolio and black buckram archive box featuring American Oak sides. (Believe it or not I’ve slightly shortened that description.) The price is $4000, which strongly suggests that 99 of the copies will be winging their way to Hong Kong and China the moment they are released.
"The Winemaker’s Edition is of 250 copies numbered 101 – 250, with an imitation leather cover (I will keep my tongue to myself) with a kangaroo spine, presented in a slipcase, and including an exclusive print of the four winemakers (Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago) once again printed on archival paper, signed by the artist, mounted and ready to frame. The price is $1000 per copy.
Maynard meets Becky's Jesus Box ... photo Philip White
"Finally
there are 1000 copies of the Limited Edition numbered 351 – 1350. This has a
traditional canvas cover, with a full colour dust jacket and presented in a
rigid slipcase; the price $785.
"Included with all three editions is a DVD of a series of interviews recorded along the way with well-known wine identities.
"Due to anticipated demand and obviously limited availability, the publishers encourage those interested to register on the official website."
"Included with all three editions is a DVD of a series of interviews recorded along the way with well-known wine identities.
"Due to anticipated demand and obviously limited availability, the publishers encourage those interested to register on the official website."
At the launch of A year in the life of Grange in the original Grange cellar at Penfolds Magill Estate: chief winemaker Peter Gago, designer John Nowland, photographer and publisher Milton Wordley, and author Philip White ... this book is published independently by Milton, and is not in any way a Penfolds publication or property ... while we had the help of Peter Gago and his stalwart team, it's not a corporate text or Treasury Wine Estates document in any way, but rather the story I always promised Max I'd one day write to set the record straight ... at least I waited til I was old enough to do it properly ... photo Darren Clements ... Three Muscateers photo below by Milton Wordley ... Whitey wore his best pearls, specially for it
1 comment:
The Grange movement of the 1860’s and 1870’s organized American farmers to protest against railroad monopolies. The movement took its name from the National Grange or Patrons of Husbandry, a lodge founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley in 1867.
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