Inside Premiere Napa Valley 2007

St. Helena, Calif.

Hinsdale Cellars’ insiders were on site for last Saturday’s 11th Annual Premiere Napa Valley barrel auction, which set another record by surpassing $2.6 million in bids in a single — albeit showery — afternoon.

Our delegation was comprised of: head trip organizer Troy Clements, president of Chicago-area Pure Wine Co., one of the midwest’s most important distributors; HinsdaleCellars.com co-founder Sean Chaudhry, proprietor of two highly regarded wine retail locations in the western suburbs of Chicago; and HinsdaleCellars.com Advisory Board member Bryan Freel, a collector and connoisseur. In addition to the auction, they attended a number of private events surrounding the 2007 Premiere Napa Valley gathering.

Troy bid successfully and acquired one lot of 2005 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon, which is due for release this September. This exclusive blend is 1o% Petite Verdot. Sean and Bryan scored with two winning bids, claiming one lot of the Astrale e Terra 2004 Castle Peak Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and a lot of Larkmead’s ‘Harvest 111′ 2005 Bordeaux Blend.

(Those who periodically travel to the legendary Graycliff resort in the Bahamas will be pleased to learn that Graycliff’s Alan Arora secured four exquisite lots, including a special blend of Robert Foley and Switchback Ridge).

The average case price for the 2007 auction was $1,781. The Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City, Okla., placed the day’s top bid — $50,000 for five cases of a proprietary Rombauer Cabernet Sauvignon.

While Hollywood’s elite assembled to the south in L.A. for the Academy Awards, the cream of the crop of the wine world gathered up north. Sean and Troy were Betty O’Shaughnessy’s guests in Oakville for her Premiere party, where the O’Shaughnessy Estate Cabs and other revered Napa Valley reds were poured in O’Shaughnessy’s gorgeous home for hundreds of grateful (we hope) guests. There was fierce socialzing as well, later, at chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, the French bistro in Yountville. Our sociable duo visited the home of the Martin Estate owner Greg Martin after Saturday’s auction, joining Greg and his spouse for dinner later at a popular Italian eatery. Then it was off to an invitation-only oyster party hosted by a local winemaker.