My recollection of the somewhat nonplussed-looking, silver-haired gent attending a Brisbane Hilton "Masterclass" weekend way back in 1999 was that he was attired as a man of the land in moleskins, RM Williams boots, checked shirt and a tweedy jacket. But maybe the passing of time has embellished my memory a bit.

Whatever his garb, I'm certain of what came out of his gob when I asked him whether he'd enjoyed the presentation given by myself and David Hohnen - founder of Cape Mentelle​ and Cloudy Bay and now co-proprietor of McHenry Hohnen - on the taste and smell of cabernet sauvignon in various international guises.