It's the mystery of the missing Grange - how $5 million worth of Australia's prestige wines has vanished without a trace amid the wreckage of a liquidated Hunter wine empire.
It's the question former James Estate Wines boss David James can't answer as the ANZ Bank chases him for more than $11 million.
And collectors who trusted him with their Granges, Henschkes and Torbrecks ask where their wine has gone.
The NSW Police Force's Fraud and Cybercrime Squad has appealed to the public after launching Strike Force Farrington in March to find the missing wine collections.
They fear the wine, with up to 300 owners, may have been stolen
The collections were held under agreement by Wine Investment Services, one of a number of companies controlled or owned by Mr James until the collapse of his empire in 2013.
As early as October 2013, liquidators McGrathNicol warned that collectors' wine was held at facilities at Denman and Homebush, with wine owned by four James companies, and "determining the ownership of the wine will be a complex matter".
In a statement on Wednesday, Fraud and Cybercrime Squad commander Detective acting Superintendent Matt Craft said that, while business assets were seized in 2013, a number of wine collections were not surrendered.
"Despite numerous further inquiries by owners, liquidators and local police, the wine was not located," he said.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said the value of the missing wine was estimated at $5 million.
Farrington investigators seized documents and electronic storage devices during a search of a Newcastle storage unit on March 31.
Acting Superintendent Craft appealed to anyone who bought, or had been approached to buy, collectable or vintage wines including Penfolds Grange and varieties of Henschke, Torbreck, and Chris Ringland/Three Rivers.
In the NSW Supreme Court last week, Mr James suffered the latest in a long list of losses after abandoning a case against the ANZ Bank and receivers over disputed wine sales following the business collapse.
Mr James abandoned his case the day before it was set down for a hearing.
Justice Michael Ball criticised Mr James, who alleged that receivers appointed by the ANZ sold wine owned by his companies for far less than it was worth, and were guilty of trespass by taking control of assets including wine that left some of his companies unable to trade.
Mr James abandoned his case after the ANZ and receivers mounted a case to show the allegations "did not have a serious foundation", Justice Ball said.
He ordered Mr James to pay the bank's and receivers' $210,000 legal costs but noted he was unlikely to be in a position to pay, and he still owed the ANZ $11.75 million.
Mr James was once the Hunter's rising star of wine who picked up regional exporter of the year in 2005 with James Estate Wines in 25 countries.
His fall was first made public in 2011 after court action by the Australian Taxation Office in pursuit of $4 million in tax, interest and penalties.
In 2013, his wine and print empire collapsed and both the ANZ and Commonwealth banks pursued bankruptcy action.
James Estate Wines, on 43.6 hectares at Pokolbin, was sold in December 2014.
In February, Justice Ball rejected Mr James' attempt for a stay on a 2014 judgment against him over his ANZ debt.
Mr James did not respond to questions from Fairfax Media.
Anyone with information about the prestige wine collections is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
