1946 Seppelt Great Western Sparkling Burgundy

[Mark K]

I have been posting on many of the Australian wine forums for quite some time, even back to the old jameshaliday.com site. Those that I have met along the way, are probably aware of the quest I have had to get a single bottle of the Ultimate Aussie classic, the Seppelt Sparkling Burgundy 1946.
It is a present that I have been searching for over eight years for my Dad’s 60th birthday (I missed out on getting one for his 50th). I had used pretty much every avenue available, even some unorthodox ones recommended by contributors on many of the forums. Constantly outbid at auctions for the 3 or four bottles that have surfaced over the last 10 or so years, pleading with one member of a forum to relinquish a bottle of it, to getting many of the wine storage companies to check their clients list for me, buying other old vintages in the hope of swapping them and hounding cellar door staff. I had pretty much resigned myself to giving up and just buying any old ’46 (even though the vintage was pretty crappy in most places worldwide).

Visiting Seppelt last week, the topic inevitably came up. As it turns out, Arthur O’Connor (Seppelt Chief Winemaker) had recently had a bottle of the ’46 and said that it had been holding up well. He also said that he had one bottle left in his personal cellar. Whilst I had been on a quest for a bottle of this wine, I would be extremely hard pressed to ask someone if they would relinquish their last bottle of it. We continued on with dinner, James Godfrey (Southcorp chief fortified wine maker) talked about some good Oporto port from the vintage that he may know the whereabouts. The dinner conversation moved away from that and onto more exciting stuff.

The next day, with no fanfare, no grandstanding, and no “look at me, look at me, look at me” a small polystyrene box was slipped to me. “There’s your ‘46”. “Bullshit” I replied. I peeled back the sticky tape and came extremely close to tears; one pristine bottle of 1946 Seppelt Great Western Sparkling Burgundy.

Every so often, you are reminded that there are some truly kindhearted people out there. I have been floored by the extreme generosity of Arthur and Ellen O’Connor and can not express how unbelievably appreciative I am.

A very, very humbled Mark K

[Blake]

Isn't that nice. Send it back if it is no good.

[markg]

Wonderful story Mark. Seppelts are truly one of the great wineries of Australia !

[ChrisH]

“There’s your ‘46”. “Bullshit” I replied

Eloquent reply there CCK

Actually, Arthur rang me beforehand ans asked if you would know any difference if he got the Seppelt labelling boys to work up a '46 label and bung it on a 99 standard - I naturally replied you wouldn't so away he went apparently............


..er, whoops, I think I just let out a secret I wasn't supposed to.....

[ChrisH]

Nah, only joshing...a great gesture Arthur.

regards
Chris

P.S. Remember me when I come up looking for a 1933 S/B will you - it was Murray's birth year (just don't tell him though, it is going to be a surprise).

[Blake]

So what is the market value of the '46 ?

[markg]

So what is the market value of the '46 ?

A bottle sold at Langtons in 2003 for $489.

[Guest]

So what is the market value of the '46 ?

A bottle sold at Langtons in 2003 for $489.

Yes, wonderful system they have there. I had a bid to $1000, but somehow it got lost....

Bastards, but who's laughing now

MK

[AlanK]

Wow, I am impressed!

[n4sir]

It's nice to know that despite the upheaval at Southcorp, there are still some great people there.

I'd like to personally thank John Miller and Tanya Kerr at Penfolds CD, and Nigel Thiele at Seppelts CD for helping me get hold of a museum Grange and Para Liqueur for Dad's 75th this weekend.

Look for the tasting notes Monday.

Cheers,
Ian

[Guest]

Great story...restores your faith in humanity. The wine may be remarkable (or not) but I am sure Arthur got more pleasure giving it to you than drinking it himself. It is hard to carry around the exact memory of the taste of wine in your head, but acts of kindness like that are not so easily forgotten, I reckon. Good on you Arthur!