RIP-Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet

[Pana]

The Southcorp pea-brain, bean-counters, continue their reign of terrior terror, this time the much loved Dorrien. I beleive the 99 with be the epitaph release.

This is a wine that has given me immense pleasure over the years and probably the undisputed yet unheralded Cabernet King of the Barossa.

The 94 is brilliant, the 96 excellent and the 98 is heading in the right direction. Its fuller ripeness differentiated it from the many JAC's ("just another Coonawarra"), and on a price-basis fought above alot of the Margaret River Blue ribbons. This is a wine that ages nonchantly and gracefully.

When you have such distinguished terrior, show success and majestic history, why would the bean counters turn-it into an invisible ingredient of the 707? To add to the kaos, the Southcorp pricing volatility on this wine is up-there in the John Riddoch league.

Brian Crosser recently preached to the industry the importance of the single-vineyard site, Southcorp must not have been listening.

[Mike Hawkins]

All I'll add for the upteenth time, the ridiculous demise of the Tollana reds. I just hope the new management at Southcorp begins to listen to its customers.

[David Lole]

The Southcorp pea-brain, bean-counters, continue their reign of terrior terror, this time the much loved Dorrien. I beleive the 99 with be the epitaph release.

This is a wine that has given me immense pleasure over the years and probably the undisputed yet unheralded Cabernet King of the Barossa.

If this is indeed true, I wish to vent my anger at yet another act of mindless corporate vandalism.

Seppelt Dorrien goes way back with me. I, too, have fond memories of this great label having cellared/drunk vintages -'71, '84, '86, '88, '90, '91, '93 & '98. Haven't yet opened a bottle of the '94 and '96.

A bloody crying shame

[GraemeG]

Hmmm, well, it's true the Seppelt website indicates their table wines are all Victorian-sourced, but Dorrien still appears under 'Limited Releases'. They have a tasting note for the 99 - there's no indication that it will be the last of the line.

Any source for this information?

cheers,
Graeme

[PaulV]

Graeme
I remember Huon Hooke in an article in the SMH good living section talking about the demise of Southcorp mentioned the end of the road for the Dorrien and for the cab to be blended anonymously into the 707.

Why only get $45 as a Dorrien when you can get $100 as 707?

Cheers

Paul

ps Love the dorrien - probably the best consident cabernet out of the barossa and it doesn't try to be anything other than a barossa. Thankfully still have a number of 91 and 90.

Cheers

Paul V

[Stewart Plant]

Southcorp have re-thought their decision to remove Dorrien from their range, and as such it will be released on a vintage-by-vintage basis.

Not sure whether it was consumer feedback or the installation of new management, but a number of their 'rationalisation' decisions have been reversed.

I believe Tollana is going to be re-launched too.

[AlanK]

Hmmm, well, it's true the Seppelt website indicates their table wines are all Victorian-sourced, but Dorrien still appears under 'Limited Releases'. They have a tasting note for the 99 - there's no indication that it will be the last of the line.

Any source for this information?

cheers,
Graeme

I was at their Great Western CD last weekend, and according to the lady who work there, 99 will indeed be the last Dorrien

[simm]

Southcorp have re-thought their decision to remove Dorrien from their range, and as such it will be released on a vintage-by-vintage basis.

Not sure whether it was consumer feedback or the installation of new management, but a number of their 'rationalisation' decisions have been reversed.

I believe Tollana is going to be re-launched too.

Well Stewart doesn't that give the heart some release, but will the wines be getting the same quality parcels? Or is this a Southcorp ruse?

regards,

[Mike Hawkins]

Stewart,

Thnks for the good news re Tollana. I hope the reds are made exactly the same way these use to be.