The Auswine Forum

The cork broke to pieces and after some careful and intense negotiation, it all collapsed in a heap, fragments everywhere and a chunk of obstinate cork rammed into the bottle. Cue necessary double decant, loads of fragmentary cork swirl and we have a wine ready to try...

Still quite dark purple red with only just bricking edges, the nose exhibits hints of red capsicum and a constant waft of charry old fireplaces, in which chopped up oak barrels have been slowly burnt although there is a touch of something a bit out of place, like the stale drift of a disused beach house with its books and old fibro panels.

The palate is still grippy with perky tannins still very much in place and there is still good, rounded, constant fruit, some tobaccoey nuance and a nice textural mouthfeel. The finish is very long and warm and again, recalls old books, stale papers, charry oak and barrel halls from childhood past.

A bit dramatic, appreciated, but this is a lovely, 'vinous' wine, getting onto 'old' and a great treat.

My last Dorrien 96 is slated for consumption at Easter, in a few weeks time. I'm expecting something similar to the 94, hopefully with a bit more fruit. The 96 I had a couple of years ago was nice.

daz

Yep, I enjoyed the 96 too a couple of years back... in quite a similar sort of vein to this 94 from memory.

I remember when they 'quit' the 98 a few years back and the store I was in at the time brought in half a pallet at around a tenner a bottle...happy days.

Actually scrap the above, I just realised I am thinking of the Drumborg Cabernet. Does anyone know if the Drumborg still exists in any guise, or if it is to be resurrected?

roughred wrote:Actually scrap the above, I just realised I am thinking of the Drumborg Cabernet. Does anyone know if the Drumborg still exists in any guise, or if it is to be resurrected?

No and No. They grafted over the cabernet.
GW

Gary W wrote:

roughred wrote:Actually scrap the above, I just realised I am thinking of the Drumborg Cabernet. Does anyone know if the Drumborg still exists in any guise, or if it is to be resurrected?

No and No. They grafted over the cabernet.
GW

Which is quite interesting because obviously Cabernet was on the nose when this decision was made, but if you talk to quite a few winemakers around the traps they will tell you that all of a sudden, Cabernet is coming back into vogue, and they are having trouble finding enough fruit to meet demand. Old becomes new, once again.

I think this was more to do with it being a marginal climate for Cabernet - only getting it fully ripe about 3 or 4 years in 10. Which winemakers say Cab is coming back? I'm not sure it is at all (although it is still my favourite grape of all Australian reds).
GW

Gary W wrote:Which winemakers say Cab is coming back? I'm not sure it is at all (although it is still my favourite grape of all Australian reds).
GW

Maybe it's just like the annual riesling revival?

I'm doing my best to help cabernet sales, picking the eyes out of the good 2004/2005 and maybe 2006 vintages as much as I can afford.

deleted

Gary W wrote:I think this was more to do with it being a marginal climate for Cabernet - only getting it fully ripe about 3 or 4 years in 10. Which winemakers say Cab is coming back? I'm not sure it is at all (although it is still my favourite grape of all Australian reds).
GW

Well,rather than give away their marketing strategy I'll just say that one is a Barossa producer well known for Shiraz and the other a Central Victorian, Shiraz specialist. Both were surprised by the trend but their sales are saying that it is a growing category, and interestingly, they also said that good fruit is in high demand and hard to buy.

Cheers

Plenty of cab growers here in WA having a tough time moving their fruit, especially the poor sods who previously had contracts with E&T, allegedly.

Also plenty of superb cab around the CDs of Barossa over the weekend. Rockford, Turkey Flat and Willows are 3 that spring to mind without consulting my notes.