Levi, of Vin Collections, was over a few weeks back to the winery looking through some of older wines books. He pulled out The Treasury of American Wine from 1971 and read us the following quote:

Some day I'd like to see a winery picketed - not by Cesar Chavez but by a consumer saying, "You've taken all the character out of your cabernet."
The Treasury of American Wine, Norman Chroman, Crown Publishers, 1971

One often hears how wines are too similar tasting - without character these days due to the late harvest or winemaker's desire to please influential critics. I guess this is nothing new.