DAN’S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK’S WINE REVIEW

2024-07-19

This week I am talking about a #mclarenvale #shiraz from one of the most venerable producers in the region- d'Arenberg Wines. First planted in 1912 by the Osborn Family, d’Arenberg today is helmed by fourth generation, larger than life, individualist Chester Osborne, who created the amazing “Cube” – the unique multi-story combination cellar door, restaurant, immersive gallery and art exhibition- not to be missed if ever in Adelaide.

Apart from containing an amazing array of visual stimuli, 110 sculptures by Chester, it is also the home of the Salvador Dali Exhibition (one of 12 in the world) which often outsells all the other such exhibitions combined.

Recently I had the opportunity to taste the just released d’Arenberg 2019 The Dead Arm Shiraz alongside the 2015 & 2010 vintages. This was a fabulous experience, demonstrating how gently and elegantly this wine matures

The Dead Arm Shiraz is made from selected parcels of premium grapes from across the myriad of d’Arenberg vineyards, open fermented in small batches which are only blended just prior to bottling. The wine is foot trodden 2/3 of the way through fermentation and basket pressed, before being matured in a combination of new and old French oak barrels. It is not fined nor filtered.The 2019 version of this outstanding wine is massively deeply coloured, edging towards black from its deep purple. The rich, complex, fragrant bouquet of ripe plums with alluring traces of dried herbs, spices leap out of the glass to delight the senses. The palate is seduced by magnificent big rich, powerful plum flavours, melded with subtle spices and a whisp of meatiness, which is powerful yet silky smooth, all wrapped up ever so elegantly. It belies its five years of age, looking much closer to a typical 2–3-year-old McLaren Vale Shiraz, which auger well for a very long and salubrious life.

To demonstrate the longevity of this magnificent wine the brilliant 2015 vintage is developing sensationally, looking much more like a 4–5-year-old than its 9 years- complex, rich, almost sexy. The 2010 is aging magnificently- liquid silk yet still has a hint of grippiness on the fabulously lingering finish and decades of life ahead of it.

In anybody’s books The Dead Arm has to be one of the Top Shiraz in Australia and at a considerably lower price than its main honours rivals.

Do your palate a favour and check out this stunning wine, along with the rest of the eclectic d’Arenberg range – especially their amazing range of #emergingvarieties wines at www.darenberg.com.au