A bit of white Rhône action from d’Arry….

d’Arenberg, The Hermit Crab, Viognier Marsanne, McLaren Vale, 2014

There’s a fair bit of wine making going on here for the dollars. Fresh ginger, cinnamon and ripe creamy apricot from partially barrel fermented Viognier (small parcels 8 months French and American oak) mesh with white peachy crisp stone fruit and lemon drops from the Marsanne. There’s a little oak shaving woody note that juts a little too far, but otherwise it smells like a baked stone fruit dessert. Mouth filling rich flavours of those fleshy stone fruits, nuts and spices. The creamy, sweet butterscotch note from the American oak dulls things a touch, and gives a bourbon character that probably doesn’t need to be there. Still, there’s a little acid to cut through most of it, finishing with bittersweet citrus. A good price for a toothsome white wine point of difference.

RRP: $15

Alc: 13.2%

Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg