So, when you’re criticised for the amount of labels you have, or the crazy names you give them….a childish proverb springs to mind:

“The inspiration for this name comes from the age-old proverb; ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’. The unusual and quirky names of d’Arenberg’s range of wines has never done the winery any harm”

d’Arenberg, The Sticks and Stones, McLaren Vale, 2011

The full blend of this wine Tempranillo, Grenache, Souzão and Tinta Cão. The last 2 being Portuguese and not very common in Australia. Unique and opaque. Dense and near impenetrable. Volatile, spiced raisins, dried thyme, sweet oak, blue stone rocks, meaty with touch of ash. Welcome to Tannin City; Population: this wine. They’re not exactly blocky, but certainly coarse and plentiful. After vigorous aeration, tight black fruit straps manage to appear like a shark fin breaking the surface of a deep tannic ocean, cast dark by threatening skies. Powerful. Oak seems to be providing an implied sweetness, but this is quite heavy going and I can’t quite see when it will blossom into anything pretty.

RRP: $29

Alc: 14.4%

Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg