This wine has picked up a bit of bling in Asian wine shows in 2016 according to the little gold stickers: notably the Korea Wine Challenge (assumption there is South Korea and not North. Does Kim Jong even drink wine???) and the China Wine & Spirts Awards.

d’Arenberg, The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier, McLaren Vale, 2012

A big step up from the 2011: Lifted dark chocolate, with a slightly fruit syrup note before Turkish Delight, fresh herbs, big ripe blue plums and smear of coconut oil. Delicious texture with warming nutty spice, dark raspberry and blueberry and lovely herbal undertone. The tannins are plentiful with remarkable acidity (for an already 5 year old wine) and only encourage cellaring.

RRP: $29

Alc: 14.4%

Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg