Double Gold winner at the 2018 China Wine & Spirits Awards. Same split as previous years with 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier. 10 months maturation in old French oak.
d’Arenberg, The Laughing Magpie, Shiraz, Viognier, McLaren Vale, 2014
McLaren Vale shining through with an earthy dark stony minerality underpinning plenty of heady dark raspberry, pencil eraser, chocolate buttons, white pepper spice while the viognier represents with sweeter pulpy stonefruit and crushed purple flowers. After the upfront silky fruit entry, the tannins are assertive, forthright….heck, they’re actually quite grabby: struggling to let go and giving rise to quite a puckering reaction. Above all that is the usual d’Arry charm with generosity, spiced dark berry fruits and a medium-length finish of earthy, smoky gravel. Inexplicably magnetic.
RRP: $29
Alc: 14.5%
Rating: 17.25/20
Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg
