A McLaren Vale Shiraz, considered a classic of its type. A dense purple, inky colour in the glass. Vibrantly perfumed, showing a wide range of boysenberry, plum, mulberry and black cherry fruit flavours; plus just as many savoury notes – bay leaf, pepper, salami and root beer. It doesn’t end there – with an earthy graphite, terracotta note to finish the nose. More savoury and spice on the dry palate, where the intricately complex balance between all these elements really swells and takes shape. Quite a lot to take in. The core is subtle, elegant and refined, but some of the layers are much bolder and characterful. Starting with the tannin – chewy, ripe and dry; then acidity – this is lower, but underlines the lush fruit, with a sappy, balsam intensity. Oak shows with a gentle, toasty spice and those vanilla, nutmeg and hazelnut tones take you full circle back to the savoury-meets-sweet core again. 95pts
D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2018
