2001 d’Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm- Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (7/25/2016)
P&P. Splendid Shiraz / Syrah and one bottle that can keep its head high and be very proud of what the last 15 years has brought under the cork. While maintaing a clear South Austrailian identity, this added a irresitable quality of high end aged cedar that paired so well with the core of dark, complex and layered fruit. Underpinnings of graphite and good acidity just add to an all ready good thing. The word that kept coming to mind was classy and in spades. (94 pts.)
Nice notes Dale. We had it upon release and it was good, just wasn’t fruit forward enough for us at the time so we sold it all. Popping the other 2001 's we have left that weren’t “big fruit” back then and realizing how good they are now, plus your notes, really makes me regret selling all our Dead Arm.
Randy - I’m right there with you as I gave up on the continent a few years ago, except of coarse for the terrific Rielsing from the Clare Valley and the like. To be fair though, I’m sure there is great stuff I would love to try that are tricky to source in the U S of A. That being said, I liked but didn’t love my two previous bottles, last one was had in 2010 or so. This was a beauty.
Any other Shriaz recs that might be recommended that are available in the US that may develop along similar lines as this Dead Arm? I would love to revisit the region(s) again!
I guess I’m the other side of the this one - they were ok in their youth but I didn’t like the way they aged. I thought the real Rhones seem to blossom so much more with time. I still pick up d’Arenberg stuff occasionally, but consume them on the front end of their deliciousness.
I haven’t bought anything from Australia since the 2005 vintage because they were getting too bombastic chasing points and with the exception of Penfolds Grange, the track record for aging is unknown. Grange pricing has become rediculous so I stopped buying that also.
I still have a few Dead Arms in my cellar from at least a couple vintages going back to 1995. This post is a reminder to open one.
I have friends that travel to Australia for business and they tell me that the style of winemaking has been dialed back and newer wines are more enjoyable.
I don’t think Dead Arm was ever in an overripe style. I’ve had several bottles of 2002 in the last couple years, really lovely wines with a good future ahead as well. I’d be happy to drink mature bottles of Dead Arm anytime.
Whilst we may pride ourselves on good food matches, I once took a relatively young bottle of 1998 Dead Arm to a vegetarian restaurant serving wonderfully elegant food. The match was awful, despite food and wine both being individually very good.
Dale-have you tried the Penfold’s St Henri Shiraz? A recent 1998 was fully resolved and delicious. Unfortunately, this vintage isn’t available in the US, but you might like some of the older ones that are.
Chris - I agree, I remember this wine not being so much as over ripe but having a cranberry profile that while pleasant, had me uncertain as to where this ride was heading.
Ted - I’ll look for it, if I can’t find the 98, any recent vintages you might rec pulling the trigger on? Thanks.
Australia is approximately the size of the USA. And there’s nothing between them and the south pole except for ocean. We have Canada between the US and the north pole.
Dale, both the 02 and 04 are very well regarded domestically here in Australia. Last St. Henri I had was a 96 and it was stunning. It’s about the only wine I consider out of the Penfolds range but as Chris mentioned pricing has been on the up recently and basically went OTT for me with the 2010 release, which was heralded domestically as one of the best St. Henri’s ever made.
I’ve got a single 02 magnum that I’ll try and hold until the 2020s at a minimum. These wines age very well when they don’t end up corked. I only mention that because the 96 I had was the first of three my mate bought and the other two were corked to varying degrees. Fingers crossed my 02 won’t end up in the same situation.
Dale- re St. Henri: I had a 1997 in 2004 that showed some promise, and a 2002 in '09 that seemed overly alcoholic. A 2003, from half bottle, was quite primary in 2012, but seemed to have excellent balance.
Last night I pulled a Torbreck 2002 The Steading (60% Grenache, 20% Mataro, and 20% Shiraz) out of my cellar, having no clue about whether it would still be even drinkable. It was really nice. I drank only a third of it and then put a cork in it and left it on my kitchen counter. Put it in the fridge at lunchtime today, and then pulled it out at dinner, to let it warm up a bit. Am drinking it now, and it’s still very tasty and nicely balanced, intense, smoky/leather nose. Really quite good and it has left me beyond pleasantly surprised.
I had a case of this wine long ago, under $25/btl if memory serves. Powered thru the case, maybe a bottle made it 7-8 years from vintage. Clearly a misstep on my part.
That was a great buy. I remember tasting it early on, it was a big wine (despite not being big enough for Randy, lol). I think Parker had rated it highly, so pricing was high and availability low. I had been buying some Dead Arm every year from Oddbins in Oxford, and got some of the 2001 for about $30 all in. Tried it within the last couple of years, it was fine, but hadn’t really developed into anything special.
The Penfolds St Henri has always been my favorite of the winery’s line-up. The pricing is reasonable in comparison to many other world-class reds that have proven ageing track records. However, this broke dude can’t get it when the price is over $60.
![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}