- 2003 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/3/2024)
opened, decanted for an hour, and then followed for a few hours. This is what I love about Aussie Shiraz, with the extra factor that the bottle was autographed by D'Arry Osborne when I met him at Zachy's about 18 years ago. When the roughness subsides and the fruit emerges from hiding, this is an outstanding wine. I had finished most of my 1998 Aussie Shiraz and I found this one just sitting there and begging to be opened. I had a bunch of 375s that are long gone and I had lost track of this one. No blueberry pie filling, unless you spend too much time drinking a blend of fecal notes, cat piss and the dirt in the corral. The tannin is 95%+ resolved into a sweet accompaniment to a cherry/raspberry velvet that crosses the tongue and slides effortlessly towards the throat. The nose is subtle fruit and effortless, with a small bit of violet floral aroma. The only thing that keeps this wine from the exceptional characterization is that the finish was "only" of average length. I wish I had bought more. This is at its peak, or perhaps a year or two short of it, so if you've got 'em, smoke 'em. (93 points)
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