Dead Arm Shiraz 2012- McClaren Vale

This is an unusual wine from the McClaren Vale in Australia. Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards allover the world. Often affected vines are replaced or pruned. One half of the an arm of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. The grapes the other arm, while low yielding, display amazing intensity.

Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of new and used French and old American oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, there is no racking until final blending and no fining or filtration.

The Dead Arm Shiraz 2012 displays classic McLaren Vale aromas of plum, blackberry, liquorice and spice. There is also a strong sense of the old vines and mineraility from which the grapes are sourced.

The palate has an incredible depth of flavour and a solid structure built on a framework of firm tannins. The result is a wine of great presence and boldness but with a refined, stylish finish that lingers on and on.

Can be kept for 10-20 years.

Dead Arm Shiraz 2012
d'Arenberg
McClaren Vale
Ca 35$ or ca 350 NOK

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