D’Arenberg Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2025
- 93
- $19
- Drink by: 2026-2030
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An intriguing blend based on these Rhone varieties, which is brilliant value. The team put 4% of the juice through a wild fermentation in order to enhance the complexity. 14% of the Viognier was fermented in older French oak for textural reasons. The Marsanne underwent a similar process and was blended with the Viognier towards the end of the winemaking. The fruit was from McLaren Vale. The final blend was 60% Viognier and 40% Marsanne. Maturation was for eight months. A deep gold/straw hue, the nose is delightfully fragrant with hints of apricot skins, stone fruits, ginger and lemongrass. Beautifully perfumed. The gentle, almost elegant nose morphs into something much more powerful on the palate. There is good length here with some serious intensity. The textural aspect is an undoubted highlight. Delicious drinking, fabulous buying and a wine which will continue to provide pleasure for the next four years at a minimum.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
