D’Arenberg The Beautiful View Grenache 2016
- 94
- $80
- Drink by: 2026-2041
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The vineyards which provided the fruit for this wine are situated around 120 metres above sea level. The soil found in those vineyards is between 34 and 56 million years in age. For once, the team have not created some mystically obscure name for their wine. The section of McLaren Vale providing the fruit was originally known as Bellevue, French for ‘beautiful view’. When considered up against some of the gems that they have concocted with other wines, this seems almost disappointing. Fortunately, the wine is most certainly not. The method of production is replicated across the range. The colour here is a deep garnet with a slightly muddy russet rim. The nose gives us aromas of mushrooms, spices, bay leaves, dry vegetation, mulberries, cherries, dusty road notes, root vegetables, red fruits and freshly unearthed beetroot. There is good intensity and early complexity here, with a bright line of acidity. The intensity is maintained throughout and there is serious length and good focus. The wine finishes with fine, firm tannins. Enjoy it over the next ten to fifteen years.
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.
