D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2020
- 96
- $78
- Drink by: 2025-2045
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This is one of the McLaren Vale’s iconic Shiraz, indeed iconic wines, although it has been significantly supplanted in the pricing stakes by many of its competitors, making this cracking value. Fermentation is completed in a mix of new and older French oak barriques. An opaque maroon verging on black/blue, the nose reveals aromas of chocolate, cassis, plums, fruit cake, blackberries and licorice. There is excellent oak integration here in this wine of concentration and power. Really good length through to fine satiny tannins with a line of fine acidity running the full journey. A twenty year proposition. So much to like about this wine.
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.
