D'Arenberg - McLaren Vale The Dead Arm 2017

Decanter

About the wine:

A very dry but mild growing season, with many cool nights, produced a vibrant Syrah with good intensity and great finesse. Vibrant blackberry is accented by notes of red licorice and fennel seeds, along with hints of dried rose on the nose. The mineral-driven, earthy tannins—abundant yet refined—lend structure and length. For now, it carries its alcohol very well—very promising. Harvested from March 6 to April 8.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2017 The Dead Arm Shiraz from d'Arenberg is a tight and austere wine on the nose, but it is nonetheless remarkably dense and concentrated on the palate. Notes of charred wood mingle with plums, raspberries, and black olives in this full-bodied wine. With its current wild character, it seems to require decanting or several years of rest in a cool cellar. Aeration brought out the purple raspberries and softened the substantial tannins, which makes me optimistic about its future development.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

The relative coolness of the 2017 vintage has added touches of freshness and elegance to many wines that are typically rich and powerful, such as this one. This McLaren Vale gem features notes of plum, blackberry, peppery and earthy spices, along with well-integrated oak. The distinction lies on the palate, where the muscular, highly textured, and rustic tannins are balanced by lively, juicy fruit. This wine is not for Syrah enthusiasts, but it will appeal to red wine lovers who enjoy tannins.

Vinous

About the wine:

Deep ruby red. The highly fragrant nose reveals aromas of black and blue fruits, candied licorice, spicy flowers, and a hint of vanilla. The lush, full-bodied palate offers flavors of bitter cherry, blackcurrant, and blueberry that become spicier and more structured in the second half of the year. It combines depth and energy with a sure hand and finishes with impressive length and a slightly velvety texture, with slowly developing tannins and lingering notes of flowers, dark berries, and spices.