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 notes are accented by red licorice and fennel seed spices, along with hints of dried rose on the nose. The mineral-driven, earthy tannins—abundant yet refined—lend the wine 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 tight and austere 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 aging in a cool cellar. Aeration brought out the purplish 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 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, as well as well-integrated hints of oak. The wine’s distinction lies on the palate, where the robust, highly textured, and rustic tannins are balanced by lively, juicy fruit. This wine isn’t 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 skillfully combines depth and energy, finishing with impressive length and a slightly velvety texture, featuring slowly developing tannins and lingering notes of flowers, dark berries, and spices.