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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.4 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 118 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Screwcaps on 5/20/2023: 2001 D'Arrys Footbolt Shiraz (en magnum, cork).
Had to get home so did not spend as much time with this wine as I would have liked.
On opening, colour showing early stage bricking but still in the deep red zone.
Nose of leather and animal, but red fruit and acidity still cuts through the mid weight palate.
Balanced and so easy to drink old wine.
Drink now in magnum.
A great example of the longevity and beauty of SA Shiraz once it loses some extract and oak. They become complex and medium weight wines that come in to balance with age.
NB42 TASTING (476 views) | | | Tasted by Lyubomir Lefterov on 5/17/2021 & rated 88 points: Impressed by this £10 shiraz that is totally alive. Closed under cork, and yes, alcohol is high, but there is plenty of fruit, chocolate and warm spices for those who like the style. Not very convincing on the finish, but really, 20y old for this price - great value. (1468 views) | | | Tasted by Madera16 on 1/17/2021: Wow, still alive with good structure and big, full body. Past its prime, but still plenty of red fruit, with a bit of caramel, cocoa, and dried flowers. A real pleasure. Must have been a beast when young. I think this proves the Blue Water Bay cellar is in good shape. (1527 views) | | | Tasted by medicineman on 5/3/2020 & rated 82 points: Stewed plum and light leather acidity still sharp but tannins long gone. 25 seconds plus of length. After a decant and warm up was certainly still showing well hints of liquorice and spice very enjoyable and for a wine that cost £7 great value! (1625 views) | | | Tasted by bdhanna on 2/9/2020 & rated 90 points: I also feared that I had allowed this inexpensive bootle of Shiraz to languish in the cellar far too long, but what a surprise. Good cellaring pays off with fruit and a surprisingly balanced mature wine. (1699 views) | | | Tasted by Optimus Wine on 12/9/2019 & rated 92 points: The wine had a deep intensity with a garnet hue. The nose was musty, over ripped cherry, bruised fig that has been sitting on the counter so it’s a bit warm and a bit of funkiness. On the palate I got plum, blackberry jam and dried eucalyptus leaves. The tannins have completely softened at this point. The wine is light and evaporated quickly on the palate and has a medium finish. The fruit is still present but escapes quickly only to be left with mostly earthiness. This wine has past its prime and should be drunk now. Enjoyed very much. (1725 views) | | | Tasted by Hollowine on 5/28/2018: Long gone and nasty. (2013 views) | | | Tasted by Ravi Deshpande on 5/21/2018 & rated 91 points: My own experience is the same as RAKSHALEE’s! An old friend brought me this bottle as a gift in 2005 and I stowed it away in my cellar promising him that we would drink it together in due time. It is a sturdy Shiraz and I knew it would improve with 3-4 years down. This friend moved away, across the country and we never got a chance to drink it. At first I would look at the bottle and think, “I should probably drink that” to, a few years later “it’s probably way over the hill.” Then I saw RAKSHALEE’s note and eagerly popped it open.
I found a smooth, mellifluous wine, not in the least aged, lots of deep dark cherry, rounded and with tannins perfectly resolved. It gave off an a occasional whiff of funk. If you let your mind run that way, it had a little bit of a medicinal, cough syrup taste. Overall beautiful and another example of a very minor wine shining well past its expected drinking window. (1714 views) | | | Tasted by Rakshalee on 1/14/2018 & rated 94 points: This was an utter surprise. I had lost this bottle in my cellar and was sure it would be past it's prime when I dug it out today. It was stunning. Funky smell when I pulled the cork, which was intact. Decanted, tons of sediment. Despite decanting came out a little cloudy. The nose brightened up almost immediately. Surprisingly bright cherry flavors despite the age, decent tannins, and long lingering finish with prominent but well-integrated oak.lots of body, lots of complexity. Lucky I found it. (1805 views) | | | Tasted by maw246 on 7/8/2015 & rated 88 points: this is past its prime. Cork disintegrated on opening. Still plenty of fruit and pepper on nose. Tannic structure largely gone. Still lots of fruit. Drink now if you have any of this. (3440 views) | | | Tasted by maw246 on 6/6/2015 & rated 90 points: This is still drinking well. Properly cellared. Lots of cherries on the nose and palate. The tannins are fully resolved. Medium finish. (3292 views) | | | Tasted by Chip & Susanne on 4/19/2015 flawed bottle: Corked... (2778 views) | | | Tasted by bon vivant on 12/6/2013: I obviously under estimated the drinking window of this as the bottle was full of sediment and very much alive. At the beginning it smelled of old funky ausi syrah but after about 30 minutes it started to gain sweetness and complexity. The funk blew off and this just got better and better and was just a delightful bottle which probably peaked in about 2 hrs in a narrow decanter. A nice surprise. (4182 views) | | | Tasted by eniskonuk on 9/9/2012 & rated 91 points: - Garnet color and aromas of chocolate and has flavours of blackberry, black currant, molasses and black pepper. (4756 views) | | | Tasted by Husks on 7/10/2012 & rated 87 points: A surprisingly big wine, very strong flavours to start off with but got smoother with the second glass. Brilliant with spaghetti bolognese, and I think would actually benefit from more time in the cellar.
Edit 14/08/2012: I've since tried 3 other bottles and re-evaluated my score. The first bottle was great however the next 3 were very subdued compared to the first. Given the variability these bottles are likely reaching their end of life. (3997 views) | | | Tasted by Dnakos on 7/6/2012 & rated 94 points: Exceptional. Deep cherry with huge tannins. Australia should be proud. (3728 views) | | | Tasted by JerM on 4/20/2012 & rated 91 points: Ruby black in the glass, with extensive sedimentation. Prominent aged leathers and barnyard pong, along with obligatory cassis and dark berries, and even a bit of eucalypt undergrowth. Meaty (ducky), with bits of cherry cola on the taste, and still-grippy tannins. A bit hollow, followed with yet more earthy mulchy undergrowth, and even some minty savoryness. Highly textural, the finish is somewhat unkindly interrupted by firm tannins (a tannin monster in its youth?), but probably less obvious with foodl; a lamb saag and chicken tikka is superb. An otherwise fantastic bottle at great value, and not about to improve any more. (4553 views) | | | Tasted by JerM on 2/3/2012 & rated 91 points: Still rather rich, dark garnet in the glass, with a clean nose of dark cherries, cracked pepper and leather. Tall and lean, without flabby sweetness, it is full of dark fruits - cassis, blueberries, cola nut, with really softened tannins, but somewhat bright acidity, ending with an agreeably savoury finish with cool tea characters. Lovely textural red, well aged with some complexity, pairing very well with chinese smoked duck. I'd say best to drink up now. (3765 views) | | | Tasted by mkubow on 1/9/2012 & rated 89 points: Agree with all recent comments, great wine to just enjoy. (2294 views) | | | Tasted by sholmesdale on 12/29/2011 & rated 90 points: Color of dark cherry but definitely showing its maturity with some orange/brown hues. Aromas are of jammy fruit (cassis, blackberry), black pepper, and leather. Medium full bodied, well balanced, and still has some reasonable tannins. It is probably past its prime but it still has some life in it. (2293 views) | | | Tasted by smeliot on 10/31/2011 & rated 86 points: Very jammy, a bit passed its prime. Wish I'd opened it a year ago ... (2461 views) | | | Tasted by drunken sommelier on 10/15/2011 & rated 93 points: Decanted for an hour prior to tasting. Cassis, prune, dark plum, black pepper and fine leather with a hint of tabacco. Jammy goodness, great wine! (2372 views) | | | Tasted by G0LDEN1 on 6/14/2011 & rated 90 points: Very jammy with loads of berry in a very smooth full bodied delight. (2572 views) | | | Tasted by viniculture_pl on 5/10/2011 & rated 91 points: The wine looks Brick colored.
The legs are Medium.
It smells like Blackberry, Raisin, Strawberry Jam, Fig, Forest floor, Mushroom, Toast, Cedar, Pine, and Honey.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Leathery.
The wine finishes Long. (2857 views) | | | Tasted by afitzhugh on 1/3/2011 & rated 88 points: Good, simple, smooth, not bad for the price. Almost candylike. (2995 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (1/1/2005)
(d’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (10/12/2003)
(d'Arenberg The Footbolt McLaren Vale Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeremy Oliver
Vinous, July/August 2003, IWC Issue #109
(D'Arenberg Shiraz The Footbolt McLaren Vale) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| d'Arenberg Producer website | Wine Doctor.com profile
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
Producer Location (Google Maps)
One of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale founded in 1912. The winemaking processes of the past have been maintained, capturing the unique small-batch character of the wines and the true flavour of the McLaren Vale region. All grapes, red and white, are basket-pressed. The reds are still traditionally fermented with the grape skins (caps) submerged in open wax-lined concrete fermenters utilising the age-old technique of foot-treading.
Winemaking duties are carried out by fourth-generation Chester d’Arenberg Osborn. In June 2004 Chester’s father, d’Arry was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his contributions to the wine industry and to the McLaren Vale region. After more than 65 consecutive vintages d’Arry is very proud of his achievements in creating an internationally recognised wine brand commonly known as the ‘Red Stripe’ due to the distinctive diagonal red stripe that adorns the label. d’Arenberg’s art of being different extends to a range of fortified and dessert wines, which have legendary status worldwide.d'Arenberg Shiraz The FootboltBefore being renamed The Footbolt Shiraz in 1996, the Old Vine Shiraz (as it was then known) was the first wine to use the term ‘Old Vine’.
When this became common practice it was altered to honour a racehorse that changed the Osborn family forever.
The founder of d’Arenberg, Joseph Osborn was a successful racehorse owner and Footbolt was the pride of his stable.
In 1912 he made the hard decision to sell his stable of horses to start d’Arenberg, so it is only fitting we pay homage to Joseph and his prize horse, Footbolt.
Shiraz Varietal article (Wikipedia) | Varietal character (Appellation America)Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia)Fleurieu Fleurieu Wineries & Cellar Doors (southaustralia.com)McLaren Vale McLaren Vale (McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism)
(Hastwell & Lightfoot webpage) |
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