d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Vertical '95 - '04

A rare opportunity to try a vertical of d'Arenberg The Dead Arm 100% McLaren Vale Shiraz.
Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards all over the world. Often vines affected are severely pruned or replanted. One half, or an ‘arm’ of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side, while low yielding, display amazing intensity.
18 months in new and aged French and American oak barriques, foot treaded with the trademark red stripe down the bottle.

• 1995 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Medium bricking, dark core, ruby red
  
  Slight nose of cherries, blackberries, eucalyptus, earth, tar, forest floor and burnt caramel
  
  Medium finish

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• 1996 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Ligher hue, dark core, ruby red
  
  Nose of mineral, cherries, blackberries, tar, slight pepper, sweetness
  
  Smooth tannins with good complexity
  
  Medium to long finish

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• 1997 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Light hue, dark core
  
  Pepper, cherries, mint, eucalyptus, tar, minerality, rasberries and vanilla
  
  Medium tannins with some harshness to the mouth and a mid length

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• 1998 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Deep dark core , small bricking with a slight purple taint
  
  Fresh slight nose with hardly any aromas
  
  Complex mouth with some sharpness
  
  Short length

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• 1999 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Deep ruby red with a purple taint
  
  Pepper, cherries, blackcurrant, slight earth
  
  Smooth round mouth with silky tannins
  
  Deep long length

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• 2000 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 96 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Dark deep ruby red with a purple taint
  
  Slight nose of pepper and mushrooms
  
  Amazing mouth, smooth, robust and complex
  
  Deep rich long length

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• 2001 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Deep purple and ruby red
  
  Slight nose of pepper spice, cherries and blackcurrant
  
  Strong tannins with some sweetness
  
  Medium length

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• 2002 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 96 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Deep dark purplish black
  
  Fresh rich fruity nose with pepper and spice. Vanilla, tar eucalyptus, earth, tobacco and cherries.
  
  Deep complex whole mouth with silky tannins. Slight tingle on the tongue.
  
  Medium length

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• 2003 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 86 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Dark purple
  
  Nose of pepper, red fruit, blackberries and blackcurrants.
  
  Sharpness in the mouth with not the right balance
  
  Very short length

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• 2004 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  The screw top has arrived
  
  Deep dark purple
  
  Nose of mint, eucalyptus, cherries, earth and tobacco.
  
  Way too young with a lot of harshness in the mouth
  
  Short length

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Thanks to Stephanie for allowing us to use her house for this tasting.

I thought the '01 would score higher and the '03 was disappointing but the WOTN was a tie between the 2000 and the 2002

These are excellent value mid range Aussie Shiraz wines