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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.8 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 175 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Papies on 12/16/2023 & rated 92 points: We believe this was recently released by the winery stocks and in fact we keep finding old vintages of this all around London last few years all at very good quality and worth the try.
This 2000 was still very much punchy and full of energy, rich and spicy, evolved though and had a nice mix of herby edge with the earthy side. Very much an Aussie Shiraz and so good at this stage. 92-93 and really worth it (762 views) | | | Tasted by JerM on 9/8/2023 & rated 95 points: (Beef Stew w Jeff, DY, Kenneth) [Vertical alongside 2002] Wow, 10 years later, this has beautifully filled in - dark forest berries, black florals, lifted fine leather, cocoa dusting, exotic dark herbs, resolved and confected ricola herbal drops. Dark leather and eucalyptus, lined with sweetness and stone-fruit-kernel bitters. Rather more elegant and airy than the 2002, with tannins completely integrated into a satin/velvet bed. Drinking at a wonderful point right now! Golly. (640 views) | | | Tasted by RCS73 on 7/25/2023 & rated 94 points: Presenting very, very nice - tannins fully integrated. Typical sweet Aussie Shiraz character blends very well with secondary and tertiary herbal and non-food like notes (wet earth, clay, pencil)
My last bottle but finally shows what it is capable of (844 views) | | | Tasted by ohearsey on 2/4/2023 & rated 95 points: My final bottle of this 2000 Dead Arm and also had one 2 weeks ago. A year or so ago I had a dead bottle and thought this was over but gollly I was wrong. I wouldn’t hold this for much longer but still oodles of fruit and great balance. Fruit edge maybe starting to take over so drink up but this is a fantastic testament to Aussie wine having long legs, hurrah! (1213 views) | | | Tasted by Scott4227 on 9/26/2022 & rated 93 points: Stored in perfect cellar conditions, brick red rim, still deep red, menthol, eucalyptus, leather, old fruit nose, but the palate is still in the zone, not as old as it's vintage... lovely long finish... still some nice powdery tannins... last bottle... wish I had more... (1469 views) | | | Tasted by Deux Chevaux on 4/19/2022: The notes below from July and September 2020 describe this aptly for us. To that we will add: This was perhaps the most impressive Australian wine we’ve had (not that we’ve experienced all that many). Had it been blind, I’d have guessed a Cabernet blend. Yes it’s big, but all in balance. Lovely tobacco and leather notes. Fine acid backbone keeping it lively. This was fabulous upon opening and a 90 minute decant. The rest, poured back into the bottle for the second and third nights, was singing. (Thanks for sharing, Carole!) (1741 views) | | | Tasted by SadEdjo on 6/18/2021 & rated 90 points: Good cork; dark; Little bricking; Rich dark and blue fruit; Not for faint-of-heart (2353 views) | | | Tasted by Joelene on 5/16/2021 & rated 93 points: Still drinking very well. Awesome nose. (2317 views) | | | Tasted by KristianT on 9/25/2020 & rated 93 points: Another proof the statement that Dead Arm develops at a glacial pace. 20 years old (opened to celebrate my so son's 20 year's birthday) and still exceptionally fresh and vibrant. Pitch black (Dead Arm's signature) - notes of licorice, tobacco, leather, thyme, black pepper and blackberry. Really really tasty - and with the "chewiness" of a much younger wine. This wine has not peaked yet. Alas my last bottle of this vintage. Fabulous wine! (2651 views) | | | Tasted by BHRH on 7/24/2020 & rated 95 points: Hands down the best Shiraz I've had from McLaren Vale! 2 hour decant.
Powerful, electrifying aromas of grilled meats, saddle leather, spices and sweet blackberries. Rich, spicy dark cherry flavors intermix with ripe plums, earth, blackberries and a hint of licorice. Terrific structure with well-integrated tannins and a wonderful mouthfeel. Deep, long finish with no sharp edges, yet the structure says that well stored bottles have maybe 3-5 years of peak enjoyment. A thrilling wine! (2497 views) | | | Tasted by Jason Wu on 11/18/2019 & rated 94 points: Appearance: Deep Garnet
Nose: Medium+ Intensity, blackberry, black plum, jemminess, almond, savoury, soy source, leather, toast, tobacco, liquorice, mushroom, black pepper, clove, wet leaves, meaty, coffee. Fully developed.
Palate: dry, medium+Acidity, medium+tannin, fine grained, high alcohol, full body, medium+ flavour intensity, medium + finish.
Overall very good. Drink now, but has potential for ageging. (2992 views) | | | Tasted by Jason Wu on 10/6/2019 flawed bottle: It's corked...I heard that Dead Arm has got bottle variance. Last bottle was absolutely fine, but this one is tainted. Indeed, TCA seems to be an issue that haunted this wine for long. Have one more bottle, fingers crossed! (2388 views) | | | Tasted by Jason Wu on 8/17/2019 & rated 96 points: Garnet in colour with dark core and onion skin colour edge. The cork is a bit challenging to handle...
On the nose, beautiful dark plum, blackcurrent and violet. It presents roasted almond, black olive and a bit minty aroma, then evolve to chocolate, licorice, soy & meaty savoury notes with just a little mineral and earthy mushroom at the back of the nose.
On the palate, it confirms the vibrant fruits on the nose. Fleshy flavour and dark chocolate then pop up and linger. Medium+ body, medium+ acidity. The tannin is super fine but present to give a great backbone in the mouth. Very long finish.
Overall, this wine is still very vibrant and energetic comparing to other 20yrs Shiraz I have tried recently. I feel it still has at least 3-5 years ahead. Will lay down the other 2 bottles in the fridge and check in another 1-2 years. (2486 views) | | | Tasted by Rangeldoug on 1/15/2019 & rated 92 points: Destroyed cork trying to open this old girl. Thought I had cheesecloth for such disasters but apparently I ran out somewhere along the way. Option 1 drink a perfectly good wine with a bunch of crap in it OR Option 2 kitchen strainer and some bounty paper towels. What the hell, I wasn’t going to throw this away. The nose was too beautiful and the wine clearly had some life left in it. Once in the glass - deep plum colored center, definitely some heavy bricking around the edges. Nose was heavy blackberry, dusty, earthy notes as well. Mouthfeel was surprisingly well structured and still had enough backbone to make this a very enjoyable wine. Thankfully the emergency strainer didn’t f it up. (2488 views) | | | Tasted by Yagil on 6/4/2018 & rated 92 points: Celebrating Etti Edri-Maimoni new job within Carmel (at Haim Straze): clear, deep purple
clean, profound dark fruits aromas with present spicy notes
dry, high tannins, high acidity, full body, rich dark fruits spicy flavours, good balance, structured, complexed, long spicy finish (3286 views) | | | Tasted by red.red.vino on 4/23/2018 & rated 85 points: Vertical tasting of Dead Arm 2000 and Dead Arm 2002. Both wines decanted for 3 hours each.
Dead Arm 2000
The better of the two wines, but no compliment to be given here. Reminiscent of better days with very faint aromas of McLaren Vale dark purple fruits and a little mocha, body is slightly fuller although the layers are rather uncomplex and one dimensional. Finish is short and rather disappoints. 85 points.
Dead Arm 2002
Dull, flat, lifeless, short cardboard finish. 80 points.
As always I am of the firm opinion that d'Arenberg suffer from rather extreme bottle variance which once again leaves me saying I am not one of the d'Arenberg ra-ra boys.... Drink these up now if yours are any good as my two pennies is who knows what the future holds for them. (2800 views) | | | Tasted by patatty on 1/20/2018 & rated 94 points: Very dark crimson color. Bouquet of sandalwood, graphite and berries. Opened up and tannins softened after decanted 2+ hours. Wine coated mouth with berries for a medium-long finish. Very good wine. (2873 views) | | | Tasted by wiscgrad on 1/1/2018 & rated 93 points: very delicious mature syrah. mostly red fruit and med+ acidity. aging quite well and showing no signs of fading (2758 views) | | | Tasted by Javachip on 12/15/2017 & rated 91 points: Allowed to breathe in glass 1 hour before tasting. Clear deep garnet color. Bouquet of blueberry and boysenberry liqueurs, melted red licorice, bacon fat, creosote. Generous ripe fruit with a roasted or preserved character rather than fresh. Rich, full body on the palate. Best on day 1; declined thereafter. (2632 views) | | | Tasted by Duncan H on 11/21/2017 & rated 95 points: Still deep dark red in colour. Vigorous and full, with a concentrated brambly nose. Palate full and rounded, showing the benefit of aging, with some earthiness too. Absolutely delicious from the moment we popped the cork. Mrs H loved this and I was rather partial to it as well. (2265 views) | | | Tasted by Rustica on 4/29/2017 & rated 93 points: Exquisite after all this time. Succulent, ripe, busting with flavor and a long berry finish. Just amazing. (3837 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 4/29/2017 & rated 92 points: Some older Aussies, and some others with friends (Chris and Renee's): This was opened and allowed to breathe for an hour or more before drinking. Not decanted. Purple in color. The nose is deep with black raspberries, some pepper, roasted meats. By no means a monster but proof that these wines will age. Tasted in its youth, this was a big classic wine. It is now very nice with good fruit, light tannins. Still probably at peak but no hurry. (4023 views) | | | Tasted by sma on 1/20/2017 & rated 96 points: Terrific shiraz that I would have guessed was an old world wine and not Australian given that we traveled throughout Australia last four months. Garnet with edges moving to orange indicating its age. Deep earthy leather flavors with spicy undertones of blackberry, black raspberry, plum, blueberry. Complex, rich with long full finish. I wish I had cases of this to enjoy. (3682 views) | | | Tasted by sphBacchus on 12/11/2016 & rated 93 points: this just gets better and better . Over 4 years since I remember opening the last bottle . Still fresh but showing some more complexity . (3831 views) | | | Tasted by sharonandroland on 12/2/2016 & rated 94 points: Superb. Very old world style. (3539 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2010
(D'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz (McLaren Vale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (1/1/2005)
(d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (10/16/2002)
(d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeremy Oliver
Vinous, July/August 2002, IWC Issue #103
(d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz McLaren Vale) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/25/2008)
(d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm) Group's #5 (my #2) – 40 pts.; 1, 1, 1, 1 – dark red violet color; charcoal, black fruit and VA nose, that changes to a ripe cherry and chocolate nose; blackberry, blueberry, black fruit and charcoal palate; medium-plus finish 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Winedoctor and The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (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.Shiraz Varietal article (Wikipedia) | Varietal character (Appellation America)The Dead ArmThe Story Behind The Name
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.
The Winemaking
Each batch of fruit received is gently crushed in our Demoisy open-mouthed, rubber-toothed crusher so as many of the berries as possible remain whole. After crushing, the must is transferred to open fermenters where the seeds and skins are permanently submerged beneath the free run juice.
The must receives no plunging or pumping over while fermentation occurs. Once the primary fermentation is nearly complete, traditional foot-treading takes place prior to basket-pressing. The wine is then transferred to barrel to complete its primary and secondary fermentation.
After 20 months every barrel is individually assessed for quality.
Only the best barrels are selected to be bottled as The Dead Arm Shiraz.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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