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NEWTS Tasting. D'Arenberg - Style over substance or substance over style
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tasted April 20, 2016 by Barry G with 286 views
Introduction
D'Arenberg has gone through a fair amount of change with Chester Osborn being the fourth generation to lead the winery. It makes over 60 wines that has increased over the last 20 years. This tasting was to see if the wines were true to previous vintages or whether the amount of wine (and types) now being produced are diluting essentially the original essence of D'Arenberg.
Flight 1 (9 notes)
Red
2011 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Stump Jump
70 points
Unoaked shiraz. Nose is very inviting; smoky and deep with slight eucalyptus. A touch of rubber even. Inviting and open.
The palate is more austere with a greenness noted. It's med bodied with medium tannin that are fairly integrated. The fruit fades quickly leaving the alcohol on the finish.
Nose better than palate.
The palate is more austere with a greenness noted. It's med bodied with medium tannin that are fairly integrated. The fruit fades quickly leaving the alcohol on the finish.
Nose better than palate.
Red
2010 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Love Grass
79 points
A much better wine. Nose is deep and smoky with a richer cooked fruit note. Earthy.
Palate delivers chewy and slightly rigid tannin with spicy fruit yet fresh acidity. The fruit fades quickly leaving a tannic finish. It's ok.
Palate delivers chewy and slightly rigid tannin with spicy fruit yet fresh acidity. The fruit fades quickly leaving a tannic finish. It's ok.
Red
2011 d'Arenberg The Wild Pixie
87 points
Soft sweet blackcurrant nose. More developed than expected.
Palate is rounded with slightly dusty tannin. There's some complexity and layering going on with this wine with the acidity playing a starring role especially on the finish where it ends with a delightful juiciness. Black fruits dominate but the acidity really is near perfect.
Palate is rounded with slightly dusty tannin. There's some complexity and layering going on with this wine with the acidity playing a starring role especially on the finish where it ends with a delightful juiciness. Black fruits dominate but the acidity really is near perfect.
Red
2011 d'Arenberg Grenache The Derelict Vineyard
86 points
Slightly closed nose with nothing of note initially. After some encouragement (and air) red fruits came through.
Red spicy fruit lead to a warm finish. There's a slight toffee note on the finish that is sweet. Tannin really only show at the very end. The acidity is medium giving the wine balance. The alcohol is integrated.
Drinking well now though I think this needs a few years for it to wake up.
Red spicy fruit lead to a warm finish. There's a slight toffee note on the finish that is sweet. Tannin really only show at the very end. The acidity is medium giving the wine balance. The alcohol is integrated.
Drinking well now though I think this needs a few years for it to wake up.
Red
2010 d'Arenberg The Bonsai Vine
85 points
Grown on bush vines that look like Bonsai trees. Blend is 48/42/10.
Fairly powerful nose of red fruit with herbs and cocoa also noted.
Palate is more rustic delivering solid level of red fruit and acidity. It's quite chewy initially with the finish mellowing out leaving good purity of fruit.
Fairly powerful nose of red fruit with herbs and cocoa also noted.
Palate is more rustic delivering solid level of red fruit and acidity. It's quite chewy initially with the finish mellowing out leaving good purity of fruit.
Red
2010 d'Arenberg The Cenosilicaphobic Cat
83 points
Never had sagrantino before.
The nose is rich, perfumed and leathery.
Crunchy red fruits dominate the palate though there is a touch of spice. The dry tannin give a chewy texture and a dry, dry finish.
Not incredibly harmonious even for it's age but I do like the texture.
The nose is rich, perfumed and leathery.
Crunchy red fruits dominate the palate though there is a touch of spice. The dry tannin give a chewy texture and a dry, dry finish.
Not incredibly harmonious even for it's age but I do like the texture.
Red
2009 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Fruit Bat
91 points
Part of the shared earth initiative, this single vineyard has pure, driven fruit throughout the wine. The nose is more blackcurrant and spice.
The palate is big, rich and integrated. The tannin creeps up on the finish to give some dryness and rigidity. The soft fruit is carried very well and the alcohol is barely noticeable.
Very well made wine. that's thoroughly pleasurable and drinking very well now.
The palate is big, rich and integrated. The tannin creeps up on the finish to give some dryness and rigidity. The soft fruit is carried very well and the alcohol is barely noticeable.
Very well made wine. that's thoroughly pleasurable and drinking very well now.
Red
2009 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Little Venice Scarce Earth Single Vineyard
91 points
Part of the shared earth initiative.
Nose is slightly closed - is this sleeping?
Palate is big and powerful with great concentration. It's quite integrated and structured though this isn't fully developed yet and would leave for a few years. All the elements are there for a great wine
Nose is slightly closed - is this sleeping?
Palate is big and powerful with great concentration. It's quite integrated and structured though this isn't fully developed yet and would leave for a few years. All the elements are there for a great wine
Red - Fortified
2006 d'Arenberg Shiraz Vintage Fortified
76 points
Not for me.
It's big as you would expect. Quite figgy with medicinal notes (germoline?!)
Just odd.
It's big as you would expect. Quite figgy with medicinal notes (germoline?!)
Just odd.
Closing
A really interesting tasting where the single vineyard 'shared earth' wines showed very well.