April 20, 2016 - NEWTS Tasting. D'Arenberg - Style over substance or substance over style (Newcastle upon Tyne): 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.
November 26, 2015 - Medium-intensity nose of dark berries, lots of smoke, and cocoa. Rich, silky palate with some prickly red fruit. Fairly simple, but rich, with a hint of sweetness and a note of cocoa. Fairly short finish. Simple, big, but also a nice crowd pleaser. Okay.
August 17, 2015 - Liked it less this time. Don't think it was well made.
July 5, 2015 - One of the better Shiraz's. Very drinkable and nicely priced. Full of flavor.
May 17, 2015 - A fine wine for the price. Not extraordinary but for the price, a nice wine.
May 14, 2015 - Not a huge amount to say about this, except these Stump Jump wines always seem to deliver more than expected for the price. This had a bit of barnyard on the nose, along with the red fruit. Pleasant simple palate, fruity with some acidity, and would be a worthy Cotes du Rhone. Nice.
February 6, 2015 - Had this at a Syrah/Shiraz tasting event and tasted side by side with juice from Columbia Valley, Arizona and France. This reminded us why Aussie Shiraz hasn't been in our cellar for years. Nose was smokey, palate was restrained, flat and finish was short. Not much there and none of the characteristics of Shiraz from the pre boom days. There is nothing bad about this bottle, just nothing good either.
January 30, 2015 - Soft, structured, chocolate, raspberry nuances and a hint of savoury liquorice. Short n sweet and super cheap.
October 7, 2014 - I enjoyed the fullness of this wine. Sorry I did not buy more at this price.
October 3, 2014 - The appearance looks like a Pinot Noir. The nose is not impressive at first; menthol, almost smoke, and mocha, in an unusual sort of way. On the palate, much like the nose, with German chocolate cake. The finish is short, with not much fruit, then blech, or at least blah. Not much fruit flavour to speak of. Essentially Old World in style, which is unexpected from a Shiraz from Oz. Not my style. However, it would probably go swimmingly with food. Overall value: 2.5 stars of 5. Overall impression: Mid-Good (82.5).