Sunday, November 25, 2007

McLaren Vale, D'Arry's Original, D'Arenburg Grenache Shiraz 1994

This is my favorite Australian version of Chateauneuf du Pape--a blend of mostly Syrah and Grenache. It's darker in color than the Bois du Boursan, probably indicating more Syrah in the blend. And the Syrah is more dominant on the nose and palate as well. In fact, it probably has more in common with the Guigal Cotes du Rhone below than with the Bois du Boursan above. Minty-like aromas along with lavender and black raspberries. Ripe and concentrated flavors with a long finish. Multi-faceted. At 13 years of age, this wine seems at a good stage of maturity for drinking. The winemaker is confident about this wine's ageworthiness, listing 2015 as prime drinking time. (I don't know about that, but it's very good right now.)

I would expect bottles from the current vintage on the market today to be as ageworthy. The wine is made in a traditional way--raised in large old barrels rather than new oak.

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