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Shiraz The Dead Arm 2001

D'Arenberg

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Tasting Notes

Thick and dark crimson. Very sweet, medicinal nose - syrupy. Big, full-on wine with extremely assertive acidity and tannin. This, I feel, is a trial rather than a pleasure to drink. Maybe it will soften but, given how young most Australian wines are drunk, why not make it more approachable early?

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2008-2013 30 November 2005

Bright full ruby. Varietally expressive aromas of currant, espresso, smoke, gunflint and sexy oak, with a distinctly feral note. Highly concentrated, dense and smoky, with a strong syrah note of gunflint. Broad, mouthfilling shiraz with lovely framing acidity, intriguing minerality and impressively sweet tannins. (91+ points)

Score: 91

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 July 2004

Dense and distinctive for its spicy, licorice-scented black cherry and berry flavors, solid at the center but it feels tightly wound and unwilling to open up. Maybe with time, but this doesn't show the depth and length Dead Arm usually achieves. Tasted four times, with bottle variation. Best after 2007.

Score: 88

Winespectator.com, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2007+ 01 January 2004

Readers should be on the look out for the 2001 The Dead Arm Shiraz, one of the greatest examples of this cuvee. Its dense black/purple color is accompanied by celestial aromas of melted licorice, graphite, blackberries, cassis, incense, anise, and toasty oak. Fabulously concentrated, with great purity, an unctuous, viscous texture, and an amazingly long, 60-second plus finish, this fabulous baby will need 5-6 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following 20-25 years. Chester Osborn, the remarkable person behind this enormous array of both impeccably high quality and value-priced wines, deserves considerable accolades for what he is able to achieve at all price ranges. If you love Australian wines, d’Arenberg is a winery to seek out as these offerings all possess abundant soul as well as character. In short, the accolades that proprietor/winemaker Chester Osborn receives not only from The Wine Advocate, but virtually everybody in the wine world, are all well deserved.

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2008-2033 01 August 2003