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: 2008 d'Arenberg "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz-Viognier McClaren Vale Suth Australia

2008 d'Arenberg "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz-Viognier McClaren Vale Suth Australia

SKU #1079658 94 points James Halliday

Outer quote mark Good colour; highly perfumed bouquet, with an abundance of black fruits, savoury charcuterie, and a suggestion of violets; the palate is seamless and beautifully poised, with the acidity providing contrast to the lavish levels of fruit; a well constructed example of the style. Inner quote mark

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2008 Laughing Magpie Shiraz-Viognier (6%) spent 12 months in 15% new French and American oak. It is deep crimson-colored with an alluring bouquet of cedar, lilacs, Asian spices, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and layered with savory fruit. Nicely balanced, it will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2020. Inner quote mark (12/2009)

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark ($29; a 94/6 blend of shiraz and viognier) Inky purple. High-pitched dark berry and floral aromas are complicated by notes of black pepper and woodsmoke. Pliant, palate-coating dark fruit flavors are framed by velvety tannins, picking up a note of licorice on the back half. Surprisingly brisk, even taut, on the finish, which leaves spice and floral notes behind. This benefits quite a bit from aeration. Inner quote mark (8/2010)

90 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark Starts off dark and a bit brooding, with aromas of plum, espresso and black olive, but shows hints of brighter fruit elements on the palate. Mouthfilling but dry on the finish, this is still very young; decant if serving now, or try 2013-2020. Inner quote mark (2/2010)

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2008 d'Arenberg "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz-Viognier McClaren Vale Suth Australia

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Varietal:

Shiraz/Syrah

- One of France's noblest black grape varieties, Syrah is known for its intense and distinctive perfume reminiscent of briar fruit, tar, spice and black pepper and its firm structure. One of few black grape varietals frequently vinified on its own, the best examples of Syrah come from the Northern Rhône, particularly Hermitage, but also Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph. These wines are very astringent in their youth, though some Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph can be enjoyed young, relatively speaking. Given the requisite patience, though, these wines can reveal amazing complexity and secondary fruit characteristics like plum and blackcurrant as well as subtle hints of smoke and flowers. In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is used to add structure and complexity to wines dominated by Grenache and complemented by Mourvèdre, like the more immediately drinkable Côte du Rhônes, as well as the long-lived wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In recent years, plantings of Syrah have spread throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon where it is produced on its own or blended with other varietals. Outside of France, the most important Syrah growing country is easily Australia, where it is called Shiraz. Quality levels here depend greatly on yields and geography, and the wines range from bold, fruity and easy-drinking to intense and ageable, like the famed Penfolds Grange. Often bottled on its own, in Australia Syrah is also can be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre, as in the Southern Rhône, and is increasingly combined with Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah has also been steadily increasing in popularity in California, thanks to a group of advocates called the Rhône Rangers. Its most successful iterations come from the Central and Sonoma Coasts, where winemakers are pushing boundaries and creating some incredible wines. In recent years Syrah has also found a number of proponents in Washington State, which is definitely a region to watch for this variety.

Country:

Australia

- While it is true that the greatest strides in Australian winemaking have come in the last 30 years or so, commercial viticulture began as early as the 1820s and has developed uninterrupted ever since. The majority of the great wine regions are in the southeastern area of the continent, including Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra in South Australia; Yarra Yarra Valley and Pyrenees in Victoria; and the Upper and Lower Hunter Valleys in New South Wales. Many of the wines from Southeastern Australia are based on Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon and various blends including Grenache and Mourvedre. In Western Australia, along the Margaret River, great strides are being made with Pinot Noir as well as Bordeaux-styled reds. There are also many world-class releases of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from the land Down Under, where Riesling also enjoys international acclaim. While many equate Aussie wines with “value,” there are more than a few extremely rare and pricey options, which never fail to earn the highest ratings from wine publications and critics throughout the world.

Sub-Region:

South Australia

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