d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz

The Dead Arm Shiraz is one of the finest Shiraz wines in the world, made from single-armed, old vines. Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa lata that randomly attacks vineyards worldwide. Affected vines are often severely pruned or replanted. One half, or "arm," of the vine is slowly reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side display astonishing intensity, despite their low yield. This Shiraz is one of the most exceptional wines from the d'Arenberg estate.

Remarkable wines with a special look

The d'Arenberg winery has a remarkably long history. It began in 1912 with the acquisition of 78 hectares. Its first use wasn't until 1959. A wide variety of grape varieties are grown in various vineyards, including Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Tempranillo for red wines, and Riesling, Chambourcin, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne for white wines. It has been owned by the Osborne family for decades and is recognizable by the distinctive diagonal red stripe on its labels. The wines often also have remarkable names.

The vinification of d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz

The grapes are harvested with the utmost care, and only the very best are selected. Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. The wine is put into the barrel two-thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket-pressed and transferred to a mix of new and used French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are finally aged on the lees. This remarkable wine has two sides. It jumps between red fruit and spicy notes on one side and more brooding, dark earthy aromas on the other. This is undoubtedly a sign of the vintage. The seasonal characteristics are even more evident on the palate, where flavor, tannin, and acidity are perfectly balanced. There's impressive concentration in this wine, yet it also feels somewhat restrained.