Reviews & Ratings

2016 d'Arenberg Australian (Red Blend) "Laughing Magpie"

Winery: d'Arenberg

Vintage: 2016

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Laughing Magpie"

Wine Category: Australian (Red Blend)

Grape blend: 96% Shiraz & 4% Viognier

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: McLaren Vale

State or country: Australia

Price: $29

Cases produced: 5,100

KWG Score: 91 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good (89)

Review date: November 13, 2020

Wine Review: This opaque and midnight purple colored Shiraz based wine opens with a blackberry and root beer bouquet with a hint of dried apricot. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is an extracted blackberry and stewed plum with notes of black tea and graphite. I also detected hints of menthol and some boysenberry mixed in. The finish dry and its integrated dusty tannins stick around for a very long time. This wine would benefit from some aeration. I would pair it with steak fajitas or a hearty beef stew. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: A rather dark appearance with a vivid purple hue suggesting a complex dry red. The nose is particularly intense, with peppery spice, hints of fragrant flower and perfume aromas, plus nectarines, apricots, ginger and herbs from the small parcel of viognier that the Shiraz is co-fermented with. On the palate the Shiraz is more dominant. There is some sweeter fruit characters like blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry. The palate is rich and generous and soft silky tannins.

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