D'Arenberg - Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viogni

...that vineyard has to be D'Arenberg Estates. D'Arenberg is situated in the equally delightful McLaren Vale region of South Australia 40 km and within an easy reach of Adelaide. The winery has existed at this site for some 92 years and is now being run by the fourth generation of its founder family.

D'Arenberg uses small batch processing to produce its wines, and while they are internationally available, many of its ranges are extremely ...
...the like…

D'Arenberg wines are also noted by their unique sounding names as the above examples show, and in their red varieties my favourites are the Laughing Magpie, Dead Arm Shiraz, and Feral Fox. No bottle of D'Arenberg comes without the story on the back of how the wine got its particular name.

In the case of the Laughing Magpie, the wine was named after the pet name given to the pet Kookaburra's belonging to the ... more

If I had to name a single vineyard as my favourite in terms of the quality of the wines it produces then for me that vineyard has to be D'Arenberg Estates. D'Arenberg is situated in the equally delightful McLaren Vale region of South Australia 40 km and within an easy reach of Adelaide. The winery has existed at this site for some 92 years and is now being run by the fourth generation of its founder family.

D'Arenberg uses small batch processing to produce its wines, and while they are internationally available, many of its ranges are extremely difficult to get hold of. One of the best suppliers for the entire range is oddbins.com and independent stores such as Valvona and Crolla also stock several of the more unusual lines

The Laughing Magpie is an extremely difficult bird to get hold of, however if you do a search via google, you will locate one or two wine merchants who will sell you a case or two. You can also purchase in Harvey Nichols and the larger branches of Oddbins (such as Glasgow - Crow Road Branch) which stock a larger range of superior wines.

I first spotted this wine in Harvey Nichols at the end of 2001, and it was retailing at around £17.50 a bottle. That same year I managed to get a hold of two bottles from the aforementioned Oddbins branch for a more reasonable £12 per bottle. Since then I have ordered a case for around £12 per bottle, the vintage being 2001. This is a wine of exceptional quality and should be kept for special occasions, and even I have managed to retain a few of my 12 bottles, despite giving a few bottles away along the way, for nice dinner parties and the like…

D'Arenberg wines are also noted by their unique sounding names as the above examples show, and in their red varieties my favourites are the Laughing Magpie, Dead Arm Shiraz, and Feral Fox. No bottle of D'Arenberg comes without the story on the back of how the wine got its particular name.

In the case of the Laughing Magpie, the wine was named after the pet name given to the pet Kookaburra's belonging to the daughters of the fourth generation winemakers in the McLaren Vale. Despite the fact that a Kookaburra is nothing like a Magpie, the owners at McLaren Vale thought the name was fitting for such a blend of Shiraz Voignier, representing the black Shiraz grape and the white Voignier.

Viognier grapes are relatively new to Australia and are more difficult to grow than other varieties although worth the effort for the result. The grapes are brighter green than say sauvignon grapes and produce higher alcohol content. Viognier grapes were at one time unique to the Rhone area but are available further afield, however not all viognier wines are making good use of the grape.

The D'Arenberg range is instantly recognisable by its "Red Stripe" trademark and understated labelling, which applies to most of the range. Most of the reds are sealed with a cork and one of the first things you will notice as you open a bottle is the thickness of the seal, which has a lead like thickness, suitable for a wine of this quality.

The red wine connoisseur will instantly appreciate the colour and depth of this particular wine. It has an inky consistency, and its thick deep red colour has instant appeal even before the first tasting.

The wine itself has been matured for twelve months on site before bottling in both French and American Oak, and this serves only to enhance the quality and the flavour of the tasting. I have often found sediment in a bottle of Laughing Magpie, and it can always benefit from decanting, but letting it breathe before drinking is essential, particularly if being served as part of a formal dinner.

Ideally this wine should be stored at room temperature, as should most good reds. The initial test is one of deep forest fruits such as blackberries and blueberries. The taste of the wine lingers on the palate gently long after the wine has been swallowed.
The aroma of the wine is almost as satisfying as the drink itself, with a blend of fruitiness , herbs and sweetness, complementing the rich purple red colour of the predominantly shiraz blend. There is a herby taste to the wine too, and it works well with tasty dishes such as red meat such as lamb or venison, with herbs such as basil and rosemary or stronger pasta flavours; much more than it goes for easy drinking or chicken or pasta dishes.

Alcohol 14.5% vol. Oddbins price approx £12 per 750ml bottle where sold.

The D'Arenberg Cellar Door open for tastings and purchases of their entire selection and cleanskins. And a delightful restaurant if you are ever in the area.

Drink now or cellar for up to 3-15 years. Five and a half stars from me!

PS ; The second grape is actually Viognier and not as listed in the category...

PPS :that was my 200th - (and not Ciao related) - review...! 

...less