2002 d'Arenberg Shiraz/Viognier Laughing Magpie
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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-brick colored, the 2002 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier gives notes of prunes and dried mulberry over tobacco, sandalwood, spice box and pencil lead. Open, expressive and drinking beautifully right now, the palate is very spicy with pleasant chocolate and savory flavors textured by firm velvety tannins. It finishes long with just enough freshness. Drink it now to 2016+. The d’Arenberg winery is 100 years old with a fourth generation Osbourne in charge today of this now considerable operation. Graduated from Roseworthy College in 1983, Chester was expected by his father to change things when he took over the family business. Instead he went back to tradition rather than modernizing. In the d’Arenberg vineyards there is no cultivating, fertilizing or herbicides used – Chester compares these artificial means to growing plants hydroponically. Looking to continually improve the root systems of his vines, he rarely irrigates. Average yields are 1.7 tons per acre. “2011 was actually a great year for us,” Chester informed me. “We didn’t have any problems with rot.” Importer: Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA, www.oldbridgecellars.com
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2002 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier (93% of the former and 7% of the latter) is the La Mouline of McLaren Vale. An exotic, heady, flamboyantly-styled red, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of lychee nuts, acacia flowers, blackberries, and creme de cassis. Supple-textured and opulent, with pepper, licorice, and blackberry liqueur-like flavors, this beautiful wine is made in a modern, progressive style with terrific fruit intensity along with notions of sweet French oak in the background. It should drink well for 10-12 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. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 148