d’Arenberg’s “The Dead Arm” is a benchmark shiraz from McLaren Vale, and I would suggest, Australia.  Certainly, it is a “go to” wine at home with its consistently outstanding quality and fair price.  Fashioned by winemakers Chester Osborn and Jack Walton, the 2010 vintage tasted here is no exception.  A deep purple in colour, it has promising and alluring aromatics of plums, anise, dried rosemary, thyme and white pepper.  What its aromatics promise, its palate delivers, bringing to the table all of the dimensions that fine wine can bring.  There is lingering long length and balance, together with lapping and deep flavours of dark plum, mulberry, anise and dried herbs.  The 2010 vintage has that harmony that is as obvious in great wines as it is difficult to put into satisfactory words.  This is an outstanding “Dead Arm” release from d’Arenberg and should cellar well for many years.

Rating: Outstanding, Abv: 14%, Price: $65, Source: sample, Vendors: http://www.wine-searcher.com/, Website: http://www.darenberg.com.au, Tasted: 2014