D’Arenburg Dead Arm, McLaren Vale, SA 2001 15% (£250/cs dp Noel Young Wines Cambridge)
Tasted over 3 hours 15/6/04 after 2 hours decanting, served in Reidel Syrah glasses
Dark almost impenetrable black colour and purple at the edges. Fantastic slightly spicey, oakey nose of liquorice and jammy black fruits, and… alcohol. On the palate – wow, every time I taste this wine, incredibly concentrated with layer after layer of black fruits. Fat and syrupy with tongue coating, teeth staining concentration – just as well as I’m going to the dentist next week
. The finish seem to go on forever, maybe indeed till I next visit the dentist. Superb, I will not open another one until, hmmm, forget that – I’m not making promises I can’t keep. But I can’t wait to taste this in 5-10 years. On tonight’s showing, 94+ points.
D’Arenburg Dead Arm, McLaren Vale, SA 2002 14.5% (£250/cs Noel Young Wines Cambridge)
Tasted over 3 hours 15/6/04 after 2 hours decanting in Reidel Syrah glasses
A similar, incredibly dense purple colour. Less spicy nose, and less eye-melting alcohol than the 2001 DA, but filled with wonderful black fruits and a green herbaceous note, like the 2000DA. A better integrated palate of black fruits, liquorice and chocolate and a definite hint of red berries that I did not detect in the 2001 DA. A beautifully balanced wine (for an Ozzy fruitbomb!) that really was coming together nicely after 4-5 hours after opening. Again, a superb finish that lasted a good minute. As for potential, I am not sure what the better will be. But I am glad a own a few cases of each. On tonightÂ’s showing, currently this wine is drinking a smidge better that the 01 DA, 95+ points.