Tasting Notes for d'Arenberg Stump Jump Red 2003

Red Wines	Rhone Red Blends	McLaren Vale	Australia

My Rating (circle) :

Date Printed: 11/25/2009

d'Arenberg Stump Jump Red 2003

(search item no. 79423)

PRICE ON 11/25/2009: $9.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2007 Wine Spectator rating: 88 points
2007 The Wine Advocate rating: 88 points
2006 James Halliday rating: 89 points
2006 Wine Spectator rating: 86 points
2005 The Wine News rating: 90 points
2004 The Wine Advocate rating: 87 points
2004 International Wine Cellar rating: 87 points
2002 Wine Spectator rating: 88 points
2001 The Wine Advocate rating: 87 points

Winemaker's Notes:

The Stump Jumps are a ‘pigeon pair’, and the Stump Jump white’s sibling is a good example of the result of blending the two backbone varieties of McLaren Vale, Grenache and Shiraz.

Both Grenache and Shiraz once called the Rhône Valley home, but after over a hundred years in McLaren Vale, they are pretty well settled here!

Once picked, the fruit is gently crushed in our ‘Demoisy’ open mouthed, rubber toothed crusher and pumped into submerged cap open fermenters. Following fermentation, The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz is gently pressed by our 19th Century “Coq” and “Bromley & Tregoning” basket presses prior to oak maturation.

This is a rich, soft and flavoursome red in the traditional McLaren Vale style. Mulberry and plum flavours from the Grenache combine with the blackberry, spice and white pepper of the Shiraz. Best served at room temperature, this wine will gain added complexity with careful cellaring over the next 2 – 5 years.

My Notes:

Additional wines from d'Arenberg:

Daddy Long Legs Tawny Port (half-bottle) (search item no. 101660)
Nostalgia Port (search item no. 101661)
2004 Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon (search item no. 89722)
2004 Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon (search item no. 89722)
2004 Sticks & Stones (search item no. 97143)
2005 Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon (search item no. 93397)
2005 d'Arrys Original Shiraz/Grenache (search item no. 92624)
2005 Footbolt Shiraz (search item no. 93136)
2005 The Dead Arm Shiraz (search item no. 92246)
2005 The Derelict Vineyard Grenache (search item no. 93524)

About d'Arenberg:

d'Arenberg is one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale. In 1912 Joseph Osborn, a teetotaler and director of Thomas Hardy and Sons, purchased the well established Milton Vineyards in the hills just north of the townships of Gloucester and Bellevue, now just known as McLaren Vale.

In 1943 Frank's son Francis d'Arenberg, universally known as 'd'Arry' returned from school, age 16, to help his ill father run the business, eventually assuming full management of d'Arenberg in 1957. d'Arry bottled the first of the famous diagonal red stripe labeled wines the following year.

Enter the fourth generation, d'Arry's son Chester d'Arenberg Osborn. After graduating from Roseworthy College and touring other Australia and European wine regions Chester took over the reigns as Chief Winemaker in 1984 and immediately set about rejuvenating the 70 year old Cellars and l9th Century Vineyards. Investing in new oak refrigeration and lots of small stainless steel tanks resulted in immediate white dividends with his Dry Dam Riesling, Dryland Sauvignon Blanc, Olive Grove Chardonnay and Botrytis affected Noble Riesling all winning gold medals and trophies at wine shows.

In 1990 Chester was crowned McLaren Vale Bushing King for producing the best table wine in the district judged at the McLaren Vale Wine Show.

d'Arenberg's property was recently renovated incorporating cellar door tastings and a restaurant, appropriately named 'd'Arry's Verandah' overlooking McLaren Vale and the Willunga escarpment falling into the Gulf of St Vincent.