Winemaker's Notes:
Upon release, d'Arenberg's The Dead Arm Shiraz has a vivid, young, dense purple-red color. The nose shows intense and complex cedary, fig, blackberry, blueberry, and pepper aromas.
Attacking spicy dark cherry, plum and blackberry fruit dominate the taste with a complex, slightly acetone, liquorice, prune richness and silkiness leading to a slight cedar, mineral and svelte array of tannins. The length comes right back to gritty, vibrant fruit tannins giving the wine great ageability.
After time in bottle, the d'Arenberg Dead Arm gains a biscuity, cinnamon, caramel and eucalyptus based bouquet on top of rich blackberry pie smells. Tobacco, mushroom, malt and earth aromas play a part on the long, fleshy, chocolate mint and spice flavors. Restrained tannin and acidity coupled with rich alcohol produce a seamless, peppery, velvety, rolling length.
"The renowned 2004 Shiraz The Dead Arm, fashioned from ancient head-pruned vines, is stunning. An inky/purple color is accompanied by a glorious perfume of creosote/melted road tar, blackberry and cassis liqueur, pepper, and spice. This deep, rich, full-bodied, tannic Shiraz should be drinkable in 2-3 years, and will last for two decades or more. It is the finest Dead Arm since the 2001."
-The Wine Advocate |