d'Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz 2004
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About Love Grass
A wild grass, the Lovegrass often grows in the vineyards. During vintage, the sticky, Velcro-like, long-stemmed flowers of the Lovegrass affectionately attach themselves to the vineyard workers' socks. They even manage to get caught in Coco , the winery dog's coat and have yet to be brushed out. This shiraz will linger with you much the same way as the sticky flowers do and, as such, the family thought it fitting to name this wine.
89 Points
"Firm and frankly gamy, but plenty of blackberry and plum fruit comes through, emerging and persisting on the finish. A rugged wine that needs cellaring to bring some polish to it."
Wine Spectator
89 Points
"Dark violet. High-pitched floral bouquet of fresh rose, blackcurrant and blackberry. A rich, supple shiraz with broad, almost confectionery dark berry flavors and hints of licorice, floral candies and chewing tobacco. For all its sweetness, it's also bright, even racy for shiraz, with good precision and delineation of fruit and herb flavors. Finishes with fine-grained, harmonious tannins." Steve Tanzer's
International Wine Cellar
Professional Ratings
- Wine Spectator
d'Arenberg is one of the undisputed kings of Australian Shiraz and other Rhone varieties that have historically defined the region. A century on, their vineyards have grown to some 450 acres in McLaren Vale, including Shiraz dating back to d'Arenberg's first plantings in 1912, and nearly one-third of McLaren Vale's old bush-vine Grenache. Fourth generation winemaker, Chester Osborn, recently converted all of the family's vineyards to organics and biodynamics and moved to solar energy in the winery. All the while, in terms of winemaking, not much has changed--all the wines are basket-pressed, the reds foot-trodden during fermentation; everything is done in small batches, leading to an impressive array of bottlings every year, each showing a different facet of McLaren Vale terroir. Having been inducted into Wine & Spirits Magazine's Hall of Fame for earning a place on its Top 100 Wineries nine times, this accolade is a reflection of d'Arenberg's revered reputation worldwide.