d'Arenberg Other Side Chardonnay 1997
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After some bottle ageing d'Arenberg's The Other Side Chardonnay should develop in colour to a richer bright gold. The aroma should also develop in complexity to become dominated by roasted chestnuts, malt, sweet fruit pie and ripe banana smells, but all still supported by other fruit derived smells as well as smoky bacon, honey, light treacle almond-essence and stewed peach characters on the nose and palate. In the mouth, an older Other Side Chardonnay will maintain a big rich butterscotch and fresher fruit based flavour but also be distinguished with a fine edge of acidity as well as a rolling, lengthy penetrating finish for quite some considerable time.
Other Vintages
1996-
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.