d’Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz 50cl

Description

d’Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz is winemaker Chester Osborn’s take on a Port-style wine, a fortified shiraz. Australia has always had a long history of fortified wine production and d’Arenberg’s first vintage of fortified shiraz was in 1928. The wine has always been Shiraz based, but in some vintages there were other grape varieties in the blend, some vintages have included Chambourcin in the blend, for example.

D’Arenberg is one most iconic of Australian wineries and certainly one of the famous in the McLaren Vale wine-growing region. The company was founded by Cornish-born, Joseph Osborn. Osborn’s parents emigrated to Australia in the 1850s and Joseph went on to become a well-known Australian Rules footballer, co-founding Norwood Football Club along the way. Eventually he would become a partner in Thomas Hardy Limited, a local politician and became involved in horse racing before buying what would become the d’Arenberg estate in 1912. Today the estate is in the hands of the fourth generation, winemaker Chester Osborne. The company is known for their iconic red striped label and quirky wine names such as Dead Arm, Laughing Magpie and Stump Jump.

The estate is famous for its top quality, premium red wines made from classic Australian grape varieties like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache; however, they also have some more unusual planting of Mediterranean and Rhone varieties including Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. The McLaren vale, located some 45 minutes south of Adelaide is perfect for grape growing with a Mediterranean climate, huge diversity of soil types and proximity to the ocean with the resultant cooling sea breezes. Minimal intervention is the keyword in the winery where the individual vineyard site’s character is allowed to shine through. Classic vinification methods are used such as open top vat fermentation, foot treading and basket pressing. All d’Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are NASAA Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. d’Arenberg are members of Australia’s First Families of Wine.

The grapes for the d’Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz are still sourced from the same old and gnarly vines as that first vintage produced in 1928. Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to five tonne headed down open fermenters. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and a small amount of fine, fortifying brandy spirit is added, ending fermentation and retaining the sweet fruit richness of the style. d’Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz does not spend any time in wood prior to bottling.

This wine is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.