One of Australia’s most iconic wineries open’s it’s cellars and offers a collection of back vintages from some of its most prized vineyards.
Established in 1912, d’Arenberg has become one of Australia’s most enduring iconic wineries, as well as one of the 12 members of Australia’s First Families of Wine. These days, the d’Arenberg team respects the past while looking to the future. All of their estate-owned and leased vineyards are certified NASAA organic and biodynamic, making them the largest biodynamic certified wine grape grower in Australia. These practices result in naturally lower yields and concentrated flavours, excellent natural acidity, and a lively tannic structure. All of their wines are basket pressed, with reds also being foot-trodden during fermentation. These processes are labour-intensive, but this careful, gentle handling makes for great results. Selected vintages of the winery’s most iconic wines have been released for sale in an LCBO Special Offer, amazing additions to any cellar or dinner table.
The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon – Vintages Available: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
The Coppermine Road runs parallel to the winery’s best Cabernet vineyard, as well as the restaurant and tasting room. The clone used to plant this vineyard is all but extinct, and yields are incredibly low. Small batches of grapes are crushed then fermented separately until the final blend, finishing fermentation in a mix of new and used French oak barriques, with no racking until the final blend and no fining or filtering before bottling. A dark and intense Cabernet, this wine leads with a powerful aroma and character. Blackcurrant, red fruits, sage, savoury spices and bell pepper, are all delivered over a long and lingering tasting experience. Fine-grained tannins allow this wine to be drank in its youth, or to be stashed away for up to 20 or 30 years, continuously developing flavours.
The Dead Arm Shiraz – Vintages Available: 2010, 2013, 2014
‘Dead Arm’ is a disease randomly affecting vineyards all over the world. One half, or ‘arm’ of the vine becomes reduced to dead wood, while the grapes on the other side become more intense and flavourful. Selected parcels of premium fruit from across d’Arenberg’s top vineyards are artfully blended to create this stunning Shiraz. Parcels are fermented separately until the final blend, finishing fermentation in a mix of new and used French oak barriques, with no racking until the final blend and no fining or filtering before bottling. Rich dark fruit, superb balance, and a generous structure ready for cellaring are highlights of every vintage of The Dead Arm.
The Ironstone Pressings Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre – Vintages Available: 2009, 2011, 2014
The most acclaimed and historic vineyards in McLaren Vale are largely made up of Ironstone – an iron rich type of granite, worn down to a sand and gravel texture over thousands of years. Selected parcels from these ‘Ironstone’ vineyards are crushed then fermented separately until the final blend, finishing fermentation in a mix of new and used French oak barriques, with no racking until the final blend and no fining or filtering before bottling. The result is a blend of power and elegance; dense and dark, the wine takes a swirl or two to express the red berries, plum, floral and herbal notes that are as delicious in their youth as they are after time in the cellar.
