d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz is a firm favourite with many McLaren Vale Shiraz lovers and for good reason. This is another great example of the rich, full-bodied style with aromas of ripe blackberry and spice that mingle with minty peppery notes. The palate is full-flavoured, supple in texture with a velvety finish.

The Wild Pixie by d'Arenberg has an unmistakeable connection with the earth from which it emerged, and is the perfect accompaniment to a rustic BBQ cooked over a glowing camp fire on a cold starry night. The flavours and aromas of earth, soot and game perfectly complement the setting. Primary blackberry and mulberry notes appear as the Shiraz develops in the glass. A generous warm wine with an abundance of savoury and dark fruits, completed by a fine emery like tannin trailing to subtle wood spice and vanilla notes.

Produced from low yielding, hand harvested vines and made using traditional techniques, D'Arry's Original is a smooth, textured, full bodied red which typifies the generous McLaren style. Always one of those little cellar stars that you can buy up a case or two, hide under the house for a decade and be quietly content that d'Arry's Original will be shining in a decade.

The 2017 Estate Shiraz beautifully demonstrates the mixture of fruitfulness and savory elements that our 50-year-old vineyards provide. The nose shows cherry, bitter chocolate, and aniseed spice. The palate is bright and full-bodied with succulent tannins and great concentration of fruit. A classic example from a superb vintage.

Aromas of violets, black berries, cloves. The palate shows mulberries, blueberry, choc-mint biscuits. A touch of malbec brings some brown earth and provides a rustic edge to the tannin. Still very soft and juicy, delicious and youthful drinkingwhich was the aim, even from older vines.

Colour Purple Black.Aroma A beautiful array of complex ripe fruits combined with subtle oak aromas. Aromas of boysenberry, mulberry, currants, cinnamon and nutmeg.Palate Sweet, generous, rich and spicy. Very soft and rounded with balanced tannin and acidity. A lovely complex integrated wine that will drink well for 15 years.The berry was from premium vineyards with sandy loam soil profiles that consistently deliver wines of richness and finesse. Picked at perfect flavour maturity, gently crushed, then fermented at low temperatures to harness the fruit flavours. After 10 days fermenting on skins for colour and flavour extraction the wines were then pressed to French oak for ageing. Time in the oak barrel was 18 months.

Re-tasted on 07/06/2022 Magnificent colour displaying a pitch black core with a very deep black dark red hue. Pronounced black cherry, liquorice and black plum aromas are overlaid by scorched earth and smoked meats followed by spicy vanillin cedar and pepper notes. Tightly built rich black cherry and liquorice flavours dominate over inky earth, lightly scorched vanillin cedar, dried meats and blackpepper. Dry grippy finish with tightly grained tannins. Rich yet elegant and muscular in its feel. Good underlying power with a long black cherry, liquorice, smoky vanillin cedar, dried meats and earthy pepper aftertaste. Cellar 8-10 years. Alc. 14.5%

Smoky Cigar McLaren Vale Shiraz is rich and lively. Secret Selection shows all the hallmarks of a big brand style and characteristic associated with luxcury region.Plummy, ripe cherries with freshly crack pepper, mixed with spicy cedar oak in the background. A classic shiraz would not to be missed.

Awards & Reviews95 Points - Sam Kim 94 Points - James HallidayDescriptionDescriptionIntense spice, berry and chocolate aromas with integrated oak notes. Full Bodied and bursting with a complex mix of flavours of mocha, vanilla and intense red berry flavours. Great middle palate sweetness with well integrated American oak.Drink now to 15 years.