d'Arenberg "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz/Viognier 2005

Deep purple/red.

Deep nose of nuts, spice, leather and hints of black fruit.

Intense and a bit brutal, which is par for the course with this bottling (and any d'A not dominated by Grenache).
Acid/tannin synergy just shuts this thing down immediately. To quote the Sex Pistols - "No Fun" - and no complexity either.

I just don't understand what pleasure people find in these bottles.


Day 3 - Nose a bit more expansive, slight saline nuance now. Palate has more give too, but I continue to be put off by an intrusive acid/tannin wallop that seems manipulated. I'd love to know what this wine's pH would be without acidulation.


$25