The latest issue of The Wine Advocate features reviews of d’Arenberg and John Duval Wines in its South Australia and McLaren Vale reports
The Wine Advocate
Issue #211
by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
…Regionality has been the buzz word in South Australia in recent years, with a notable movement for each of the major GIs (Geographical Indications) to clearly define and differentiate themselves. The emphasis on regionality is undoubtedly an important step toward forging fresh, new stylistic signatures. With an emphasis on a sense of place/region comes a greater acceptance of the expression of vintage, and whereas vintage variation may have been formerly be minimized through cross-regional blending, now producers are embracing each growing season’s differences and making the best of them. This again lends to the crafting of the new styles, with the cooler, wetter 2011 vintage marking something of a watershed, opening winemakers’ eyes to what was possible at the marginal ends of ripeness. I, for one, have found the movements and styles that are emerging across the major South Australia regions, especially Barossa, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra, to be incredibly exciting. For drinkers of a broad range of styles – from elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from cooler climate Adelaide Hills, to zesty, age-worthy Rieslings from Eden and Clare Vallies to rich, expressive and yet now more medium-bodied Shirazes and Grenaches from the Barossa and McLaren Vale to the perfumed, structured Cabernet Sauvignons coming from a handful of Coonawarra producers who have really pulled up their socks – South Australia is ascending from its past-it “new sensation” status to offering regionally unique wines that, given the chance, will attract life-long fans from throughout the world.
For readers who haven’t had an opportunity to see it yet, please check out my dedicated McLaren Vale report this issue for all the details about the extra “geological” lengths this region is going to in order to achieve impactful, long-term greatness through it wines…
94+ pts d’Arenberg Scarce Earth The Blind Tiger Shiraz 2011
93+ pts d’Arenberg The Other Side Single Vineyard Shiraz 2011
93+ pts d’Arenberg Tyche’s Mustard Single Vineyard Shiraz 2011
93 pts d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2010
92+ pts d’Arenberg The Eight Iron Shiraz 2011
92+ pts d’Arenberg The Swinging Malaysian Single Vineyard Shiraz 2011
92 pts d’Arenberg Scarce Earth The Piceous Lodestar Shiraz 2011
90 pts d’Arenberg Ironstone Pressings (Grenache / Shiraz) 2010
90 pts d’Arenberg The Noble Mud Pie 2011
90 pts d’Arenberg The Noble Wrinkled Riesling 2011
89+ pts d’Arenberg D’Arry’s Original Shiraz / Grenache 2010
88+ pts d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
88 pts d’Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling 2013
88 pts d’Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz 2011
88 pts d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Sticky Chardonnay Riesling Semillon Pinot Gris 2010
87 pts d’Arenberg Cadenzia Grenache 2010
87 pts d’Arenberg The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2013
87 pts d’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2011
87 pts d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz / Viognier 2010
87 pts d’Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz 2010
87 pts d’Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2012
87pts d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Riesling 2012
86 pts d’Arenberg Lucky Lizard Chardonnay 2012
86 pts d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Riesling 2013
85 pts d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay 2011
85 pts d’Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2012
98+ pts John Duval Wines Eligo 2010
90+ pts John Duval Wines Entity 2011
89+ pts John Duval Wines Plexus 2011