d'Arenberg
Represented by Simon Barratt of Bibendum Wine
Tasting held in New College, Oxford
**Archived from Tuesday May 25 2004*
The Hermit Crab Marsanne Viognier 2003 £7
Where's the viognier?! The nose seems totally closed. Not up to the standards of even a basic white Côte du Rhône. High acid, but not in balance with the wine, seems artificial. Good weight of fruit on the midpalate. But at 14.5& alc this really comes through as flabby. For
drinking now, I can't envisage this improving any further. 12-13/20.
The Footbolt Old Vine Shiraz 2001 £8
Very New World in style, but very good at that style. Simple white pepper nose. Quite powerful palate, in a BBQ wine sort of way. Good length. But rather one dimensional, no soul. Not scored.
The Dead Arm Shiraz 2001 £20
The ninth vintage of this increasingly famous and good value wine. Despite the Parker score, this is no Grange! Very open on the nose, black pepper. Full bodied, massive palate. Maybe too youthful, but lacking the great smoky character I associate with great Syrah wines.
Not necessarily the worse for it, depending what you like. But for me it tastes like its £20 - which in the world of fine wine is still very good value for money given the number of wines that taste like £20 and cost £40! Impressive tannic finish. This has clearly got many years of
development ahead of it and will undoubtedly improve further. Now 16 (17?)/20.
Howard Park Riesling 2003
Screwcap sealed. New World Riesling through and through.. Almost without colour. Austere, limey nose. Palate - acidity ++. Very good mid palate. Is there some residual sugar to add weight here? Fine streak of minerality. A good wine. Maybe very good. but not my style. Perhaps worth returning too in a few years when its lost the current limey, acidic vigour of its youth. 14/20.
Howard Park Chardonnay 2002
Screwcap sealed. Formulaic. Heavy oak on the nose. Creamy malolactic palate, tropical. Very good quality. Balanced. But samey. Medium+ finish. 14-15/20.
Leston Shiraz 2001
Quite opaque, only just able to see stem through the tasting sample. New wood still dominates. White spice. Pure, clean fruit. But lacking memorable character? Hot, hot finish. Not scored.
Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Ripe fruits. Technically excellent, ticks all the right boxes. Ripe tannins. Heaps of dark red berries. Nice balance. Able to match with food? Possibly, but not sure - might out face it! A tiny touch of stalkiness afterwards. This is no Bordeaux in style. Moth puckering, powerful finish. Not scored.
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