The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz

Wow! 18yrs old and doing just fine. For Australian Shiraz, I feel like the age on this shed its baby fat and gave it more Bordeaux characteristics...dusted cherries, oiled leather, black pepper, but it still retained its typical Aussie menthol finish. Delightful.

Still plenty of life. Big Rich. Good texture. Somewhat muted nose.

Strong American oak which normally I would have an issue with but here it worked so well with the gamey, smoke, mineral, red fruit. 1999 but not old by any stretch. Really great wine that I bought on release and sorry to see go.

Blast from the past. I called Australian from early 00s. Eucalyptus nose and Rosemary finish give it away. A few years still left here.

Showing its age, but still alive and kicking. With a bouquet to die for, what a wonderful smell.

Time has melted away the babyfat and turned this Dead Arm into a poopy, sinewy, almost old-worldly shiraz. Understated fruit, refreshing acidity, smoky minerality, full of finesse.
Like it!

(17/20) Букет ароматов чёрных ягод с нотами шоколада, ванили и гуаши. Умеренная тельность, немного сухие, шероховатые танины. Во вкусе джем из чёрных ягод и шоколад. Очень приятное вино.

Christmas dinner at home. The wine sat in my cellar for fifteen years. It opens up beautifully over two hours. Chewy. Cherry. Perfect with roast beef. Great structure.

Deep full bodied wine with notes of dark berries and spices. Surprisingly complex wine with good tannins that develop with some decanting.

1999 Dead Arm with dinner at Martin Wishart's, Edinburgh. Great holiday!