2008 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm
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The 2008 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm is a superb effort in a difficult vintage. It’s a deep, meaty Shiraz that delivers an exotic array of pepper, bramble, blood, and lavender like qualities that flow to a full-bodied, balanced, and long Shiraz that’s kept vibrant and clean by juicy acidity and ripe tannin. It’s certainly a fun drink now, yet it should evolve effortlessly for 12-15 years.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2008 The Dead Arm Shiraz has a reduced rubber character to begin then pronounced aromas of warm blackberries, licorice, earth, thyme, moss and a whiff of game. Crisp, full and very concentrated in the mouth, it has firm, very fine tannins and a long earthy finish. Give it another year or two in bottle and drink it 2013 to 2020. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA, www.oldbridgecellars.com
Glass-staining purple. Dark berries, licorice, Indian spices, violet and cocoa powder on the highly complex nose. Concentrated and tactile, with superb depth and noteworthy definition to the black cherry and dark berry preserve flavors. Wonderfully broad but lively on the long, sappy, penetrating finish. The tannins are chewy but in no way dry or hard. The wine's excellent fruit will allow for early drinking.