D'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2015 is an iconic McLaren Vale Shiraz renowned for its exceptional concentration, structure, and aging potential. Crafted from a selection of old and mature vines, this flagship wine reveals intense aromas of blackberry, dark plum, black cherry, spice, black olive, and savoury herbs, complemented by hints of licorice and fine oak. Full-bodied yet beautifully balanced, it delivers velvety tannins, vibrant freshness, and remarkable depth, culminating in a long, elegant finish. A benchmark Australian Shiraz, it pairs superbly with grilled beef, lamb, game, and richly flavoured dishes, while rewarding careful cellaring for years to come.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96
Published: Sep 26, 2018
Drink: 2020-2035

Black cherries and black olives mark the nose of the 2015 The Dead Arm Shiraz, d'Arenberg's flagship bottling. It's a blend of older and younger vines from different sites, depending on what the fruit has to offer. Full-bodied, concentrated and firmly structured, it's nevertheless velvety on the long finish, picking up hints of licorice and tarragon. It should be approachable sooner than The Coppermine Road Cabernet, but it still deserves a couple of years in the cellar.

One suspects that Chester Osborne, of flamboyant shirt fame, has grown his family's wine empire beyond all imaginings. The family purchased 160 acres in McLaren Vale in 1912 and built their winery in 1927; first crush was in 1928. Vineyard holdings now cover 500 acres. For years, much of the wine was sold in bulk to Penfolds. No doubt that helped shape the house style, as Osborne says, "I'm not shy of tannins." The bulk of the vast range revolves around McLaren Vale stalwarts like Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, but Osborne has expanded the range with offers as diverse as white Rhône-style blends, botrytis Riesling and (his latest) Mencía, which Osborne claims ripens later than Shiraz, hence avoiding the worst of the summer temperatures. His visionary Cube—a multisensorial exhibit/fine dining restaurant/tasting room—made waves when it was first proposed and has attracted a huge number of visitors since it was completed. Time constraints being what they are on trips like this, I didn't have a chance to try out the restaurant, where the average meal is something like ten courses and four hours. Maybe next time.

James Suckling | JS 94
Published: Jun 7, 2018

The 2015 Dead Arm is a great and formidable wine. It is packed with deeply concentrated dark-plum and blackberry aromas and flavors. There is a streak of red, spicy, smoky and meaty complexity, as well as a genius fusion of power and elegance. Best from 2022. Screw cap.

Vivino | Vivino 4.2

Dark, vibrant, polished appearance with a dense red crimson hue. The aroma showing superb fruit characters dominated with red fruits, plum, spices, red cherries, cranberry, white and green pepper and blueberry notes against a back drop of very fine oak. The flavours are ripe; red fruits, cherries, plums and black olives with edges of dried garden herbs.

Darenberg.com.au

This is one of the more pure fruited versions of this iconic wine that we have seen in recent times. Highly aromatic in the early stages of its life, the nose is dominated by an array of perfectly ripe berry fruits and spicy notes. The dark, earthy and savoury characters that we are well accustomed to, whilst present, seem to be taking a back seat. Nonetheless, they play an integral role in adding depth and complexity here. The palate is similarly positioned, showing almost restrained fruit weight but great depth of flavour and wonderful brightness. What hasn't changed is that line of fine, lively tannins that present themselves early and drive the wine from start to finish, drawing fruit flavour along with them.