d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2001 750mL

Upon release, ‘The Dead Arm’ Shiraz has a vivid, young, dense, purple-red colour. Very intense aromas with a complex combination of fragrant spices and violets, dark cherry, blackberry and blueberry, are made more complex with great liquorice, pepper and integrated svelte of boot-polish like characters. The taste is rich, gutsy and virile, with attacking spice, dark liquorice, cherry, blackberry, plum and dried black olive. The level of fruit weight masks the framework of oak tannins; however, the mineral fruit grittiness is balanced with a very long fruit-fragrant, persistent spice will yield a wine of great ageing power.

Wine Spectator Web Only  Dense and distinctive for its spicy, licorice-scented black cherry and berry flavors, solid at the center but it feels tightly wound and unwilling to open up. Maybe with time, but this doesn't show the depth and length Dead Arm usually achieves. Tasted four times, with bottle variation. ..... read more

Wine Advocate  Readers should be on the look out for the 2001 The Dead Arm Shiraz, one of the greatest examples of this cuvee. Its dense black/purple color is accompanied by celestial aromas of melted licorice, graphite, blackberries, cassis, incense, anise, and toasty oak. Fabulously concentrated, with great purity, an unctuous, viscous texture, and an amazingly long, 60-second plus finish. ..... read more