Reviews & Ratings

2011 d'Arenberg Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French) "The Old Bloke and Three Blondes"

Winery: d'Arenberg

Vintage: 2011

Wine Name/Vineyard: "The Old Bloke and Three Blondes"

Wine Category: Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French)

Grape blend: 91% Shiraz, 3% Roussanne, 3% Viognier & 3% Marsanne

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: McLaren Vale

State or country: Australia

Price: $200

Cases produced: unknown

KWG Score: 92 (based on 1 review)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (92)

Review date: June 24, 2017

Wine Review: This dark ruby colored wine has a funny name, but is a serious wine. It opens with a strawberry and red plum bouquet with a hint of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a mineral infused plum with notes of oak and black pepper. The finish is dry and its flavors and moderate tannins stick around for quite some time. I would pair this gem with a pork tenderloin. Enjoy – Ken

Winemaker Notes: The Old Bloke is a Shiraz dominant blend with Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne, three white Rhone varieties that d'Arenberg planted in McLaren Vale in the 1990's. These 'young blondes' add fragrance, spice and length to the 'old bloke', which is sourced from d'Arenberg's oldest Shiraz vines. Some might joke that the old bloke is Chester, and the three young blondes are his daughters, the fifth generation who will carry on the d'Arenberg tradition. The Shiraz offers a nose brimming with dark, earthen fruits, woody spices and rich blackberry aromas. Viognier adds fragrance in the form of apricot, ginger and florals, Roussanne delivers an exotic, dried almond and papaya note, and the Marsanne contributes pistachio and yellow stonefruit. The palate is generous, with layers of fruit characters that ebb and flow through the entire length. The tannin structure is unique, thanks to the mingling of red and white phenolics. A complex and alluring wine that evolves in the glass. So much individual character and much to take in, but somehow we are left with a sense of harmony between the old bloke and the three young blondes.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell d'Arenberg 2011 The Old Bloke and Three Blondes.