95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2000

Year in and year out d'Arenberg's finest cuvee is their spectacular Shiraz made from 100+ year old, head-pruned vines. It is an exquisite, multi-dimensional wine that is sure to make a formidable impression with readers. It is aged in 100% new oak, tipping the scales at a whopping 14.9% alcohol, yet has a glorious level of fruit and extract. The 1997 Dead Arm Shiraz exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a sweet nose of vanillin, blackberries, and licorice. The wood frames this enormously concentrated, rich, chewy wine. Multi-layered, with phenomenal concentration and length as well as moderately high tannin levels, it will be at its finest after 2-5 years of cellaring, and will keep for two decades. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars (Rob McDonald), San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 863-9463

90 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, August 1999

Deep ruby-red. Sappy aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, licorice, roast coffee and smoky oak; hints of exotic fruits. Roasted dark berries complicated by notes of coffee, mocha and chocolate; fat and creamy but rather backward today. Finishes with slightly gritty tannins that will require patience. 90(+?) points

91 points,

Wine Spectator, January 1999

Firm in texture and generous with its bright berry, spice and slightly gamy flavors, nicely focused to display the fruit. Flavors persist impressively on the round finish. Best from 2001 through 2010. 600 cases imported. –HS

About Winery

One of the undisputed kings of Australian Shiraz and Rhone varietals. With vineyards over 100 years old and utilizing minimal handling techniques that include the use of 19th century basket presses (for both white and red wines), foot treading and small batch fermentations, the range displays incredible depth, from the flagship Icon's right through to the entry level "The Stump Jump's". Owned by the same family since its founding in 1912 - four generations of learning have provided current Chief Winemaker, Chester Osborn, with an intimate knowledge of his vineyards (now totaling over 270 acres). One of Australia's greatest producers of old vine shiraz and grenache - one of the few wineries to boast vineyards that are over 100 years old - provides the estate with fruit of incredible intensity. A pioneer of McLaren Vale - over the decades d'Arenberg has introduced many wines that have become defining styles for the region and today remains an industry innovator, championing such varieties as viognier, marsanne and roussanne. Unique fruit handling procedures - d'Arenberg is perhaps the only Australian winery to utilize nineteenth century basket presses in making all of its wines (both white and red) - this provides extremely gentle pressing and avoids excessive extraction. Their crushing techniques are so gentle that the odd lizard that gets caught up in the receival bins actually survive! Foot treading (in rubber waders!) of the red varieties is a time honored practice at d'Arenberg.

Shipping Details

This is a pre-arrival item. You will be contacted once this product has arrived at our warehouse to arrange delivery.

Need it faster? Call us now at (888) 859-4637 for special arrangements.

Free storage available. We offer free 6 months storage for any wine purchased at JJ Buckley. We highly recommend storing your wines during the summer months to avoid heat damage during shipment.

For a shipping quote, add this product to your shopping cart. From there you will be able to enter a zipcode and get a detailed quote. For full details on our shipping policies, click here.