D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2006

(shiraz with viognier) Ruby-red. Seductive red and dark berries on the nose, with deeper soy and dark chocolate notes. Fresh and juicy, with energetic blueberry and cassis flavors, a hint of violet pastille and dusty tannins. Firms up on the finish, ... Stephen Tanzer. A Proprietary Blend wine from South Australia in Australia. 2006 Arenberg, D The Laughing Magpie Shiraz / Viognier 750ml

March 2009

The vineyards and bushland that surround the d'Arenberg winery are home to a unique nativeAustralian bird, the Kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Winemaker Chester Osborn'sdaughters named their two wild pet Kookaburras the Laughing Magpies. The Magpie plumage isblack with a stripe of white feathers and bears no resemblance to its famous cousin, but the name hasstuck as it is the perfect choice for McLaren Vale's first ever Shiraz (black)/ Viognier (white) blend. The wine has a dark, saturated appearance with a violet-crimson hue. Maraschino cherries, read more...spicedfruit peel, ginger and apricot stones are apparent on the nose, with black tea, olive and tarry notesappearing as the wine opens up. The palate is soft and generous, showing juicy flavors of blueberries,ribena, cherries and dark chocolate. Tea-like tannins are abundant and combine with defined acidityto provide structure and length. The long, refined finish reveals this wine's aging potential. Rich, velvety, luscious fruit flavours saying more about McLaren Vale than viognier; chocolate rather than apricot; however, no niggles about the wine. -James Halliday The 2006 The Laughing Magpie is composed of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier. Deep crimson/violet in color, it offers up notes of cherry, ginger, black tea, tar, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, layered flavors of cherry, blueberry, and dark chocolate make an appearance accompanied by ripe tannin and excellent concentration leading to a long, refined finish. It will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2020. -Wine Advocate    (hide)

The Wine Advocate rating: 92

The vineyards and bushland that surround the d'Arenberg winery are home to a unique nativeAustralian bird, the Kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Winemaker Chester Osborn'sdaughters named their two wild pet Kookaburras the Laughing Magpies. The Magpie plumage isblack with a stripe of white feathers and bears no resemblance to its famous cousin, but the name hasstuck as it is the perfect choice for McLaren Vale's first ever Shiraz (black)/ Viognier (white) blend. The wine has a dark, saturated appearance with a violet-crimson hue. Maraschino cherries, read more...spicedfruit peel, ginger and apricot stones are apparent on the nose, with black tea, olive and tarry notesappearing as the wine opens up. The palate is soft and generous, showing juicy flavors of blueberries,ribena, cherries and dark chocolate. Tea-like tannins are abundant and combine with defined acidityto provide structure and length. The long, refined finish reveals this wine's aging potential.    (hide)

International Wine Cellar rating: 90

November 2008

NICK'S PICK! ""TERRIFIC BALANCE, SUPER SMOOTH AND VERY ELEGANT!"" - NICK'S NOTES - 92 pts from The Wine Advocate! - The 2006 The Laughing Magpie is composed of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier. Deep crimson/violet in color, it offers up notes of cherry, ginger, black tea, tar, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, layered flavors of cherry, blueberry, and dark chocolate make an appearance accompanied by ripe tannin and excellent concentration leading to a long, refined finish. It will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2020. - DArenberg read more...has been owned and operated by the Osborn family since its inception in 1912. The portfolio, with a focus on Rhone varietals, is wide-ranging and value-oriented from top to bottom. - JM Oct 07 Issue    (hide)

March 2009