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Region
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Variety
Shiraz
Viognier
Tasting Notes
Vivid dark purple in color. The viognier adds fragrance and the perfume of
flowers, nectarines, ginger and herbs, serving to enhance the very ripe spectrum
of the shiraz - blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry.
These same characters are also evident on the palate and prevail with a smooth
glycerol impact, following through to the mid palate with fruity tannin. The
structure has an accent on fine structure and gritty long fruit tannin.
After time in bottle the d’Arenberg’s Laughing Magpie’s flavors should intensify.
The restrained tannin and acidity will produce a seamless velvety rolling length
with age. Background
The bushland that surrounds the family’s vineyards is home to the unique native
Australian bird, the Kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Much to the
amusement of the family, the daughters of winemaker, Chester, called their two
wild pet Kookaburra’s the “Laughing Magpies”. The Magpie, a black and white bird
bears no resemblance to its famous cousin, but to this day the likeable Kookaburra is
known at the winery as the “Laughing Magpie”.
The Osborns thought the name a good choice for the black Shiraz variety and its
white partner, Viognier. This style was originally made famous in the Côte Rotie
district of France’s Rhone Valley.
Accolades
2004
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
Issue 161
92 pts
2003
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
October 2004/Issue 155
90 pts
2002
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
August 2003/Issue 148
93 pts
Wine Spectator
December 15, 2003
91 pts
2001
Wine Spectator
July 2002
91 pts
Wine & Spirits
October 2002
91 pts
View all accolades
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