The Laughing Magpie

We've been ill for a week.  Normal service has now resumed, what better to blow away the cobwebs than a nice, old Aussie.

Name                The Laughing Magpie
Vintage              2002
Country              Australia
Region               Mclaren Vale
Grape                Shiraz Viognier
Maker                D'Arenberg
% Alc                 14.5%
Price                  £?About 15?
Source               Winos

This old boy, threw a whole load of crud at the bottom of the bottle, usually a good sign of a light touch in the winery.  The wine is still quite purple for it's age, whilst showing a little of the bricky red of age.

MMMMMM.  This is lovely.  This wine is so rich, brambly and autumnal fruit compote.  With some eucalyptus, licorice and leathery bite,  It has mouth filling fruit and spice with a real length (with a bit of a boozy tail).

A really profound experience, no chance of this one passing you by; it's intense, delicious, and we reckon around about £15 so well spent. Makes the £10 - 12 that you pay for a box-fresh d'Arenberg so convincing, that we really ought to commit some real time and currency to this maker.