A Southern Australia Red Blend

A Southern Australia Red Blend: Wine Reviewed
D’Arenberg D’Arry’s Original 2004 13.0% alcohol about $15

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Description : A perennial favorite of Robert Parker Jr., the 2004 earned a 91 (his web site, Oct. 2006). This Grenache/Shiraz blend displays aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, roses, and menthol with coffee and caramel in the background. The wine lands softly on the palate, and finishes long and smooth. And now for my review.
D'Arenberg vineyards in moderate priced wine

There was a bottle cap problem; I needed a wrench to twist open the cap after cutting it. At the first sips this wine showed harsh acidity. So it tried it without food on the following day to see if this near defect would go away. It did, and I tasted caramel and dark plums. My first meal was a boxed vegetarian lasagna containing ricotta and mozzarella cheese. I slathered it with grated parmesan cheese. At first I noted a harshness in the wine’s acidity. As the meal went on, the harshness predominated. This was really too bad because the blend displayed lots of good fruit, oak, and caramel.

This review of A Southern Australia Red Blend continues on my website.