d’Arenberg is one of the best names in the Australian wine business, but it doesn’t mean all of their wines are out of reach.  Rather, you can actually get a hold of some of their offerings, d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz for about a Hamilton.  Is it as delicious as some of their up market selection like Dead Arm or Hermit Crab?

Sight:  A deep ruby edge hides a more garnet and amethyst core.

Smell:   The nose is spicy, and with notes of tobacco and baking spices.  Jammy, sun baked plums and blackberries come out and mingle slightly with a boozy note.  Concentrated black cherry saturates some of the rest of the nose.

Sip:  The body is heavier than expected, and leans into some more savory elements like black olives and tea.  The spicing carries over, and adds more of a cigar flavor, but the fruit isn’t lost.  Concentrated unripe blackberries and plum come to play, and are complimented by cherries.

Savor:  The ending pulls in black pepper and cloves, with touches of blackberries.  The tannins come to play nicely here.

d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz is more on the brooding side of the red wine spectrum.  The sheer amount of dark fruit and concentration, mixed with spices and earthy notes, lend this wine a lot of complexity and depth.  The flavors fire on all cylinders, but are more raw power than fine finesse.  That said, at $10, d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz is well crafted, and delicious for folks that like their red wines a little more grippy and powerful.

Verdict:  Blackberry, Spice, Plum, Earthy, Brooding
Rating: 81
Price: $10
McLaren Vale, Australia

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