By James Atkinson
d'Arenberg winemaker Chester Osborn (depicted left) this week revealed 15 site specific wines showcasing the McLaren Vale label's unique individual vineyards as part of its 100th birthday celebrations.
The 'Amazing Sites' project comprises three single vineyard Grenache wines as well as 12 single vineyard Shiraz – the latter of which are the components of d'Arenberg's flagship wine, The Dead Arm Shiraz.
Each 'Amazing Sites' Shiraz represents about eight barrels of a specific site with the remainder contributing to the blend of The Dead Arm, Chester's pride of each vintage.
At an exclusive media launch this week, Osborn told journalists that his dedication to minimal intervention in the vineyard and his insistence on small batch winemaking had allowed him gain a rare insight into each individual site. [continues below]
The 'Amazing Sites' Shiraz set
He said d'Arenberg had long kept site specific parcels of fruit separate through the winemaking process, which had been integral in the building of the quality and reputation of The Dead Arm over nearly two decades.
"The Dead Arm has always been a blend of many fascinating parcels of fruit from vineyard sites around the Vale owned by d'Arenberg and grown by our neighbours to our specifications," Osborn said.
"As the vines have matured and the profile of our winery has grown more fruit has become available at Dead Arm quality so I can now share a small part of the blend with everyone via this 'Amazing Sites' project."
Each wine will retail for $99 per bottle and will be available from the cellar door and selected retailers from August 1.
A full dozen set of the wines (one of each) can be purchased from cellar door and comes packaged in two wooden boxes and a copy of the specially commissioned d’Arenberg 'Amazing Sites' map, which depicts the eccentric Osborn as a wild pixie exploring the area.