澳洲Shiraz Viognier Blend典范，d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2006
d’Arenberg 座落于Mclaren Vale建于1912。在1959年，Francis把标志性的斜红条放到了酒标上。其中一款Cabernet Sauvignon在Royal Melbourne Wine Show赢得了Jimmy Watson Trophy，还有另一款以Grenache为主的酒从澳洲主要城市的酒展中获得7个Trophies，29个金牌。很容易理解在1970年代d’Arenberg是多么的流行，并且在接下来的20年里在澳洲和国际里建立形象。d’Arenberg在Sydney International Top 100 Competition的“最成功的酒庄”赛项中连续2年赢了The Wine Society Perpetual Trophy。
他们用一款源于法国Burgundy的Demoisy rubber toothed crusher，这个压榨器工作的时候非常温柔，因此一些来自葡萄园的并藏于葡萄中的蜥蜴可以从压榨器里逃出来。几乎不会压碎葡萄，因为将滚筒展得很开，葡萄不会层叠而过。
McLaren Vale’s 的气候属于地中海类型，温暖干燥的夏天和凉爽潮湿的的冬天，较低的相对适度和较高的蒸发度。地中海类型就是有较少的温度波动，平均一月的温度为21.7℃。年降雨量为650－700mm，在10月至4月的降雨量为150-200mm。这表示冬天的大部分时间是下雨的。McLaren Vale’s的土壤也是多种多样，从瘦瘠的灰化土、肥沃的红棕色土壤、石灰石红土、黑色石灰土、soldolic、到黑色破碎的土壤都有。
他们采用传统的Basket press，这种方法很费劳动力，但是可以控制压榨的程度和非常的温柔。为了减少白葡萄的氧化程度，用一个大的塑料袋和一些干冰，然后包住整个basket。这是澳洲里唯一一个酒庄用这种旧方法来处理白葡萄。Chester相信basket pressing的优势是得到干净的果汁，这是由于，果汁被大量的果肉过滤。
以上是翻译自酒庄网站的。现身说法，平常价为27澳元，这瓶是shiraz blend viognier。Shiraz占90％，viognier占10％。d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie可以说是澳洲shiraz viognier的其一示范酒。我的感觉是年轻，重酒体，丰富，有力，口感上viognier份量少了一些。确实是好酒。我给92分。
Robert Parker在07年10月份的给分是92分，评价如下：Deep crimson/violet in color, it offers up notes of cherry, ginger, black tea, tar, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, layered flavors of cherry, blueberry, and dark chocolate make an appearance accompanied by ripe tannin and excellent concentration leading to a long, refined finish. It will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2020.’ Magpie 2005他给93分。
酒庄网上说06年是他们最好的一个年份，特别是shiraz，大家可以留意这个年份的Dead Arm。其品评如下：Very dark saturated appearance and a violet-crimson hue suggesting a complex dry red. The aroma is very intense with mix of dark Maraschino cherries, spiced fruit skins and obvious notes of apricot stones, crushed ginger and mandarin peel. As the wine opens up further notes of black roasted teas, black olive and smoky tarry notes evolve with a fragrant lift of violets and lilies. The palate is full flavoured with ripe, juicy, soft, mouth-filling, fruit flavours with notes of cranberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, cherries and dark chocolate/carob. The herbaceous edges keep the palate in check. Overall balance is excellent with the oak suppressed by dark fruit while the floral tea-like tannins are abundant and silky acidity gives the wine great definition. The finish is long, juicy and pointed with blackcurrant and jube flavours and a mineral note pushing through. The concentration and life of this wine suggests it will greatly benefit with further bottle aging for 10 years or more.
