The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier - d'Arenberg

The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier from d'Arenberg in the McLaren Vale wine region of South Australia is a seductive, finesse-rich and complex red wine cuvée from the Shiraz and Viognier grape varieties. 

In the glass, this wine possesses a dark purple color with a black core. The wonderful nose impresses with primary aromas of dark fruits and a floral, cool minty note. Wonderful hints of spice and subtle smoky nuances then develop in the glass. The robust and concentrated palate reveals itself with great intensity, perceptible in the expressiveness of its fruit aromas. Notes of raspberries, plums, blackberries and blueberries, underlined by spices, complete The mouthfeel. Fragrant mineral-silky tannins also unfold on the palate, giving this Australian red wine an excellent structure and an extremely impressive length.

Vinification of the Shiraz Viognier Laughing Magpie d'Arenberg

After the Shiraz and Viognier grapes are harvested, the crop is immediately taken to the d'Arenberg winery. There, the berries are gently crushed in small batches and fed into open fermenters. The two grape varieties are fermented together. Two-thirds are tamped down with the feet during fermentation. The mash is then pressed through a basket and transferred to French oak barrels for further fermentation. This red wine is aged on its lees during barrel fermentation. 

Food Pairing for the d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie

Enjoy this dry red wine from Australia with beef tenderloin, dark meat dishes such as goulash or with the Asian classic Peking duck.

The name The Laughing Magpie

The vineyards and bushland around the d'Arenberg winery have always been home to an Australian bird called the Kookaburra, famous for its characteristic laughing call. Much to the family's delight, Chester Osborn's daughters, Alicia and Ruby, gave the name ''Laughing Magpies'' to two wild kookaburras that regularly visited the house. 

Awards for d'Arenberg's The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier

Stephen Tanzer: 90 points for 2014

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