Description The Old Bloke is Shiraz, which merges blissfully with Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne, three white (blonde) Rhone varieties that d’Arenberg planted in McLaren Vale in the 1990’s. These ‘young blondes’ add fragrance, spice and length to the ‘old bloke’Heavily spiced nose with rich dark plums, blackcurrants and a darker, iodine-like edge. The palate is tightly wound and youthful, with mouth-puckering tannins and a long, drawn-out finish. The flavour profile consists of a complex textural quality with ripe dark plums, blackberries, herbs and roasted beetroot. "... this is powerful expression equipped with some serious tannins, but there’s a relative levity and suppleness, too. Damson, blackberry pastille, dried black cherry, cacao nibs, brown cardamom, cassia, mace and clove..., but all is proportionate and aligned...95pts" (Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion).
With nearly 200 years of winemaking history, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and today home to 177 wineries. Protected by mountains and the sea, the McLaren Vale wine region is a veritable smorgasbord of wine styles and just a short 45-minute road-trip from Adelaide to McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is actually the first place in South Australia where vines were planted. Multi-generational wineries are commonplace here. Vineyards stretch from the Mount Lofty Ranges way out to the sea. "McLaren Vale has many secrets waiting to be discovered, from the folds of its ever-changing landscape, to its small restaurants and cellar doors and the spectacular d’Arenberg Cube." – James Halliday. There is a wealth of experimental winemakers here, with winemakers constantly pushing the boundaries and setting new benchmarks. Having said that, McLaren Vale is renowned for Rhone red varieties such as Shiraz and Grenache. Another hotbed for delicious wine is Fleurieu surrounded by beautiful beaches and temperate weather.
McLaren Vale is demarcated by its various elevations and soils into several distinctive sub-regions. They include Blewitt Springs, where the wines “have a unique structure, texture, flavour and style, elegant yet highly aromatic and effortlessly flavoured” - James Halliday. Other sub-regions include Willunga, Sellicks, Seaview and McLaren Flat. “Grenache is McLaren Vale’s secret weapon – not merely Australia’s best, but every bit as good as that of the Rhône Valley.” – James Halliday.
