The Love Grass 2017 is a Shiraz straight from the d’Arenberg playbook. As a young wine when first opened, it may appear closed, dark and brooding. Tar, earth and black liquorice. Air and time both help to massage out the abundant sweet fruits, blackberry and plum with an undertone of fennel and spice. In a similar way, the palate starts quite muscular and tight but over time relaxes into a more generous juicy wine. As the juicy fruit evolves the initially rustic tannins start to settle into it like sinking into a plush armchair. The strong earth characters are a nod to the organic and biodynamic principles adopted in the vineyard. The character of the fruit is gently supported, rather than dominated, by savoury old oak barrels. All in all, this is a structural wine that over-delivers at the price point and will certainly benefit from decanting whilst rewarding those with the patience to cellar it well for 5 to 10 years
Lovegrass is a weed that grows in the vineyards and its sticky flowers affectionately attach themselves to vineyard workers’ socks. This Shiraz will linger with you in the same way that the flowers do!