[South Australia] Get Ready for Christmas Party!!

The Laughing Magpie

The last wine I would like to recommend for Christmas party from Watson’s Wine Christmas promotion is a Red wine from McLaren Vale South Australia, D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie. D'Arenberg winery was established in 1912. All the wine is made from old and low yielding vines using traditional techniques to obtain a rich fruity flavor. Their wine labels are full of creativeness, each wine has different design and drawing. Dead Arm is one of the masterpieces with 100% of Shiraz, it is worth to try but, the price is not cheap, and not suit for party use. The Laughing Magpie is made with 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier of white grape, a traditional blend from Northern Rhône. The price is less than HK $200, suit for party use. 

“The Laughing Magpie” is an Australian native bird, which has a special laughing sound. The original name is Kookaburra, this Magpie has black and white stripe feather. We could see their footprints surrounding the D’Arenderg winery. Then, it inspired the winemaker that Laughing Magpie will be good to name a blend of black (Shiraz) and white (Viognier) grapes wine. There is a winemaking procedure I need to mention, D’Arenderg is the only winery in Australia who uses old-fashion Basket Pressing for all the wines. This pressing style yields cleaner wine or juice. By spending less time to filter, it can achieve minimal interference. Then, the wine will be transferred to French and American oak barrel for aging.         

My Taste Note: The one I tasted is vintage 2008, famous Australian wine critic James Halliday rated 94 scores and wine critics Robert Parker rated 91 scores. It shows dark purple color. On the nose it has ripe fruit such as blackberry, nutmeg, mint, spices and oak. The palate has supple tannins, pleasant acid, full body and dry but Jammy. Overall, this wine is fruity, balance acid with powerful Shiraz flavors. Although, this is an easy drinking and fruity wine, but it has plenty of depth for aftertaste.    

                                                              Dead Arm

最後一枝酒我想推薦給大家在聖誕節Party享用的, 是來自南澳洲的McLaren Vale (麥克拉倫谷) D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie. 這款酒都是在葡萄酒店Watson’s Wine的聖誕推廣內. D'Arenberg 酒莊在1912年建立. 釀造它們的酒全部都是來自老和低產量的葡萄樹和用傳統工藝來得到最濃厚的果香或味道. 它們的酒標充滿創意和想像力,每一款酒都有不同設計和圖案. Dead Arm是其中一枝代表做, 用了100% Shiraz(西拉)釀製,是很值得一試,但是價錢比較貴,不宜在Party飲用. The Laughing Magpie用了94% Shiraz(西拉) and 6% Viognier (維歐尼耶)白葡萄,這是法國北隆河(Rhône)的傳統調配. 價錢是低於HK$200,從價錢上這款酒會適宜在Party上飲用.

“The Laughing Magpie”是一種澳洲本土鳥帶有一種特殊的笑聲. 它的原名是叫Kookaburra,外形是黑色和帶有白色條紋的羽毛. 圍繞著D’Arenderg酒莊都可以見到它們的足跡. 之後它就啟發了釀酒師Laughing Magpie很適合改給這款黑(Shiraz)白(Viognier)葡萄調配酒的酒名. 在釀酒過程中,其中一項是很值得一提, D’Arenderg是澳洲唯一的酒莊會用傳統Basket Pressing(在木籃內壓渣),這種壓渣方法可以釀造出更清晰的果汁或酒,用比較少時間來過濾,可以做到跟葡萄酒最少的接觸,但是需要更多的人力. 之後就會轉到法國和美國橡木桶內成熟.

我的品酒筆記: 我是品嚐2008年,出名的澳洲評酒家James Halliday 給了94分, 評酒家Robert Parker給了91分. 這款酒帶有深紫色. 在香氣上有成熟果香例如黑莓, Nutmeg(肉荳蔻),薄荷,香料和橡木. 口感帶有柔軟單寧,宜人的酸,厚身和乾型紅酒不過它帶有Jammy的感覺. 整體這款酒是Fruity,平衡的酸度有強勁的Shiraz味道. 雖然這款酒比較容易入口和Fruity,但是After Taste有的一層一層果味慢慢顯示出來.