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Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it's an offence:
- to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years )
Penalty exceeds $6,000)
- for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or
receive liquor. (Penalty exceeds $500)
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White Wine > Other Varieties > d’Arenberg ’The Hermit Crab’ Viognier Marsanne 2008
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NOTES
The close proximity of the vineyards to the Gulf St. Vincent induces a beneficial cooling effect on the grapes. Many of McLaren Vale’s vineyards are on free-draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that to this day inhabits the cast-off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale’s first ever Marsanne Viognier blend and the fact that “Hermit” is an abbreviation for the name of the region in France where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.
TASTING NOTES
A very expressive dry white, with aromas that suggest some cooler climate characters when compared to previous years. Fresh lifted aromas of rose petals, apricot juice, with a dry herb flowery note coming through, and then finally a lovely green kernel character appears. The palate is generous and quite rich, but straight away the fruit characters are quite tight and controlled. There lots of interesting flavours from the cool flavour spectrum of cold, wet, river pebbles to a slight green almond to a lovely expressive ripe figs and apricot stones. The finish is quite long and focused with an unusual nettle character appearing that’s reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc that pushes out amongst the mix of ripe fruits, minerals and dried herbs.
Its one of those wines that as you drink it you have an overwhelming feeling this wine is just poised to take you somewhere interesting.
OTHER NOTES
It is a blend of 70% Viognier and 30% Marsanne, with one third of the blend being aged in new and used American oak. The nose was odd, and I struggled a bit trying to identify the aromas but as I edged sideways I did see pineapple and minerals, lemon pulp and some herbs – an odd combination. The palate showed savoury tropical fruits, a full and viscous mouthfeel, but not fat at all, and then a mineral finish. An interesting wine. - 88 Points Gary Walsh, Winorama February 24 2007
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