1993 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Cabernet Shiraz

Dead Arm, you say, what the hell is that? Dead Arm is a vineyard disease (phomppsis viticola) caused by a fungus and predominantly evident in high rain fall areas - the fungus actually attacks the cane and it literally turns to pulp. The cure is to spray against the fungus, and quite frankly it's sheer negligence for it occur. The benefit that d'Arenberg claim dead arm confers to the vine is a reduced yield - Chester ol' buddy, have you not heard of keeping a healthy vineyard and reducing the number of buds on each cane! Anyhow, full marks in attempting to turn adversity into a virtue. Having said all that the wine is very good indeed, and you can rest assured you won't suffer from any "dead arms" having consumed the wine!Deep brick red colour. Uplifted spicy stewed fruit and ripe dark plum nose, all well integrated with oak and just a touch of old fashioned "farmyard" in the background. The palate has good weight, lots of ripe plummy fruit flavours persisting over a "farmyard" background. Fine tannins and good acid levels - a wine of character and flavour that needs another 5 - 8 years to reach its peak.