The Hunjee Heartstring Montepulciano
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Wood-fired sausage pizza, slow-cooked beef ragù, grilled lamb chops
✨ wine.spec_sheet
d'Arenberg's 'The Hunjee Heartstring' Montepulciano showcases the estate's adventurous spirit and the exceptional suitability of Italian varieties to the warm, maritime climate of McLaren Vale. The name 'Hunjee Heartstring' is born from Chester Osborn's signature eccentric imagination, capturing the emotional tug and vibrant energy of this rustic grape. True to d'Arenberg's heritage, the grapes are gently crushed in vintage open fermenters, foot-trodden, and basket-pressed. The wine is aged in older French oak barriques to allow the primary dark fruit characteristics and natural, savory complexity of the Montepulciano grape to shine through without being overshadowed by dominant wood characters.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the heart of McLaren Vale, South Australia, d'Arenberg is a historic, family-owned winery currently guided by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn. Renowned for its traditional, hands-on approach, the estate utilizes very old basket presses and practices foot-treading for all its red wines, maintaining a steadfast commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winery is celebrated for its highly characterful, complex wines with distinctive, quirky names, most notably its flagship 'The Dead Arm' Shiraz, alongside exceptional Grenache and Rhône-style blends. Today, the estate seamlessly blends its rich heritage with avant-garde innovation, epitomized by the iconic d'Arenberg Cube visitor center rising above the ancient vines.