The Noble Prankster
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, fruit tarts, crème brûlée
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by the famously eccentric Chester Osborn of d'Arenberg, 'The Noble Prankster' is a luscious, botrytis-affected sweet white wine that pays homage to the benevolent trickery of Botrytis cinerea—the 'noble rot.' This fungus, which initially appears as a destructive mold, miraculously dehydrates the grapes, concentrating their sugars, acids, and flavors to produce a nectar of extraordinary complexity. Sourced from select vineyards in South Australia, the grapes are left on the vine to encourage the onset of botrytis. The resulting juice is fermented slowly to retain its vibrant, honeyed aromatics, stone fruit richness, and striking acidity, balancing the intense sweetness with a clean, lively finish. The name itself reflects the whimsical nature of the winery, celebrating the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of sweet winemaking.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn, d'Arenberg stands as an iconic pillar of McLaren Vale viticulture, stewarded today by fourth-generation chief winemaker Chester Osborn. The estate spans undulating coastal landscapes influenced by the moderating maritime winds of the Gulf St Vincent, resting upon complex, ancient geologies ranging from calcareous Terra Rossa to sandy loam and weathered limestone. Viticulture is rigorous and certified organic and biodynamic across all estate-owned and leased vineyards. While renowned for formidable Rhone-style reds, d'Arenberg's white winemaking upholds identical artisanal rigor: gentle whole-bunch basket pressing ensures minimal phenolics and purity of expression. From the racy, textural The Money Spider Roussanne and crisp The Dry Dam Riesling to the lusciously layered botrytised expressions The Noble Semillon and The Noble Botryotinia Fuckeliana, the wines epitomize balance, crystalline minerality, and vibrant natural acidity.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier
🍷 ABV
10% - 11.5%