The Sardanapalian Shiraz
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, grilled ribeye steak, rich venison stew
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after Sardanapalus, the legendary Assyrian king famed for his luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyle, 'The Sardanapalian' is an opulent, voluptuous single-vineyard Shiraz that truly lives up to its moniker. Sourced from the cool, sandy soils of the Blewitt Springs sub-region in McLaren Vale, this wine benefits from ancient vines that produce concentrated, highly aromatic fruit. True to d'Arenberg's traditionalist philosophy, the grapes undergo foot-treading and gentle basket-pressing before maturing in a mixture of new and old French and American oak. The result is a wonderfully decadent, complex red boasting dark berry fruits, exotic spices, and velvety, fine-grained tannins.
🍾 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
Shiraz 100%
🍷 ABV
14.5%