WTN: Forgive me for liking an Australian Shiraz (D'Arenberg Love Grass)

Oh No! I actually liked an Australian Shiraz!

D'Arenberg The Love Grass 2005 McLaren Vale. Only $21.00

Black and inky in color. Some legs as well.

Beautiful nose of blackberry, raspberry, and bramble. Some caramel on the nose as well, but this doesn't annoy me nearly as much as it does with a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rich layers of dark fruit and plenty of spice. Also some earth notes. Quite complex and lovely-over the top, maybe, but it went well with a local cheese (Spring Hill Farm "Portugese" which is kind of a medium soft jack/parmesan in character).

I've exmplored Australian wines only briefly, and I enjoyed this one enough to buy a bottle. I like supporting my neighbors (two of the couples involved in the Winestyles live within three blocks of me) and if they bring stuff in like this, it's a pleasure to do business with them.

You know the dealer, the dealer is a man
With the love grass in his hand
Oh but the pusher is a monster
Good God, he's not a natural man
The dealer for a nickel
Lord, will sell you lots of sweet dreams

So tell us about this love grass, dude.

D'Arenberg does a splendid job with their line of wines. The Deadarm has gotten too pricy, but the Laughing Magpie is still a pretty good value. The 2004 Love Grass was funky and rough around the edges -- sounds like the '05 is better.

Thanks! I'll look for the Laughing Magpie.

I actually like a bit of funkiness, so....

[Jenise]

The Deadarm has gotten too pricy

Really? Seems to me they hit a crescendo with the '98 vintage which was going for around $70, but recent vintages have been back in the $40's and 50's. Or so I thought. Not so?

I think the current vintage was about $55. Which is pretty pricey, but obviously quite a bit lower than their peak. (It depends where you see it-the Nugget Market is not the cheapest place to buy wine).

Thanks! I'll look for the Laughing Magpie.

I actually like a bit of funkiness, so....

Tasted last night, the `05 vintage is $34 Cdn. I was talking to the agent and he says prices going down cos of our strong dollar. Wheez, times are looking good!!!!

The Deadarm has gotten too pricy

Really?

Uh, yeah. When 50 percent of Americans make less than $35K a year, and 75 percent of Americans make less than $61K a year, I don't think they're drinking $57 (the price your friends in Huntington Beach sell it for) wine nightly, if at all.

While I can buy whatever I want, I have a hard time justifying paying more than $50 a bottle for wine -- there is just too much good juice out there for considerably less.