Thanks for the detailed reviews on this wine. I bought some yesterday.

I've never tried the Dead Arm and was curious if there is another wine you could compare it to. I have found it locally for $58 and am thinking of picking some up.

CW - Pick up a few, and wait about 6-8 years You'll be glad you did!!!

Decanted 5 hours, poured back into bottle, then served 3 hours after that. Dark purple/black colour; opaque. Stains the glass. Aromas of eucalyptus, cassis, alcohol, violets, and black plums. Full-bodied with vanilla, pepper, cassis, and blackcurrant. Moderate finish, ~35-40s with black pepper and cassis. 91 points (11/06/2004).

Futronic-

I'll chime in on your side here.

After 2 bottles of the 2002 Dead Arm, I am not overwhelmed. Granted I only gave it 4 hours on night one, but I did try it on day 2 after vacuvin. While it was better, I think Parkers 92+ rating is perfect for this bottle. What it will become I'm not sure. But it is not more than this now.

The 2001 is far more full bodied. Bordering from ungainly to disjointed, as it seems too much is stuffed haphazardly together, the 2001 still is loaded with blueberry blackberry and pepper. This wine needs time. I prefer it to the 2002, though I believe Parker got carried away when he gave it 98+. The latter 2002 is really a monolithic medium bodied Shiraz and offers little different than the Lghng Magpie
[ which also did little for me], or other decent but unspectacular Shirazi, yet is twice the price.

I have enjoyed the '98 most on release out of bottle. To drop $60 on the 2002 is pushing it, imo. I bought 5 bottles, drank 2, sold 1, and will carry 2 into the future just for kicks, because TORB likes it. In 2002, if you're looking for Shiraz, and if you're used to Massena, Two Hands, Mitolo, Amon Ra and other producers in the same and lower price ranges, you can do far better than the Dead Arm .

I agree that 2001 is better than 2002, and has better aging potential. 2002 should be better than 2000, however.

Keep in mind that we get a great deal on Dead Arm up here - $50CAD ($41USD), inclusive of taxes. Note that the difference in price was much more pronounced when our dollar wasn't doing as well.

I don't buy too many Aussie wines, although I've purchased this each of the past four vintages. Who knows how many more I'll be buying this. It just depends on price, quality, and what else is being released that month in Ontario.

had some of the possibly heat damaged Dead Arm last night... only a few days after it's final trip (3 week long ground trip from SoCal to VA, back to SoCal (with no attempt to deliver it), and then from SoCal to VA again....

out of the bottle it was with a muted nose and had a trace amount of fruit and absolutely no finish.... i was concerned, but it isn't like this is a pop and pour wine. we splash decanted it and let it sit for a while (an hour or so) and the fruit emerged and the finish began to exist. sooo not a totally lost situation but i don't believe this is representative of the wine/vintage nor will i be trying to age these particular bottles... they will be gone long before i get to my 2001s.

at least it wasn't a delicate wine that recieved this back and forth treatment. and if it hadn't been on sale it would not have been worth the risk to accept them imo.

2002 d'Arenberg Shiraz McLaren Vale The Dead Arm (WIML92,WA92,WS92)

Tasted October 1, 2005 at an offline so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Restaurant Series Bordeaux stem. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cocoa, blueberry, spearmint, pepper and leather. Flavors of dark fruit, dark chocolate and black cherries. Dead Arm is one of my perinial favorites for the land down under and this one is typical Dead Arm. I generally don’t recommend drinking Dead Arm for at least 5-7 years after vintage date and we’re sticking with that recommendation: hold. Recommended.

joe,

is there anyway you can give this an upside potential score?

Difficult without my crystal ball. However, I don't think it would be unreasonable to assume it has the potential to tick up a point or two with time.

2002 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz - McLaren Vale, Australia
Decanted 4 hr’s. Good nose of plum, blueberry and vanilla with a hint of pepper. Rich and bursting with concentrated blueberry, plum and blackberry flavors with ample mocha, meat, some black pepper and just a hint of mint. Silky fine and abundant tannins with excellent mouthfeel persist throughout, along with some acidity and a touch of minerality leading to a good finish. S94 7/21/2006

What's your take on a drinking-window at this point GD (besides now) ?

$60, Retail

RP 92, & I have to match it, I agree. I opened this bottle since the 01 is more than ready to go. I had to test this one out to make sure it is not maturing @ the same rate. There is no rush on this one like the 01. One can drink or hold, still plenty of nice, smooth tannins in this bottle. And, a very nice bottle of wine it is.

By the way, the 06 is hitting the retailers now, WL has it in stock. I still enjoy these, I will pick up 3 bottles.

LCC - had a 99 last night, and it seems to be in a very good place right now.

Mine start with the 01 vintage. I guess the 01 is more ready to go than the others.