D'Arenberg

The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier

• 

  Vintage 2017
  90 points

Quite a savory expression with dark plums,

dried blackberries and violets, as well as

fine-ground, toasted brown-spice notes,

such as cloves, cardamon and mace. The

palate holds a compact, flavorful stance with fine tannins wrapping dark-fruit flavors and cocoa-like notes neatly into the finish. Drink now.

• 

  Vintage 2017
  90 points Halliday Wine Companion

I listed this wine eons ago as a sommelier in New York and Tokyo. Curious to see if the style has shifted – it has. Fresher, more medium-bodied, with better integrated oak. Iodine, olive, tomato leaf, blue- and black-fruit aspersions and reductive violet aromas. A bit of a blunt finish, but will have its fans.