UPDATE: (14/01/2021- 12.10PM) The 2018 Vintage of Dark Side of the moon Sold Out. We replaced it with the 2019 Vintage.
UPDATE: (5/01/2021- 12.18PM) This deal sold out but we just ordered some more. It should arrive in our warehouse tomorrow and deliveries will start from then.
Claymore the Dark Side of The Moon Shiraz 2018
93 Points - James Halliday Wine Companion
Shows the intensity imparted by the sites (dry-grown, low-yielding vines in Watervale and Penwortham), and it's not shy on alcohol, but this is not a 'big gutsy red' by any means. There's ripeness of fruit all through with blackberry, blueberry and plum in there, but matched with savoury, earthy notes and carried on a supple palate with perfectly balanced tannin.
Steven Creber
Published 01 August 2020
d'Arenberg The Footbolt Mclaren Vale Shiraz 2018
The Name
Joseph Osborn was a successful racehorse owner and Footbolt was the pride of his stable. In 1912 he made the hard decision to sell his horses to purchase the d’Arenberg property.
The Vintage
Quite a wet winter with July, August and September being way above average in rainfall. October, November and December were a little below average and January, February and March were more or less bone
dry. Temperatures were mild until late January, so vines seemed to be delayed and harvest appeared like it was again going to be late. However, a few hot days and nights brought the ripening forward with slight
sacrifice of acidity. The above average temperatures of February and March and the dryness made everything ripen relatively quickly. Yields appeared on the lighter side, because the heat and dry conditions did reduce them significantly, however they were still quite respectable across all varieties.
The Winemaking
Small batches of grapes are crushed gently and then transferred to five tonne headed down open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending.
Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and then transferred to a mixture of new and used French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there is no racking until final blending. This wine does not undertake fining or filtration prior to bottling.
The Characteristics
A lifted, aromatic nose with luscious plum and red berry aromas. The palate is soft and cuddly and concludes with some firm tannin and acidity. There’s flavours of mulberry, pomegranate, dried herbs and earth, with a
finish that is a little wild and rustic.
Footbolt put away for a few years always a nice drop, not tried the Dark side but grabbed.
Footbolt is $20 and Dark Side $19 (normally $23) at Dans, so for $13.25 here a great price.