2016 d'Arenberg Shiraz Viognier The Laughing Magpie McLaren Vale 750 ml

D’Arenberg is one of Australia’s most iconic brands. The century-old winery has taken home Australia’s most prestigious red-wine award, been named one of the country’s five best by Wine & Spirits, and their marquee bottling—the widely beloved Dead Arm Shiraz—stands with the best from Penfolds, Henschke, and Glaetzer.

That’s why we’re happy to bring you the 2016 Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier, a bottle that delivers d’Arenberg’s uncompromising quality at less than half the price of its iconic sibling. 

Composed of 96% Shiraz, this bottle is both a classic and an original. Inspired by the time-tested blend of Rhône Valley Côte-Rôtie Syrahs, The Laughing Magpie was the very first wine in McLaren Vale to take the very best Shiraz has to offer—the copious forest-berry fruit, the accents of black olive and cracked pepper—then lift its aromatics to new heights with a touch of Viognier. It’s a winning combination that turns out one of the most striking values we’ve seen Down Under.

The man behind Magpie, winemaker Chester Osborn, is quirky, brilliant, and one of the largest personalities in the wine industry. The fourth-generation scion of one of Australia’s “First Families of Wine,” Chester is a genius at evoking thrilling, visceral expressions of the mineral-rich soil and the extremely low-yielding ancient vines’ intensity.

Grapes in McLaren Vale experience the full ripening power of the bright Southern Hemisphere sun, but cool breezes mitigate vineyard temperatures, resulting in grapes of massive opulence cut with vibrant acidity. After vinification, the Laughing Magpie spends ten months in French oak, imparting the perfect amount of spice to the already lively Shiraz. Now, six years after harvest, the wine is drinking beautifully.