2018 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Quite expressive and exotic, with red plums, blackberries and iodine, as well as dried herbs and nori, quite fragrant spices and currants. The palate has a sleek, dense and long feel, with impressive fruit intensity, delivered in such contained and impressively composed style. This has such length and intensity with a silky texture. Old vines underpin the style here. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.

96 points Nick Stock jamessuckling.com

Deep, dark, concentrated red/purple colour. The bouquet is tarry, meaty, powerful and ironstone-earthy, preserved plum, too. The palate is gutsy and full-bodied, rich and dense, with thick mouth-coating tannins, concentrated flavour and long persistence. The astringency is supported by generous flavour and the wine has long-term potential. Right now, it needs either a hearty steak meal or putting away in the cellar. A real thumper. 06 APR 2022 Drink 2023–2038

94 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards all over the world. One half, or an ‘arm’ of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side display amazing intensity

More savoury than previous Dead Arms, the 2018 begins with dark fruits, damson plum, and lovely fennel seed twists. Rich balsamic glazed beets, roasted meats and jus give layers of complexity unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Superb balance. Slaty, persistent, mineral like tannins bring a generous framework for decades of cellaring. This is a wine of history and provenance. Highly collectable, The Dead Arm is considered by many to be one of the top Shiraz in Australia.