2021 d'Arenberg The Wild Pixie Shiraz, McLaren Vale

From the superb 2021 vintage, again we have a dollop of Roussanne co-fermented with the Shiraz. Fermentation is completed in older French oak followed by maturation therein. Opaque maroon in colour with a vibrant purple rim, the wine has a lovely and expressive nose. This is a real step up from the previous vintage, only to be expected. We have notes of chocolate, plums, hints of cedar, coffee bean, cassis, mocha and some beautiful vanillin touches from the impeccable oak integration. Finely balanced, there is concentration throughout, with the wine finishing with sleek tannins. Serious length here, the wine should provide pleasure for at least the next twelve to fifteen years. Drink to 2040.

94 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, October 2025

Dark and inky in the glass. Dark fruited aromas of plum and mulberry, along with earth, bramble and dried herbs. Chunky on the palate, dark fruit driven, with blocky, firm tannins driving the flavours. Very dry on the finish. Drink to 2035.

87 points Aaron Brasher for The Real Review, December 2025

The 1912 established d'Arenberg remains a family business, with fourth-generation Chester Osborn crafting bold, characterful wine with winemaker Jack Walton that continuing the family legacy of pushing the boundaries of the region.

The estate vineyards are substantial, with the family owning or leasing roughly 200 hectares in McLaren Vale, in addition to sourcing grapes from contract growers in the Adelaide Hils and the Fleurieu. Their own vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, making family one of the largest biodynamic farmers in Australia.

The range of wines on offer is notable, with the winery vinifying nearly forty varieties in most seasons. The work at the winery remains highly traditional and labour-intensive despite their large scale, with all white and red wines pressed with gentle basket presses, and the red ferments foot-trodden by cellar hands in the original open concrete fermenters. The red wines are bottled without fining or filtration.