THE STICKS AND STONES 2014

The inspiration for this name comes from the age-old proverb; 'sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me'. The unusual and quirky names of d'Arenberg's range of wines has never done the winery any harm. A myriad of aromas and flavours are to be found in the 2012 Sticks and Stones, but achieved with a cohesion that belies its complex constituency. Each of the four varieties plays a role. Tempranillo provides tomato leaf and baked red fruits, linear shape and length. Grenache lends juicy blueberry and plum with just a hint of clove, along with succulence and fine, gritty tannins. Tinta Cao offers more purple fruits and a lovely crunch to the palate and finally, Souzao, that exotic beast, can be thanked for its contribution of crushed flowers along with roasted meats and their accompanying herbs. The age of the wine upon release is another factor. Not only has time allowed the four varieties to mesh so well together, but it has also added fresh leather, walnut and cedary notes to the mix. All in all, this is a wonderfully interwoven wine with well-balanced structural components and a suavity and opulence that only comes with age.