2002 D'Arenberg Laughing Magpie RP--92

Robert Parker: 92 Points
Wine Advocate #148 Aug 2003 Robert Parker 93 Drink: 2003 - 2015 $27 (35) The 2002 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier (93% of the former and 7% of the latter) is the La Mouline of McLaren Vale. An exotic, heady, flamboyantly-styled red, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of lychee nuts, acacia flowers, blackberries, and creme de cassis. Supple-textured and opulent, with pepper, licorice, and blackberry liqueur-like flavors, this beautiful wine is made in a modern, progressive style with terrific fruit intensity along with notions of sweet French oak in the background. It should drink well for 10-12 years. Chester Osborn, the remarkable person behind this enormous array of both impeccably high quality and value-priced wines, deserves considerable accolades for what he is able to achieve at all price ranges. If you love Australian wines, d’Arenberg is a winery to seek out as these offerings all possess abundant soul as well as character. In short, the accolades that proprietor/winemaker Chester Osborn receives not only from The Wine Advocate, but virtually everybody in the wine world, are all well deserved.