The Stump Jump, D’Arenberg, Shiraz 2008

The Stump Jump, Shiraz 2008

The Wine Spectator not only gave this McLaren Vale wine 90 points, but it also made it into the 2009 Top 100 Wines of the Year.

The label describes it as “gently crushed, fermented in open tanks, basket pressed and matured prior to bottling.”

The praise heaped upon this wine is richly deserved.  It has deep tastes of dark berries (blackberry and cherry).  An approachable wine, it displays some sweet fruit, relatively high alcohol (14.5%), and a nice mineral finish.  You may want to use a wine funnel with this wine as several bottles seem to have had lots of sediment.  The bottles have a screw top.  (I approve!)

So good that I bought a case of this wine, and I am off to buy a second one!  At only $10.99 a bottle, it is a terrific bargain.  It is going to be my “house wine” as long as it lasts.  Recommended.  A “must buy” wine if you can get your hands on it.

Readers in Columbia, Maryland can still get it at The Perfect Pour, where it is $10.99 before they have applied their case discount.  (Note that this post is written on March 9, 2009.  I doubt if it will be there for more than a few more weeks.)