d’Arenberg The Athazagoraphobic Cat 2011

Quirky name and an odd blend of Sagrantino and Cinsault. Montefalco meets the south of France. The price doesn’t fit either, but that’s by the by. Chester Osborn once said that the character of the 2011 vintage wines at d’Arenberg is seaweed and I could smell it here. Suggestive! Chester is great value actually. Can’t sit still but one of the most entertaining people to sit next to anywhere.

This red is indeed secondary with a whiff of seaweed (suggestive?) nuts, briar, dark berries and a slight oxidative edge. The tannins are quite fierce too, in Sagrantino style, competing with the secondary fruit. I can understand the story here but it’s a bit forward and awkward for greatness. Very long though which bumps the score up.

Best drinking: Now. I guess. It will last but the fruit is fading. 16.8/20, 89/100. 14.3%, $200. Would I buy it? No.