New d’Arenberg wines: Latest releases and cellar surprises

Tina Gellie reports on a catch-up with one of Australian wine's true characters, Chester Osborn, and tastes through some of the latest releases from his highly regarded d'Arenberg winery in McLaren Vale - plus some interesting older wines from the cellar.

Chester Osborn, chief winemaker of renowned South Australian winery d’Arenberg, was in London recently to show off some current-releases, surprises from the cellar and wines that haven’t even made it to UK shores yet.

Scroll down to read Tina’s tasting notes

Osborn started his career in the wine industry at age seven, ‘earning 10 cents an hour’ working for his father D’Arry.‘I grew up with wine,’ he said, ‘but I didn’t really like it until I was about 20; I found most of it too harsh and strong.

Still, that didn’t stop me from drinking it, or nicking it from the winery to share with the local kids!’He became the first trained winemaker in his family in four generations when he graduated from Adelaide’s famous Roseworthy College.

He made his first wines for d’Arenberg with the 1984 vintage.

Within the trade, and for any wine lover who has met him, Osborn is known for a certain sense of flamboyance. A suitcase of ‘props’ often accompanies him on overseas trips to help him explain some of the more imaginative labels for his wines.

Yet, behind the crazy shirts and even crazier names for his ever-increasing portfolio, Osborn’s aim is refreshingly simple. ‘I make fragrant, terroir-driven wines with minerality, length and complexity. It’s Europe meets Australia,’ he said.

Osborn has also been involved in extensive work to map soil types across McLaren Vale.

Most recently, he has also overseen the opening of a Rubik’s Cube-style visitor centre that sits at the heart of the estate.

The A$15 million ‘d’Arenberg Cube’ won a Good Design Award in Australia earlier this year and was reported to be welcoming 1,000 visitors daily in its first month after opening in December 2017.

Osborne has made little secret of his desire for the Cube to house one of Australia’s best restaurants.

Head chef Brendan Wessels and his wife, Lindsay Dürr, both from South Africa, have been tasked with making this a reality. Their D’Arenberg Cube restaurant recently featured on Masterchef Australia.

Extra reporting on d’Arenberg Cube by Chris Mercer.

Tasting notes on latest d’Arenberg releases and other estate wines to look out for:

Click on the wines to see the full tasting note.