A d'Arenberg Stump Jump dessert wine

This 2010 d'Arenberg Stump Jump Sticky Chardonnay Riesling Semillon Pinot Gris (what a mouthful of a name!) was part of the line-up for the Valentine dinner wine pairing option. Though I had tried a number of d'Arenberg wine, I think it is the first time I have tried their stickies. (On a different note, though I have blogged about their flagship Dead Arm Shiraz, their other wines I have tasted, all of which are reasonable drinks, also have not yet appeared on the blog either.)

The rather long name dealt with cepage and it seems that all those grapes are nobly rotten before they can be eligible to participate in this sticky. A minimalist approach to wine-making kept the fruit vibrant in the glass. An old gold in colour, the wine was sweet with botrytised notes and a touch of fruitiness on the nose. Sweet botrytised dried apricot notes dominated the palate and carried onto the backbone with a good dose of acid. We were also given some Ch Diosy-Daene to taste; unfortunately d'Arenberg was not really a match for the latter's balance and finesse, though truth be said, it would still be very nice with a really assertive dessert.