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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.4 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 37 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by IndyTom on 7/8/2022 & rated 90 points: Lucky me. We opened a bottle, decanted. Very tight and not good at first, but it opened nicely over the next hour. Deep dark fruit. Still some remaining tannins. But thoroughly enjoying. I see other members have 92 bottles remaining in their cellars. If your bottles have been cellared carefully, you will absolutely love this wine! (390 views) | | | Tasted by Sanlucar on 5/28/2020 & rated 93 points: This GSM is very rich and has massive fruit flavors of everything from sweet & sour to tangy & tart, and above all… cherry lifesavers! The wine is loads of fun to drink; it has scents of beef bouillon, medium weight with moderate acidity and mild oak, solid tannins, and a lengthy finish of about 30 seconds. It’s a true Aussie with generous portions of road tar and earthiness but it has abundant finesse as well. The perfect accompaniment would be Vegemite; a thick, dark brown Australian food spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. This wine is nearing peak maturity. Cheers! (996 views) | | | Tasted by europat55 on 10/10/2019 flawed bottle: Flawed
My #10, Group's #8 (77 pts). Tastes blind. (931 views) | | | Tasted by IndyTom on 4/21/2017 & rated 88 points: A bit different flavor profile that is hard to describe. Maybe the tannins, maybe something else. At any rate, it really needs food. It was very pleasant with salamis and cheeses. (1634 views) | | | Tasted by Ridgerunner on 11/26/2016 & rated 93 points: Part of a Thanksgiving Birthday celebration (1694 views) | | | Tasted by cpoulos on 4/17/2016 & rated 91 points: Still in great shape, with beautifully three-dimensional black fruits like blackcurrant and huckleberry. Held up 3 days after opening. Delicious stuff! (1926 views) | | | Tasted by bjamesclark on 2/28/2016 & rated 92 points: Decanted
Showing some maturity, brick red from the core out, still watery on the meniscus. Showing some sediment.
Aromas show above moderate complexity, with moderate intensity. Definitely showing more of the Grenache aspect on the nose. Dried raspberry, strawberry and dried violet meet scents of blueberry, old leather, black pepper, cigar tobacco, earth and dust with herb and subtle vanilla and smoke characteristics.
The palate retains its acidity at a medium-plus level with firm, ripe but still well integrated tannins. Flavors present with a darker side than the nose suggests; stewed plum, cherry and raspberry fruits with fig and a mixture of blue and blackberry compote. Dried floral flavors include violet and hibiscus all weaved together with flavors of herbs, tobacco, pepper, loamy earth, spice and hints of tamarind, leather and tar. Long on the finish where the mid palate density shines and grippy tannins persist.
Overall, maternal drinking well, and while the acidity is fresh Don't know if this stands to improve with any more time. (1464 views) | | | Tasted by smiley57 on 2/12/2016 & rated 92 points: I consider myself Lucky to still have 3 bottles of this superb wine. They are even better than the ones I drank over the last few years. So it is still holding pretty well, but I won't push my luck further than 2016. This is a perfect exemple of the opportunity to be able to store wine and wait for it to mature. (1481 views) | | | Tasted by Ridgerunner on 7/28/2013 & rated 94 points: I continue to be impressed by this juicy yet delicate easy drinking incredible blend (in multiple vintages). This may be d'Arenberg's secret weapon! (2217 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 8/26/2012 & rated 89 points: Raisen and sweet blackberry with heat. (2637 views) | | | Tasted by jlaws7lh on 8/5/2012 & rated 85 points: The bottle was either tainted or the wine has passed its peak. I decanted for 1 hour before trying it. I had my last glass about four hours later. This was quite a dissapointment to me, especially considering how much I love the dead arm shiraz from them. (2328 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 7/21/2011 & rated 89 points: Un nez assez concentré et mure...on sent qu'il y a pas mal d'extraction. Des mures et un peu d'épices avec une pointe de caramel.
En bouche, c'est tout de même assez soyeux, beaucoup de fruits avec des tannins souples, finale assez longue un peu sucrée.
Mieux que je m'attendais mais manque de finesse et de complexité. (2695 views) | | | Tasted by jsiegel on 4/30/2011 & rated 88 points: Full bodied, but didn't hold through the finish. Not great with seafood. Would have been better with meat. (3063 views) | | | Tasted by Paul from the Oblong Table on 4/13/2011 & rated 90 points: This 90+ rating is just the half of it. It was dark in color, but light in taste, plenty of nose and wrought with fruit. The downside is that I only had 1 bottle--a gift from people who must have liked me. (1814 views) | | | Tasted by aharrover on 3/6/2011 & rated 88 points: Juicy, just really great wine. Emjoyed this with a pork tenderloin but would be even better with a hunk of red meat. (1808 views) | | | Tasted by Stif on 2/15/2011 & rated 94 points: stupendous (1739 views) | | | Tasted by Alex H on 1/26/2011 & rated 84 points: Sweet crushed purple currants with cassis. Juicy gobs of fruit married nicely with spice and chocolate lift. (1622 views) | | | Tasted by jonradus on 7/5/2010 & rated 84 points: The nose has predominant heat, with chocolate and berries. The taste is much smoother than the nose implies. There's a racy, spicy overtone with cherry. The finish is extra spicy and a little bit earthy. This wine is decent, but definitely not worth more than $20. For the $36 I paid for it, I feel like I got hosed... (1772 views) | | | Tasted by wine2drink on 4/16/2010 & rated 88 points: Jammu on the nose. Sweet after being open medium finish. (1936 views) | | | Tasted by kstoddard on 9/11/2008: A blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Boysenberry nose. Tastes of blackberries and earth. Searing heat with a cough medicine finish. Undrinkable. (2186 views) | | | Tasted by jeff nowak on 9/11/2008 & rated 80 points: 70% grenache, 25% shiraz, 5% mouvedre. this wine was flat out over the top alcoholic, full of heat, and over extracted. mollydooker junior. ouch. (2260 views) | | | Tasted by ludwigbpm on 5/16/2008 & rated 88 points: Foncé, concentré. Confiture de mûres et caramel sont au rendez-vous. Pour amateur de blockbuster, pas mon genre. (2293 views) | | | Tasted by cgrimes on 3/6/2008 & rated 91 points: NSMFOW March (The Grapevine, Salem, MA): Repeat from last month. Purple opaque. Nose of dark fruits, spice, tar. Palate of same with some licorice and heat. Adequate acidity and abundant but relatively smooth tannins. A kinder, gentler CdP. Very well made. (2928 views) | | | Tasted by cgrimes on 2/7/2008 & rated 91 points: NSMFOW February (The Grapevine, Salem, MA): Purple opaque. Nose of dark fruits, spice, tar. Palate of same with some licorice and heat. Adequate acidity and abundant but relatively smooth tannins. A kinder, gentler CdP. Very well made. (3006 views) | | | Tasted by wombat on 9/5/2007: Great vintage. Lovely big fruit yet elegant. 75% Grenache, 25% Shiraz (19C vines), 5% Mouvedre. 12 Mo in Fr and US oak. Outstanding (2415 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (3/28/2007)
(d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings) Subscribe to see review text. | By Gary Walsh
The WINEFRONT (2/1/2007)
(d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (12/21/2006)
(d'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, July/August 2006, IWC Issue #127
(d'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings McLaren Vale) Subscribe to see review text. |  By Gary Vaynerchuk
Wine Library TV, 94 Point Parker Australian Challenge, Episode #157 (1/2/2007)
(D'ARENBERG IRONSTONE PRESSINGS) #3; VaynerPAZZZ; COLOR-outstanding; NOSE-big, nice, candied cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, candy bar; TASTE-good complex fruit, big mouth feel, raspberries, dark cherries, well integrated, complex, but finish is a little short, good body, RP-94; GV-91 91 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Vinous and Wine Library TV. (manage subscription channels) |
| d'Arenberg Producer website | Wine Doctor.com profile
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
Producer Location (Google Maps)
One of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale founded in 1912. The winemaking processes of the past have been maintained, capturing the unique small-batch character of the wines and the true flavour of the McLaren Vale region. All grapes, red and white, are basket-pressed. The reds are still traditionally fermented with the grape skins (caps) submerged in open wax-lined concrete fermenters utilising the age-old technique of foot-treading.
Winemaking duties are carried out by fourth-generation Chester d’Arenberg Osborn. In June 2004 Chester’s father, d’Arry was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his contributions to the wine industry and to the McLaren Vale region. After more than 65 consecutive vintages d’Arry is very proud of his achievements in creating an internationally recognised wine brand commonly known as the ‘Red Stripe’ due to the distinctive diagonal red stripe that adorns the label. d’Arenberg’s art of being different extends to a range of fortified and dessert wines, which have legendary status worldwide.d'Arenberg The Ironstone PressingsMost of McLaren Vale's acclaimed and historic vineyards are impregnated with ancient, decomposed laterite granite known as ironstone. Its extraordinary rusty redbrown colour is derived from the iron oxides present in the stone. The larger pieces were cleared from the vineyards in the late 1880's and utilised in many of the buildings at d'Arenberg, most notably the old stables.Red Rhone Blend Read about the different grapes used to produce red and white Rhone wines
On CellarTracker, Red Rhone Blend is the term for a wine consisting of two or more of the traditional 13 Southern Rhone grape varieties. Typically it's the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre or Cinsault grapes, but can also contain the Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan or Vaccarese grapes.
A 'food' wine. Lacking pretension and intended for local consumption with local cuisine. Lacks the 'high' notes on a Bordeaux, more earthy and sharper so often a better partner to meat dishes with a sauce. Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia)Fleurieu Fleurieu Wineries & Cellar Doors (southaustralia.com)McLaren Vale McLaren Vale (McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism)
(Hastwell & Lightfoot webpage) |
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