Community Tasting Notes 22

• Senso-beak wrote: 90 points

  February 24, 2024 - Opened and poured. I've always been a D'Arenberg fan of all their unique offerings, and these 90s bottlings are quite nice. Light body, with a very floral nose of violets. Smooth and supple, with decent fruit and a distinctive palate of florals and herbs.

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• KristianT Likes this wine: 93 points

  March 13, 2021 - Last bottle of my 1997 Ironstone. Such a treat. Clear ageing signs on the colour, bit still a very very enjoyable wine. Fully mature and likely no further development in sight but a true testement to the potential of d'Arenbergs top wines. I have followed and enjoyed the Ironstones since 1994 and except for one single corked bottle they have never failed to impress.

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• arthrovine wrote:

  April 8, 2019 - Definitely at a secondary stage of its life. Probably most enjoyable 2-3 plus years ago for those seeking fruit. Provides interest now in its savory qualities. Nice textures and acids support the experience. Benefitted from a decant.

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• Senso-beak wrote: 93 points

  January 18, 2018 - Opened and poured. Dark ruby. Lovely notes on the nose....florals, some secondary such as anise, Madeira. Plenty of fruit still, and impeccable balance. For a wine that can legally drink itself, this is amazing at this stage. Quote compelling and enjoyable.

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• KristianT Likes this wine: 93 points

  November 21, 2015 - While the cork is still characteristically d'Arenberg black, the colour or the wine itself has started to fade a bit and shows clear orange/teal rim. Amazing how these wines mature. Much closer to a mature Barolo than anything else. Needed a bit of air but then opened up extremely elegant and complex. Exceptional wine considering the modest price when I originally bought it. Ironstone is in my opinion much more interesting to cellar than Dead Arm.

Pro Reviews 4

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1997
• Type Red
• Producer d'Arenberg
• Varietal Red Rhone Blend
• Designation The Ironstone Pressings
• Vineyard n/a
• Country Australia
• Region South Australia
• SubRegion Fleurieu
• Appellation McLaren Vale

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 1 (1%)
• In Cellars 39 (40%)
• Consumed 57 (59%)

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