D'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2016

Since 1912 the Osborn family have grown grapes and made wine in the picturesque surrounds of McLaren Vale. Today, fourth generation family member Chester Osborn is at the winemaking helm, making distinctive wines using traditional methods in the winery and the vineyard. Most 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.

Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to five tonne headed down open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of new and used French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, there is no racking until final blending and no fining or filtration.

"Deep, dark red colour with a good purple tinge, and a complex, minerally bouquet recalling crushed rocks, ironstone and black smoky humus-rich earth. The wine is full-bodied and rich, dense and chunky, with abundant tannins which are in harmony with the full body of the wine. A very solid, savoury, well-structured red which will age well." 95 points, The Real Review (February 2019) Huon Hooke.