Who makes it?

d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings. One of the Icon range from one of Australia’s leading wine families, d’Arenberg. Under the current custodianship of Chester Osborn, d’Arenberg has continued to flourish. Since 2019, the family also produce some biodynamic and organic wines. 

While some of the newer wines have names that seem bonkers, such as The Cenosilicaphobic Cat Sagrantino Cinsault and Stephanie the Gnome with Rose Tinted Glasses Shiraz Sangiovese, the family remain respectful of their history and have made sure that the new sits amicably beside the traditional.

The Ironstone Pressings is one of their Icon trio. Along with The Dead Arm Shiraz, The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon. These three wines are staples in many a cellar and are reliable companions. Incidentally, the first vintage of The Ironstone Pressings dates back to the 1950s.

Here is a review of the 2016 vintage of the trio

How do they make it?

d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings is a McLaren Vale Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre blend. Over the years that blend rarely deviates from 70% Grenache, 25% Shiraz and 5% Mourvèdre. The team try to stay true to this blending recipe.  Australia has some crackingly good Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre blends. Or ‘GSM’ as you might hear them referred to. Unsurprisingly, this is one of them.

The varieties are fermented separately and blended when the team feel they are finally ready. Part way through ferment, these wines move to new and seasoned barrels to finish ferment there. They remain there on lees until they undergo blending.

What does it taste like?

This is a full bodied red with lashings of personality. There usually is a tantalising scent of orange peel and earthiness in this wine but that is just a nuance to the more typical plum, cherry berry fruit. It is a fresh drinking red with some nutmeg to spice it up. The tannins are supple and shapely and the finish takes on a spiciness and some dried herbs. 

This is a wine that is lovely with some years on it. 

What to drink it with?

d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings is more than a good match for red meat. It goes very well with an Italian tomato based beef stew. Furthermore, you can even go one step further and dress that stew up with some pastry and call it a pie. The wine will  work just as well.

Cheese

I would suggest a hard mature cheese such as Manchego and Cheddar for this wine. You could get away with maybe some truffle or cranberry flavoured cheddar. If you are drinking this wine young, the a stilton could also work well.  

Quickie review « This is a McLaren Vale classic and elegantly powerful with it.  »

Country of Origin:  McLaren Vale, Australia
Tasting Date: July 2024
Price:  UK £40| AU$50 | US 55$ ++
Drink: now – 10+ years 
Needs food: no
Source: tasting

If you like Australian red blends, why not check out:
Henschke Henry’s Seven
Kalleske Clarry’s GSM

If you like d’Arenberg wines, why not check out:
d’Arenberg Peppermint Paddock
d’Arenberg The House of Pink
d’Arenberg Pollyanna Polly

If you want more information about d’Arenberg, please read:
The d’Arenberg Shiraz legacy

Visit d'Arenberg for more.