d’Arenberg, Ironstone Pressings 2013, McLaren Vale, Australia

Tasting Note: This GSM blend gives you concentration on the front palate followed by depth on the back palate.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has an aromatic nose of blackberry, black plum, strawberry, raspberry and blossom.

On the palate the dry, full-bodied GSM blend has concentrated flavors and extraction supported by medium-plus acidity.

There is midpalate complexity and medium-plus flavor intensity.

Bottle Note: Since 1912 the Osborn family has tended vineyards in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Today, fourth generation family member Chester makes distinctive wines using traditional methods both in the vineyard and the winery. These Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre components are the best parcels from select vineyards and remain separated until blending. Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to five ton headed down open fermenters. 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 old barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, there is no racking until final blending and no fining or filtration. Most of McLaren Vale’s historic vineyards have ancient, decomposed laterite granite known as ironstone in the soil. Its extraordinary rusty red-brown color is derived from the iron oxides present in the stone. The larger places were cleared from the vineyards in the late 1880s and utilized in many of the buildings at d’Arenberg.