Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2018
McLaren Vale, Grenache (70%) Shiraz (25%) Mourvèdre (5%)
The Name
Most of McLaren Vale’s acclaimed and
historic vineyards are impregnated with
ancient, decomposed laterite granite known
as ironstone. Its extraordinary rusty red
brown 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.
The Vintage
Quite a wet winter with July, August and
September being way above average in
rainfall. October, November and December
were a little below average and January,
February and March were more or less
bone dry. Temperatures were mild until late
January, so vines seemed to be delayed and
harvest appeared like it was again going
to be late. However, a few hot days and
nights brought the ripening forward with
slight sacrifice of acidity. The above average
temperatures of February and March and
the dryness made everything ripen relatively
quickly. Yields appeared on the lighter
side, because the heat and dry conditions
did reduce them significantly, however
they were still quite respectable across all
varieties.
The Winemaking
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.
Harvest dates
Residual sugar
12 Feb – 12 Apr
1.3 g/l
The Characteristics
Powerful but elegant. The Ironstone
Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre never
fails to surprise and delight. A dense and
dark appearance, with a crimson purple
hue, give promise of a complex yet evolving
wine. Initially shy on the nose, a few swirls
let the wine open up and present a beautiful
bouquet of strawberries, ripe plum, and
fresh cherries. The more we explore, we
find some violets and thyme adding further
intrigue. On the palate there is an amazing
fusion of red and black fruits that come
together seamlessly. Plums, mulberries,
blood orange and an assortment of red
berries. There’s some freshness thanks to
a little green capsicum and some Herbs de
Provence. Silky, rounded tannins bring that
element of elegance that we were promised.
This is a delightful McLaren Vale GSM that
can be enjoyed early in life but will cellar
beautifully and evolve exceptionally into the
future.
Cellaring Potential
While enjoyable in youth, this wine will
reach its full potential with bottle age
up to at least 20 years. The considerable
structure and depth will ensure that the fruit
characters will develop over time revealing
more complexity and providing immense
interest. This wine is best stored in an
environment free of direct sunlight and with
consistent temperatures between 10°C and
15°C

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