Made from a Mediterranean blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Shiraz, and 5% Mourvedre, the 2000 The Ironstone Pressings offers aromas of pepper, dried herbs, black cherries, and other earthy, dusty black fruits in its opulent, luscious personality. It requires consumption over the next 7-8 years. Chester Osborn, the remarkable person behind this enormous array of both impeccably high quality and value-priced wines, deserves considerable accolades for what he is able to achieve at all price ranges. If you love Australian wines, d’Arenberg is a winery to seek out as these offerings all possess abundant soul as well as character. In short, the accolades that proprietor/winemaker Chester Osborn receives not only from The Wine Advocate, but virtually everybody in the wine world, are all well deserved.Importer: Rob McDonald, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552

Firm in texture, with fine-grained tannins supporting bright raspberry, chocolate and slightly gamy flavors, which last and last on the round finish. Not a huge wine, but it has character and depth. Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2007. 1,000 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / McLaren Vale Select to Add

Low in acid, with cherry flavors on the palate and a very dry, Bourbon-barrel finish. The nose has nice brown sugar, herb and red fruit notes that are sweet, yet still alluring.——D.T.(12/31/2003)—— 84