d’Arenberg 1995 The Ironstone Pressings (McLaren Vale): Tasted this yesterday together with Lady Roots. 90% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, 14% alcohol. Opened ½ hour before serving, but not decanted (we should have decanted: loads of sediment in this wine).

Unbelievably youthful colour, not a hint of age. Very dark, almost purple. Great nose, powerful and warm. Very herbal and spicy, with loads of jammy dark fruits and a touch of barnyard.
Medium bodied and packed with flavour. Juicy red fruits, dried herbs and liquorice dominate, backed by a very fresh acidity. Still very tannic, but paired with some nice cheeses it smoothed out rather nicely. A tiny bit hot, though.
Long and great finish with crushed black pepper, cinnamon and again those juicy fruits. It lingers for minutes.

I have never been disappointed by d’Arenberg, and this was another stunner at a good price (just under 30 Euros). Drink this now through 2006. I’d rated it 93 points.

We get this regularly here, the 1999 vintage went on sale yesterday, as a matter of fact, but at CAD$48 I gave it a miss, even though I'm sure I'd love it.

snow sucks, cold is worse.......

I only had time for a quick sip, but man that was one tasty wine! Incredible that it showed so young in the glass. The only hint of its age was in that lovely silky mouthfeel just before the spices came marching in. Very good buy Stevie!

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Originally posted by bman:
We get this regularly here, the 1999 vintage went on sale yesterday, as a matter of fact, but at CAD$48 I gave it a miss, even though I'm sure I'd love it.

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Are you sure it was the '99, bman? I could've sworn I already had a few '99s tucked away somewhere.

Stevie, again you wrote a TN that exactly describes this wine: what a power it had for an 8 years old wine.
Next time, we don't try the goat cheeses next to it, it made the wine a little bit too barnyardy for me.

Glad you all like d'Arenberg!

What's not to like about the wines, the names they come up with and, of course, Chester Osbourne - a great character

I think we had a 2000 Dead Arm at my place last year? I have several more of their bottlings, including a few whites. Maybe we have to add "Only d'Arenberg Wines" to our list of potential OL's!

...and one of them is a Vintage Fortified Shiraz

That '00 Dead Arm sure was tasty: I'm glad I've got some of mine own now!

....the list of (potential) OL's grows and grows...

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Originally posted by StevieCage:
_d’Arenberg 1995 The Ironstone Pressings _ (McLaren Vale 90% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, 14% alcohol.

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But that adds up to 114%!!

Cheers
Ric
torbwine.com

TORB,

That's what happens when the whole bottle is gone before writing your tasting note.

LOL!