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