1998 d'Arenberg GSM Ironstone Pressings
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Tasting notes
The 1998 The Ironstone Pressings (70% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, and 10% Mourvedre) is a powerful, dense, thick, slightly monolithic effort with copious amounts of blackberry fruit, huge body, and the potential to evolve for two decades. Even though it had been in the bottle for some time when I tasted it, it was still unformed. With silky tannin, explosive richness, and potentially top-flight perfume, it will have many admirers after another six months of bottle age. It should last for 15 years. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars (Rob McDonald), Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Medium ruby. Very ripe but cool aromas of black fruits, minerals, licorice, pepper and mint. Sweet, creamy and concentrated; pliant and deep, with complicating spice tones. A firmly tannic blend with the structure to develop in bottle.