Bright fruit characters are evident immediately from the first engagement. On the nose, savoury spicy plum and dried herb and sage combination burst open. And then a palate that is deeply intense and opulently smooth starts to reveal its best qualities. Has a chalky dusty thread with a little crushed rock influence. It's quite dry on the finish after the richness of the middle palate. Drink by: 2024-2042. Score - 95. (Ray Jordan, winepilot.com, Sept. 2024)

Bright purple fruit aromas leap out of the glass and the massive palate fills the mouth with fruit cake-like flavours. 'The complete package.' Score - 97. (Winestate, July/Aug. 2022)

Crushed and destemmed, open-fermented with heading down boards, 2-3 weeks on skins, matured for 18 months in French oak (7% new). A powerful cabernet with pronounced tannins woven throughout the black fruits of the full-bodied palate; has depth and length, and the balance to benefit from extended cellaring. Drink by: 2039. Score - 94. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, June 18, 2021)

(malo and aging in new and used French oak barriques) Inky ruby. Cherry compote, blackberry, woodsmoke and a sexy vanilla nuance on the nose; a pipe tobacco note gains strength with aeration. Juicy, palate-coating dark fruit flavors show a deft mix of power and energy and pick up an exotic floral pastille flourish on the back half. Finishes smooth, sappy and impressively long, featuring strong echoes of sweet dark berries and peppery spices. Drinking Window: 2021-2028. Score - 93. (Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, Oct. 2017)

How this was achieved in 2011 is anyone's guess, other than vigilant viticulture and nerves of steel in delaying the picking. It has an extra edge to its varietal expression thanks to the cool temperatures (rain to one side), blackcurrant/cassis the driver, savoury olive and bay leaf in the rear seat. A very good wine. Drink by: 2031. Score - 95. (winecompanion.com.au, June 18, 2021)

Good depth to the colour; cassis fruit is confronted by more earthy/savoury aromas and flavours than those of the other '10 d'Arenberg reds; however, this is cabernet, and perhaps it's not so surprising. Drink by: 2025. Score - 93. (winecompanion.com.au, June 18, 2021)

Saturated ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of cassis, cherry and licorice, with a suave floral nuance building in the glass. Appealingly sweet and expressive, offering energetic dark berry and rose pastille flavors and a touch of spicecake. Shows very good focus and thrust on a long, sappy finish framed by harmonious tannins. This suave wine is drinking very nicely right now. Drinking Window: 2018-2023. Score - 90. (Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, March 2016)

The 2009 Ironstone Pressings GSM is a blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Shiraz and 5% Mourvedre (planted in 1918). Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is just a little restrained, offering notes of earth and tar over dark chocolate, blueberries and black cherries plus a whiff of prunes. The full bodied palate is wonderfully concentrated and structured with tons of savory fruit balanced by crisp acidity and a firm level of chewy tannins. Its finish is long and layered. Drink it 2013 to 2022+. Drink date: 2013-2022. Score - 94. (Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, robertparker.com, Dec. 22, 2011)

Extremely perfumed and bright with berry and spice aromas that follow through to a full body, firm and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows lots of punch and structure. Give it two or three years to soften. Blend of 72% grenache, 25% shiraz and 3% mourvèdre. [Will drink through late 2020s+.] Score - 94. (jamessuckling.com, Jan. 1, 2018)

A delicious, creamy and fruity blend of viognier and marsanne. White peaches, sweet lemons, Greek yogurt and flowers on the nose, following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Delicious lemons and sweet spices on the palate, with a flavorful finish. Drink now. Score - 91. (jamessuckling.com, March 26, 2025)