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From Wine Spectator, Tuesday, June 21, 2005
"Tasting Highlights: Barossa Shiraz - The 2003 and 2001 bottlings are
richer than the 2002s, which are crisp, even tart"
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Barossa Shiraz is an Australian classic. The big wines deliver great
gobs of ripe fruit flavor, usually centered on cherries and dark plums
with a layer of licorice and other spices that some liken to Christmas
pudding. The best ones from this warm region in South Australia find a
way to bring this all into balance, even achieving a sense of elegance
despite their sheer size and weight. Tannins are usually not
overbearing, but the wines have a track record of aging beautifully for
years, even decades. For the most part, the 2003 and 2001 bottlings
coming out now are richer and more mouthfilling than the 2002s, which
are relatively crisp, even tart, the result of a relatively cool growing
season.
ELDERTON Shiraz Barossa Command 2001 96 One of Australia's modern
classics, Command is a big Shiraz that does not go over the top. Its
silky tannins and rich flavors add up to an arresting wine, a seductive
Shiraz that oozes with rich cherry, plum, exotic spice and meat flavors
that linger against grace notes of chocolate and espresso. Delicious
stuff, and it's built to last. Drink now through 2020. -H.S.
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 2 December, 2004
FAMILY OWNED SINGLE VINEYARD
SHIRAZ WINS ANOTHER GONG FOR THE BAROSSA
One of the world’s leading wine magazines, American based Wine Spectator, has just released its top 100 wines for 2004, featuring family owned Barossa winery, Elderton at number 27 for their single vineyard 2000 Command Shiraz.
The result comes from more than 12,500 wines from the world’s leading wine regions including France, America, Spain, South Africa and Italy, based on quality and price in the American market.
The Elderton 2000 Command Shiraz scored 97 out of 100 which rates as a “classic”, according to Wine Spectator. The magazine’s 100 point scale is based on “ratings (that) reflect how highly our tasters regard each wine relative to other wines.
More impressively this is the second time that the Elderton Command has reached the Wine Spectator’s Top 100. In 2000 it ranked number 43 with its 1995 vintage.
One of Elderton’s directors, Cameron Ashmead, says the result enforces the family’s belief that there will always be a place for single vineyard, estate grown wines and family owned operations in a globally expanding industry.
“Our vineyards are under commercial pressure being so close to residential development but my brother Allister and I have vowed to continue making wines that reflect our patch of dirt in the Barossa,” Cameron said.
“As my brother says, evidently Australians don’t have a word for terrior – and we don’t have a word for souffle either but we know what it is – so let us just say we are very proud of our Australian climate and our soil unique to the flood plains of the Para River.
Cameron is quick to add that as well as site, there is family history (while short in the Barossa) to add to Elderton’s background.
“After seeing our parents battle through the hard times in South Australia during the early 1980’s when the Government was paying growers to pull out their ‘unproductive’ old vine shiraz vineyards, we are now blessed to nurture 100 year old vines that produce less than 1 tonne to the acre.
“We are also in complete control of the way we handle our fruit, now that we have our own winery that we started in 2002 – which has taken our quality to the next level, and also cutting back on new oak and using better oak has let our fruit do the talking,” Cameron said.
-2-
Elderton Wines makes American top 100
The result confirms Elderton as a leading red wine producer, following other noteworthy accolades including the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1993 for their 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon and the Best Shiraz in the World trophy for their 1996 Command Shiraz at the London International Wine and Spirit Challenge. The 1997 Command Shiraz was also written up in the Wine Advocate’s world’s top 80 wines.
The 2000 Elderton Command Shiraz was one of two family owned Australian wineries to feature in the top 100, including the 2001 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay.
Other Australian wines to feature include the 1999 Greg
Norman Estate Reserve Shiraz from South Eastern Australia, the 2002 Green
Point Shiraz (Victoria), the 2002 Torbreck
“The Struie” (Barossa), the 2001 Penfolds RWT Shiraz (Barossa),
the 2002 Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz (Barossa), the 2002 Peter Lehmann Shiraz
(Barossa), and the 2002 Rosemount Chardonnay (Hunter Valley).
Five wines from the top 100 were made from 100 per cent Barossa fruit, while another five wines from Australia make up ten per cent of the Wine Spectator’s top 100.
For Further information:
Cameron Ashmead
Elderton Wines
Ph: 08 8568 7878
Mb: 0409 28 4471
Email: cameron@eldertonwines.com.au
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