Reviews

E Series

2010 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

  • A blend of 69% Shiraz and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 E Series Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 10 months in older American and French puncheons. Deep garnet-purple colored, it offers tarry / earthy notes over cassis, black cherries and licorice. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced in the mouth, with crisp acid and soft tannins, it finishes medium-long. Drink it now to 2015. 86 points. - Parker's Wine Advocate, 23.12.11

2010 Unoaked Chardonnay

  • The 2010 E Series Unoaked Chardonnay presents aromas of lemongrass, hay, golden delicious apples and pears with a hint of toast. Medium-bodied with a nice suggestion of silkiness to the texture and good concentration, it has lively acidity and a long finish. Drink it now to 2014. 86 points. - Parker's Wine Advocate, 23.12.11

2009 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 89 POINTS. Vivid ruby. Sexy, expressive bouquet of raspberry, blackberry and incense. Broad, palate-caressing red and dark berry flavors show impressive depth and clarity, with no rough edges or tannins in sight. Very appealing blend, with a fresh, open-knit fruit character and very good finishing persistence. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

2008 Unoaked Chardonnay Barossa

  • Light, bright yellow. Fresh melon and peach on the nose, with a subtle note of spun sugar gaining strength with air. Gently sweet cantaloupe and pit fruit flavors are enlivened by a tangy orange peel note and provide good palate coverage. A touch soft on the finish; I'd serve this with a good chill. 87 POINTS - Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar Sept/October Issue

Eden Valley & Beyond

2010 Eden Valley Riesling

  • Plenty of colour; the bouquet exhibits ripe Meyer lemon, ginger and some petroleum notes; the palate is generous and racy at the same time, finishing with a savoury, mineral aspect. - 89 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
  • The 2010 Eden Valley Riesling was judged one of the top 100 wines in over 3500 tasted for the 29th edition of Australian Wine Vintages. - Top 100 Wines - Rob Geddes, Australian Wine Vintages 2012
  • This great riesling opens with an intense limey character which is typical of this 40-year-old, dry grown Eden Valley vineyard. It's clean and crisp with a fine delicate acid. Very dry and crisp on the finish with a dry closing acidity. - 92 points - Ray Jordan
  • On balance, I reckon the 2009 vintage may have the edge on 2010 in the Eden Valley. Lemon and lime, bath powder, a touch of apple and a subtle earthiness. It’s dry and a little austere, but delivers a good line in slatey citrus flavour. Delivers the goods, and in no uncertain terms given the price. Looked good over several days too. 91 points. - 91 points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
  • A mix of estery young ferment florals, fine talc and fragrant bath salts, lime and lemon - really sizzling with fragrance and hints of spice. The palate's nicely struck, with musky lift and plenty of fine acidity holding juicy lime and lemon flavour; some nectarine to close. Terrific wine. - 92 points - best value wine rating - Nick Stock, 2011 Good Wine Guide
  • Light, spicy varietal fruit aromas with very nice citrusy elements. Very dry palate - perfumed and fruity, with a long mineral acid finish. Excellent cellaring potential 5+years. 4 1/2 stars. - 4 1/2 stars - Winestate Magazine Nov/Dec 2010

2009 Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 94 points - Bright purple-red, the perfumed redcurrant aromas lead into a palate with abundant juicy, fleshy fruit, fine tannins, and a bare hint of oak from nine months in older French hogsheads. - 94 points - James Halliday Top 100 Wines
  • 94 POINTS, rated 'Special value for money' - Perfume is the pivotal element of this wine; redcurrant and a vein of quartz-like minerality run throughout the core of fleshy red fruits; really generous on the palate, and very serious in intent, this is extremely good value cabernet. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
  • Strong black currant aromas with dark plum and light oak. Lush opulent fruit on the palate. From a new vineyard that has been brought by Elderton in 2007. Excited by the new vineyard. Delicious and succulent with obvious fruit intensity. Lovely texture. - 88/100 - Ray Jordan
  • Inky ruby. Powerfully scented bouquet evokes spicy cherry, red berry and vanilla, with a subtle peppery note picking up strength with air. Extremely fresh in the mouth, offering tangy redcurrant and cherry flavors and a spicy, peppery quality. Still extremely young and in need of some patience, or decanting. 89(+) POINTS - Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar Sept/October Issue
  • 09 Top new wine releases. The friends here refers to the grape growers. It's fresh and vibrant in its spicy, cedary, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas and flavours. The palate has concentration and depth above its station; it's focused bright and properly ripe. - 92 Points, Gourmet Wine Traveller - Feb/March 09 Issue
  • Bright ruby. Smoky red- and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by dried flowers and black tea. Sweet and velvety, with open-knit red and dark fruit flavours, soft tannins and a late note of anise. This very easy-to-drink wine finishes with good cut and clarity. 89 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

2010 Eden Valley Shiraz

  • Forward development, frowned upon in wine shows,isn't necessarily a negative with inexpensive young reds. As this one indicates, they can be more interesting at this tender age than the shrill fruit-juicy kinds of infantile reds we see so much of in Australia. The colour is bright, the aromas are of dry spices and walnut, with some maturity - but without harsh, raw fruit or obvious oak. It's soft and easy to enjoy. The flavours maintain interest, and the finish is enlivened by clean acidity. Drink it over the next five years. - Best Buy Wines - Gourmet Traveller WINE Oct/Nov 2011 (Huon Hooke)
  • Love this juicy vibrant shiraz from Eden Valley. Bursting with spicy and slightly pepper cherry and plum fruit. The oak is perfectly complementary and the finish pure and velvety smooth. A super elegant wine for drinking over the next few years. 91 points. - 91 points - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 18/8/11
  • Here’s a fine value wine and I’m glad I tasted it over two days, which I do increasingly less often these days, as it gained a point.
      Some mint along with fresh clear fruit of dark berry and cherry flavour. It’s a bright and vibrant wine, which looked a bit simple and commercial in terms of fruit weight and depth initially, but given some time to breathe, fleshed out considerably. Soft fine grained tannin and good freshness – a fruit driven style that drinks well now, but should look better again given a couple of years cellaring. - 91 points - The Wine Front, Gary Walsh 25.8.11
    • From the Craneford Vineyard purchased by Elderton in 2007. It has vivid colour, and a fragrant plum-and-blackberry bouquet. The medium-bodied palate has great purity coupled with excellent texture and overall mouthfeel, and a long, supple finish. The wine was pressed straight to older American oak puncheons, amplifying the texture but leaving no distracting vanilla oak footprints. - 92 points - James Halliday, The Weekend Australian 3 September 2011
    • Vivid purple hue; a luscious, youthful and exuberant wine, showing pure blackberry, licorice and juicy fruit across the palate; not inhibited by heavy-handed winemaking, with fruit purity the aim of the game. - 92 points and 'special value for money' - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
    • Two things make this shiraz so appealing: judicious use of old oak and the flavour profile of the cool Eden Valley so different from the Barossa floor. This has floral aromatics and supple drinkability.
        Ten best-value reds. - Best of the Best 2011, Money Magazine - Peter Forrestal
      • This shiraz from Elderton should be on your drinking radar. Good depth of flavour. Smells good too. Smooth on the tongue and fruit-driven from go to whoa. I'd call it the perfect easy drinking red, but it's a little better than that. Flavours are in the blueberry/raspberry/violets spectrum, with mint thrown in. Tasty, fresh and delicious. - 91 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front (22.10.10)
      • The 2008 Shiraz Friends is dark ruby-coloured with an expressive perfume of spice box, lavender, smoked meat, and blueberry. Smooth-textured, layered, and savoury, this spicy, tasty effort has good grip, depth, and length. It, too, can be enjoyed over the next 8 years. - 90 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER

      2009 Eden Valley Riesling

      • 92 POINTS, rated 'Special value for money' - Quite a perfumed bouquet of bath talc and lemons, with a distinct mineral edge; generous on entry, with fleshy citrus fruit, the palate tightening on the finish, with pure citrus lingering for some time. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
      • Elderton has been making Riesling from the Eden Valley for 25 years. The grapes for this wine were sourced from two vineyards. Eden Valley to its back teeth. Ever so floral. Flavours of lime and lemon with a slatey aftertaste. Exemplary dryness. The finish almost feels grainy, it's so dry. It has 'lilt' to it too, in that the flavours swing through your mouth, rather than just bursting through to the finish. Means it has flavour as well as acid, I guess. And of course, this is part of why it feels so delicate. Lovely wine. - 92 POINTS - Campbell Mattinson,The Wine Front

      2009 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc

      • 91 POINTS, rated 'Special value for money' - The bouquet is clean and distinctly fragrant in the pea pod and grass end of the spectrum, the palate adding just a touch of citrusy minerality. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
      • The new release 2009 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc has won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Royal Adelaide Wine Show. Scoring 18.5/20, the wine rated equal second in class - an amazing result and places the 2009 Elderton amongst the best Sauv Blancs in Australia. - Royal Adelaide Wine Show

      2010 Eden Valley Chardonnay

      • This comes from Elderton's recently acquired Craneford Vineyard, and was inspired by the wines of Chablis. Its bright, pale colour sets the scene for a bouquet that is restrained, showing pear, nectarine, citrus and a light touch of oak. The palate is racy and lean (in chablis style), with a lingering grilled nut and toast finish. Not bad for a former red wine specialist. Why not pan-fried fish? It should travel well for up to 5 years. - 91 points - James Halliday, James Halliday's 1001 Wines Under $20, 2012 edition
      • Pale colour, bright; the bouquet is restrained showing pear, nectarine, citrus and a light touch of toasty oak; the palate is racy and lean in style, with a lingering grilled nut and toast conclusion. - 91 points and 'special value for money' - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
      • Not giving much on the nose but enough to identify it as a decent chardonnay the notes make mention of the wine being Chablis like…………and for once I agree it does have a dryness and mouth feel reminiscent of Chablis good tight structure 93 points and very good value at $19 - 93 points - Tony Keys, The Key Review of Wine 9.7.11
      • The notes say ‘crafted in a modern light style’ and there is no argument from me. What I did wonder if it was too light; I enjoyed the wine but was looking for more weight (tasted before winery notes were read) apart from that it is well made and I think will become popular. 90 points and not bad value at $19. - 90 points - Tony Keys
      • 89 POINTS - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
      • Next-gen Chardonnay in the fresh and crisp style with a shy little nose, bright and clean, subtle and delicate fruit, crunchy white nectarine more than anything. A lightly pithy and minerally feel. - Tony Love - The Advertiser January 2010

    2008 Botrytis Semillon

    • 91 POINTS. Brassy orange. Smoky aromas of orange marmalade, apricot pit and botanical herbs. Very sweet, palate-coating pit fruit flavors are complemented by licorice and singed orange, with a late note of candied red berries. Clings impressively on the finish, leaving intense smoke and spice notes behind. This thick, weighty wine should be served by itself as I suspect it would overwhelm all but the most decadent desserts. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010
    • Orange-gold color. Powerful aromas of apricot, cling peach and chestnut honey are complemented by notes of green tea and smoke. Fleshy, palate-coating pit fruit and honey flavors are extremely deep and gently chewy, picking up cinnamon and clove notes on the back end. Very rich wine with excellent finishing thrust and sappy persistence. This is a dessert in itself. 91 POINTS - Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar Sept/October Issue
    • Typical glowing gold; not as luscious as some, which is no bad thing; candy cumquat vanilla flavours. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 90
    • This delicious 2007 Botrytis Semillion has aromas of mango, apricots with hints of mixed nuts with an amazing explosion of pineapple flavours which give way to fantastic lemon like acidity. Expect this wine to drink superbly over the short to mid term, and with good cellaring, those that love old, gentile marmalade characters in their botrytis will be truly rewarded. - 90 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009

    2009 Friends Cabernet Sauvignon

    • There’s a whiff of minty eucalyptus followed by lovely, sweet berry fruit and a spicy floral note on the nose. Medium-full bodied, the fruity acidity and soft tannin are in agreeable balance with the concentrated, sweet fruit. That minty note replays along with spice and a warm, peppery undertone carrying through the dry finish. A delightful wine that gets an extra half star for value. LCBO, Canada. - 4 1/2 stars
    • 90 POINTS. Opaque ruby. Sexy, expressive aromas of blackberry, fruitcake and rose, lifted by a peppery quality. Juicy, faintly jammy dark fruit flavors are nicely concentrated and focused, showing a seamless texture and no obvious tannins. This suave and energetic wine finishes with lingering notes of candied dark fruits. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

    2010 Friends Cabernet Sauvignon

    • Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Friends Cabernet Sauvignon gives notes of cigar boxes, black currant, pepper, tree bark and loam. Medium-full bodied, it has a good concentration of savory / cassis flavors with refreshing acid and a medium level of fine tannins, finishing long. Drink it now through 2015. 87 points. - Parker's Wine Advocate, 23.12.11

    2010 Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

    • A raspberry fruit bouquet, with a strong overlay of mint; the palate is juicy and generous, forward and fresh. - 87 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
    • Has the cool Eden taste, easy on one level, but more going on underneath that lifts it above the crowd 91 points and very good value at $19. - 91 points - Tony Keys, The Key Review of Wine 9.7.11

2009 Eden Valley Shiraz

  • Produced from Elderton's newly acquired Eden Valley vineyard, and a great start. Vivid purple hue. Here is a luscious, youthful and exuberant wine, showing pure blackberry, licorice and juicy fruit across the palate. It is not inhibited by heavy-handed winemaking, with fruit purity being the aim of the game. This is each-way drinking: now or in 5+ years. - 92 points - James Halliday, James Halliday's 1001 Wines Under $20, 2012 edition

2010 Friends Shiraz

  • Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Friends Shiraz gives an earthy, pepper and anise scented nose with an undercurrent of cedar, yeast extract, blueberries, blackberries and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and generously fruited with velvety tannins, the crisp acid provides just enough lift and the finish is long. Delicious now, it should remain good to 2016. 89 points. - Parker's Wine Advocate, 23.12.11

2009 Friends Shiraz

  • 88 POINTS. Opaque ruby. Dark berry preserves, violet and smoky Indian spices on the nose, with a hint of anise emerging with air. Lush and creamy on entry, then gains firmness in the middle palate and offers sweet black and blue fruit flavors. Finishes refreshingly brisk, even slightly tart, with good lift and cut. Give this some air. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

Estate Range

2009 Barossa Shiraz

  • It took a while to come around but I finished up really enjoying this shiraz from Elderton. Indeed given a bit of air, it has more than a touch of class to it. It’s a wine blessed with fresh boysenberry and plum-like fruit flavour – it’s not as black as a lot of Barossa shiraz, and none the worse for it. Cedary, smoky oak plays a dab hand too. Juicy length. Given a decant, it satisfies nicely. - 91+ points - The Wine Front, 4.11.11
  • Lovely nose of sweet herbs, berries, meat and spices follow through to a full body with plenty of ripe fruit. Reserved and interesting. Nice easy, outstanding drink. Drink now. 90 points. - James Suckling

2008 Barossa Cabernet

  • This is sourced from the Elderton property. It was picked just as the heat was beginning, so it wasn't impacted by the extreme heatwave of that year. This is a stylish, angular and quite linear cabernet. Has fine red berry potes over some light cedary oak. Well balanced and poised with the structure to evolve in the cellar. This is predominately American oak. 91 points. - 91 points - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 11.9.11

2009 Barossa Zinfandel

  • Juicy and jammy bouquet and palate; soft, sweet and simple, the style is varietal, without excess. - 87 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
  • Zinfandel is a favourite, along with gewurz', riesling, malbec, savagnin, barbera, and well quite a few others too, but zin holds it's own not merely by virtue of its 16percent alcohol. 8.8/10. - 8.8/10 - Max Crus, 22.1.11

2008 Barossa Shiraz

  • Bright colour; essency and dark fruited, with fruitcake and licorice the dominant theme; deeply fruited, yet not overdone, the finish is long and unctuous, complex and dark. - 92 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
  • Lifted aromas of blackberry, mocha, liquorice allsorts, toasty vanillin oak and confectionary. Full bodied and filled with ripe opulent blackberry, dark chocolate, liquorice allsorts and spice flavours. Soft velvet smooth tannins with a generous fleshy mouthfeel. Good persistence with long aftertaste of ripe blackberry, dark chocolate, liquorice and spice. Elderton are one of the top exponents of voluptuous Barossa Shiraz with the 2008 again delivering excellent value. Drink over the next 4-5 years (2011-2016) - 94 points - Nicks Wine Merchants
  • A FULL-BODIED red wine with appealing richness on the palate, but still perfectly proportioned. I really liked the cut of its jib. It's a very dark purple in colour with intense berry and blackcurrant flavours, hints of chocolate and mocha and restrained vanillin oak. The tannins are soft and nicely integrated giving the wine a soft mouthfeel. One for enjoying with hearty casseroles, or a maybe a rump steak. Excellent value. - EXCELLENT VALUE - Winsor Dobbin, Launceston Sunday Examiner 6.3.11
  • This was quite a challenging vintage for the Barossa, with extreme heat, yet this has turned out rather well. Plenty of ripe fruit but it's been harnessed well with excellent oak treatment in American oak puncheons. The flavours of ripe plum and chocolate vanilla essence are appealing and with some extra time in the bottle this should stack up very nicely. - 91 points - Ray Jordan, The Western Australian 10.2.11
  • Its Barossa all the way, chocolate and plum hints on nose and palate the oak is well integrated and all in it works. 92 points. - 92 points - Tony Keys, February 2011

2009 Barossa Merlot

  • Bright colour; savoury redcurrant and cedar bouquet, showing some green olive complexity; bright and crunchy palate with savoury tannins and oak remaining on the finish. - 89 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012

2007 Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 88 (+?) POINTS. Inky ruby. Dark cherry, bitter chocolate, pepper and eucalyptus on the nose, plus a suggestion of licorice. Supple on entry, then brisk and faintly bitter in the middle palate, offering bitter cherry, dark chocolate and licorice flavors. Finegrained and linear, finishing with dusty tannins that need some time to recede. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010
  • The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Elderton Estate is also a bit more restrained than normal. Purple-coloured, it displays aromas of toast, violets, pencil lead, cassis, and blackberry. This structured effort will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking through 2022. - 90 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER
  • Some leathery/earthy nuances on the bouquet diminish on the powerful palate, with strong blackcurrant fruit and a jab of dark chocolate. Built to last. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 91
  • “Picture–perfect cabernet. It tastes of chocolate, blackcurrant and cedar and, while there are evident tannins, this is a wine that is all about flavour. It finishes grainy, chocolatey and fresh, with quite a bit of lingering acidity – all within the boundaries of balance. Oh, it’s good alright!" - 92 POINTS - Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
  • The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Nuriootpa exhibits an enticing nose of cedar, spice box, black currant, and blackberry. Layered on the palate, it has intense flavours with good concentration and balance. It will evolve for several more years and drink well from 2011 to 2021. - 91 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009
  • Medium red. Spicy cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant on the nose, with a kick of cracked pepper. Soft and approachable, with vivid red and dark berry flavours, gentle tannins and building sweetness. Finishes with impressive clarity and persistence. This is drinking well already. 90 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

2006 Barossa Shiraz

  • This is an impressive and powerful Shiraz with touches of gamey fruit cake and deep underlying power. Has a succulent fruitiness that you don't normally associated with Elderton. Aim has been to keep the fruit integrity of the wines intact with some largely older American oak in support. Stylish, expressive wine. - 92/100 - Ray Jordan
  • This is the little brother to Elderton’s flagship Command Shiraz, one of the more attractive blockbuster styles in the Barossa. It’s a smooth, nicely balanced red that’s starting to show some savoury complexities from development, with licorice, chocolate and aniseed to the fore. It’s not too oaky nor alcoholic, but is full of honest Barossa flavour, fruit-sweet on the mid-palate and with a lush, silky texture. Just delicious. Drink it now and for the next 8 to 10 years. - Best Buy Wines - $30 AUD and under. Huon Hooke, Gourmet Wine Traveller Magazine - June/July 2009 issue
  • “Easy-drinking appeal, sure, but a damn fine example of it. It tastes of cherry, blackberries, earth and ground coffee, with cedary oak offering firm support. It’s moderately intense with a sweet, malty aftertaste and very good length." - 91 POINTS - Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
  • The best value buy! - Gourmet Wine Traveller Magazine
  • The 2006 Shiraz Nuriootpa was sourced from 60-year-old vines. Deep crimson-coloured, it has an already multifaceted perfume of smoke, black pepper, bacon, and blueberry. This leads to a smooth-textured, ripe Shiraz with layers of savory fruit, soft tannins, and a pure finish. Drink it over the next eight years. - 91 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009
  • Bright ruby. Sexy oak spices and blackberry on the nose, with a deeper boysenberry quality developing with air. Sappy and velvety in texture, with penetrating dark berry, bitter cherry skin and baking spice flavours. Finishes broad, sweet and long, repeating the dark fruit notes and leaving an alluring violet pastille note behind. 91 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

2006 Barossa Merlot

  • When one of the lads sports a number plate that reads 'merlot', you have to expect that their version of this wine is going to make an equally bold statement. This carries the confident Elderton style, plenty of ripe, dark-plum fruits, earth and tarry regional accents. The palate's juicy and supple; it pinches with acid through the middle before (thankfully) releasing to a soft, even finish. - 90 points - Nick Stock, 2011 Good Wine Guide
  • Elegant medium bodied Merlot with a silky smooth palate. Fine cedary mainly French oak woven expertly into the fruit. Has a light fruit cake and red berry character with an effortlessly long sustained palate. - 89/100 - Ray Jordan
  • Wine of the Week Elderton Barossa Merlot 2005 Regular readers will know I’m not usually a fan of merlot, which imbues this Wine Of The Week with special meaning. It is a ripping red and also good value (again, not often true of merlot). It’s of the full-bodied, rich and fully ripe, warm-climate style and is probably not a wine that will gain great complexity or subtlety with age, but it’s a delicious drink while young. Sweet fruit, vanilla and a touch hummus to sniff; fleshy and full-throttle in the mouth with rich, ample fruit flavour and soft, supple tannins that clean and gently dry the finish. Easy drinking now and for at least five or six years. 93/100. - Huon Hooke - Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living, March 4, 2008
  • “It’s been seven years sine the WINE tasting panel – Peter Bourne, Nick Bulleid MW, Andrew Caillard MW, Peter Forrestal, Huon Hooke and Sophie Otton – looked at merlot. The improvements are impressive….. We tasted 79 wines, in groups of 10 and at a relaxed pace, so that every wine had an opportunity to speak to us. We were pleased to find many wines with generous flavours, which suggested that increasing vine age and the learning curve were delivering better wines than in our 2001 tasting.” Elderton Barossa Merlot 2005 shows a complex mix of red fruits, prominent cedary oak and some earthiness from bottle-age. Caillard loved it: “Fragrant, cranberry and redcurrant, with grilled meats and cedar. Concentrated palate, with mocha and oak, finishing with fine-grained, chalky tannins.” We thought the round, fleshy palate – typically Barossa – was a great feature of the wine. Enjoy it now and over the next five years. Five Stars. 93/100 (rated as outstanding - the top wine of the tasting) - Nick Bulleid MW, Gourmet Traveller WINE, April/May 2008

2007 Barossa Zinfandel

  • Ultra-ripe bouquet of blue and black fruit confiture; the palate is juicy, warm, ripe and a little chocolatey; everything you could expect from the variety. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 90

2008 Barossa Merlot

  • 89 POINTS - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
  • “There’s a bit of rich, smooth oak here, so to like the wine you have to be prepared to cop this, err, sweet. It tasted of chocolate and blackberries, cedarwood and mulberries, the fruit fleshiness of it offset by firm, almost ironstone-like tannins. It has reasonable length and a good mix of both plump fruit generosity and admirable restraint. Not too shabby!" - 91 POINTS - Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
  • Although perhaps not easily identifiable as a Merlot, there is no question that this is a great Barossa red. It's packed with layers of ripe black fruits and liquorice, underlaid by savoury oak and well-integrated tannins. - 91 POINTS - Tyson Stelzer, Wine 100 - May Issue 2009
  • Bright red. Red berry, cherry, chocolate and mint on the nose. Deeper cherry pit and cassis flavours are unencumbered by tannins and betray no rough edges. Supple and inviting merlot, finishing clean and sweetly persistent. 89 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

2006 Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

  • This is a beautiful refined and very elegant Cabernet from the Barossa. Mainly American oak, with most old. There has been a conscious effort to drop the oak influence. Beautifully integrated with the fruit and oak in perfect harmony. Like this new style for Elderton. - 90/100 - Ray Jordan

2007 Barossa Shiraz

  • There's no doubt Elderton has finessed its wines of late, but the vineyards are the same, so the seamless , mid-weight spice and meaty notes remain as true as ever. The fruit is lush and tender and the tannins seem more genial and flexible. Drink 2011-2018. 4 stars, 17.5. - Matthew Jukes, Decanter May 2011
  • 92 POINTS - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
  • 90 POINTS. Vivid ruby. Fragrant aromas of black raspberry, vanilla and violet, with notes of black tea and licorice adding depth. Sweet and expansive but focused, with energetic dark fruit flavors giving way to smoky minerals on the back end. Gentle tannins lend shape to the long, juicy finish. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010
  • The estate wines begin with the dark crimson-coloured 2007 Shiraz Elderton Estate. Aromas of Asian spices, smoked meat, lavender, and blueberry lead to a spicy, ripe, flavourful Shiraz with a bit less depth and a bit more structure than normal, likely due to the challenging vintage. Nevertheless, it is a strong effort that will flesh out over the next 2-3 years and drink well through 2019. - 90 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER

Elite Range

2005 Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

  • With the distinct dark chocolate and berries of the Barossa, this oozes richness and offers a little tarry regional stamp. The cabernet ripened nicely in '05, rolled out with some shiraz and merlot, the oak's been swallowed deep and the wine is really knitted together. Finishes with plenty of vanillin and cocobut oak character, caramel too. 93 POINTS. - Nick Stock’s 2010 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide
  • Don't be put off by the glaring pink label. Distinct dark chocolate and Barossa berries here, this oozes richness and even offers a little tarry accent - plenty of vanilla, caramel and coconut oak too. Nicely ripened Cabernet tannins roll out with Shiraz and Merlot, drinking now but will reward patience. - 93 POINTS - Nick Stock, Wine 100 - May 2009 Issue
  • The 2005 Elderton Ode To Lorraine CSM has come in at number 16 in Wine Specator's Top 100 Wines of 2008. We were very proud and excited to make this prestigious list for the 3rd time in the last nine years, which rounds up the years most exciting wines. - Wine Spectators Top 100 Wines of 2008
  • The purple-coloured 2005 Ode To Lorraine is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Shiraz and 14% Merlot. The attractive nose exhibits smoke, spice box, cassis, black currant, and blueberry leading to a smooth-textured, easygoing, forward wine with plenty of spicy fruit and incipient complexity. Drink this seamless effort over the next eight years. - 91 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009
  • 39% Shiraz and 14% merlot) Saturated ruby colour. Explosively perfumed, sexy bouquet of ripe red and dark berries, incense and oak spices. Supple cherry-vanilla and black raspberry flavours coat the palate and are enlivened by tangy minerals and rose pastille. Gains depth and sweetness with air, finishing with outstanding breadth and persistence. Very appealing now but has the depth to age. 93 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

2006 Command Shiraz

  • Here's a wine for those who enjoy blockbuster Barossa reds. It's big and bold with dark chocolate and dark cherry and berry characters; almost like a liquid Cherry Ripe. It's deliciously assertive, with lashings of oak and plenty of complexity, density and intensity. - Windsor Dobbin, Windsor's Wine Guide, Golf Magazine Vol. 13
  • Good viticulture has helped fashion a line Command, whose densely layered aromas of plums, blackberries, cassis and mocha/chocolate oak are backed by meaty, cedary and vanilla undertones. Dripping with concentrated, confiture-like fruit, its long, sumptuous palate of profoundly ripened but not over ripened fruit shows all the customary Elderton extravagance with oak but is underpinned by a silky-smooth chassis of pliant tannin. 94 points. - 94 points - Jeremy Oliver, Australian Wine Annual 2011
  • BEST IN CLASS, GOLD MEDAL - Dense dark brick red in colour. Quite a brooding nose, spicy plums, kirsch, menthol, dark chocolate and an intriguing ferrous, coal-like aroma. The mouth entry is big and very firm, plenty of tannic muscle and some very complex flavours display on the tongue. The oak has been extremely well judged here and truly supports the fleshiness and adds a spicy richness. The earthy bottom note gives complexity and a real sense of place. Excellent finish. Lovely wine. - International Wine and Spirit Competition 2010

2006 Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

  • The 2006 Ode to Lorraine has been reviewed by Nick Stock in '70 Reds to Remember'.
      "Distinctly Barossa, this cabernet shiraz merlot has poise and character, mixing dark berries, chocolate and asphalt. Plenty of flesh and charm, but underpinned with tannins to take it far, this is a stayer, for certain." - Nick Stock - Gourmet Wine Traveller June/July 2010
    • The purple-coloured 2005 Ode to Lorraine is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Shiraz, and 14% Merlot. The attractive nose exhibits smoke, spice box, cassis, black currant, and blueberry leading to a smooth-textured, easygoing, forward wine with plenty of spicy fruit and incipient complexity. Drink this seamless effort over the next eight years . The 2006 Ode to Lorraine reveals a similar personality but with slightly more richness, depth, and length. It will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring. - 92 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER
    • A soft red and black fruit bouquet, with Christmas cake spice on display; the palate is soft and fleshy on entry, with good texture, chewy tannin and oak providing length on the finish. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 90
    • Contains only a small proportion of merlot so just manages to meet our definition of the blend. Moechtar liked its ‘ripe red black fruits and nice floral aroma’. He also found ‘coffee from new oak, sandy, gravelly tannins on the finish and good length.’ This is a full-bodied wine that is developing a complex, cigar-box bouquet. Oak makes a contribution, but it has been well handled and the tannins are fine and balanced. It’s ready now and will age for several years. - Top 20 wines over $25 AUD, 4 STARS - ‘Dual Alliance’ Tasting by Nick Bulleid MW, Gourmet Wine Traveller Magazine - June/July 2009 issue.
    • “We’ve found a lot of delicious wines this year, and this is among the best of them. It’s warm and soft, and it fills your mouth with mocha-like, blackberried flavour, and as you swallow it your mouth feels as though it’s just received a drenching from heaven. As a red to warm up your winter, everything is positive about this full-flavoured wine." - 94 POINTS and Number 6 in the Top 25 of the year - Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh
    • The 2006 Ode To Lorraine reveals similar personality but with slightly more richness, depth, and length. It will benefit from another 2-3 years cellaring. - 92 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009
    • Deep ruby-red. Brooding cherry, mulberry and spiced plum aromas are complemented by an exotic fig jam quality. Midweight dark berry flavours become richer with air, picking up suggestions of smoky Indian spices and candied flowers. Leaves spicy red and dark berry preserve notes behind on the strikingly long, penetrating finish. 92 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue

    2006 Barossa Ashmead Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

    • An elegant, medium-bodied wine, with some regional dusty/earthy inputs adding to complexity; the French oak is well integrated with blackcurrant fruit and a clean finish. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 92
    • This opens with a strongly oak-influenced, toasty-barrel, mocha-like nose, which yields blackberry fruit as it breathes. Grippingly tannic palate with chewy super-ripe fruit. Very impressive and worth cellaring. - Top 100 New Releases, 5 STARS and 93 POINTS. Huon Hooke, Gourmet Wine Traveller Magazine - June/July issue 2009.
    • The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Ashmead is a single vineyard selection aged for 18 months in new French 300 litre barrels (aka hogsheads). It offers up a superb bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, espresso, spice box, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Opulent on the palate, it has gobs of succulent black fruit, well-concealed ripe tannins, impeccable balance, and a long finish. Cellar it for 5-7 years and drink it from 2014 to 2028. - 95 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009

    2006 Barossa Command Single Vineyard Shiraz

    • This is a lovely wine and not at all over-the-top. Savoury developing bouquet with lots of earthy, mocha, fruitcake and toasted-nut complexity, still with good primary fruit. The palate has a skilled balance of fruit sweetness and savouryness, with fine-grained tannins. - Gourmet Wine Traveller, April/May 2010 - 5 Stars, 94 Points & Top 100 New Releases
    • The 2006 Shiraz Command is a glass-coating opaque purple. Aromas of scorched earth, pencil lead, sandalwood, meat blood, game, and blueberry are followed by a dense, voluptuous, layered Shiraz with tons of flavour. Impeccably balanced and concealing enough structure for 5-7 years of cellaring, it will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2026. - 94 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER

    2007 Barossa Ashmead Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

    • The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Ashmead has an attractive nose of cigar box, sage, earth notes, cassis, and black currant. Savoury and complex on the palate, it lacks the depth and concentration of a top year. Drink it from 2011 to 2019. - 91 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER
    • Lurid violet colour. Wild, ripe and pungent aromas of dark berries, spicecake, smoke and potpourri; smells like a cult Napa wine. Big rich and full, with alluring sweetness to the blueberry, blackberry, rose pastille and candied liquorice flavours. Spreads out on the back, finishing with penetrating sweetness and substantial but velvety tannins. I could see this wine improving for at least a decade. - Josh Raynolds of Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
    • Gold and Top in Class - “Deep ruby colour just paling at rim, alluring complexity on the nose with smoke and mint, fruit and vanilla, very expressive and very Australian. Excellent integration on the palate, serious, almost austere vinosity with a big dollop of oak. Silky texture and a very sweet entry allied with luscious spicy notes and firm acidity. Great winemaking and made to last.” - 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition

    2008 Command Shiraz

    • FUTURE RELEASE
        A heady melange of dark fruits, licorice, anise and lavish levels of toasty oak; the palate is full of warm, ripe fruitcake character, with plenty of concentration; while certainly a 'more is more' style of wine, the detail is evident with its light touch and the finish is very long. - 94 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012

    2008 Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

    • An appealing soft generous wine of silky-smooth structure and supple, rich flavours. It's a lovely vibrant wine with a little savoury leathery character to it, overlayed with a decent dusty eathiness. The majority blend of cabernet and shiraz carries the wine but the softness of the merlot adds an important dimension. Excellent wine. 93 points. - 93 points - Ray Jordan, The West Australian 11.9.11
    • A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 37% shiraz and 8% merlot, with open fermentation concluded in barrel. The colour is deep but clear, the bouquet and palate offering blackberry, blackcurrant and plum aromas and flavours. There is ample structure from the cabernet component, giving line, length and balance to a quality wine. The toasty oak is evident, but does not challenge the fruit. Mercifully, the shocking pink colour of prior vintage labels has (almost) disappeared. - 95 points - James Halliday, The Weekend Australian 3 September 2011
    • I would like to think that it is the dribble of Merlot in this Cab/Shiraz that gives it its peculiar appeal. Look past the label (and its endearing ugliness) and focus your powers of deduction on the magical fruit assemblage within. Some palates may find this wine too velvety and mouth-coating, however, I am a disciple. Elderton’s portfolio has never looked better and at the top of the tree 2006 and 2007 Command Shiraz are both my wishes, too. - 100 Best Australian Wines 2011 - Matthew Jukes
    • Fantastic Barossa chocolate nose, and like the Barossa and the family that make this wine generous in every aspect. Its enjoyable but don’t look too deep 92 points and top end price at $50 others think I am harsh and want to bump it up to 94 but they still think it high end price. - 92 points - Tony Keys, February 2011
    • This latest ode is a juicy dark-fruited blend of roughly half cabernet sauvignon, 37% shiraz and 8% merlot. It's ripe, no doubt, showing violetine florals, cassis and jube-like blackcurrant berries, some plums and toasty oak. The palate's smooth and richly fruited with bright mid-palate berries and fine tannin reach. A balanced and deceptively long finish. - 93 points - Nick Stock, 2011 Good Wine Guide
    • 95 POINTS - All components of this wine are in plain view; the spicy warm shiraz first; the slightly savoury merlot second and the structured and almost strict cabernet third; in time these components will amalgamate to form an impressive blend, supported by rich, toasty oak. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
    • 92 POINTS. Opaque ruby. Primary, pungent aromas of dark berry skin, cherry-cola and violet, with subtle smoke and Indian spice notes adding complexity. Broad, rich, seductively sweet blackberry and cassis flavors pack an impressive punch, with juicy acidity providing shape. Smoothly balances ripeness against vibrancy, finishing with outstanding clarity and spicy persistence. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

    2008 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon

    • The quality of this wine shone through in the mini-vertical tastings of the top labels. The ’01 was good, the ’02 and ’06 very good, the ’04 outstanding, the ’08 an eyelash behind the ’04. It has superb drive and intensity to the back palate, with a lingering finish and aftertaste, the tannins positively silky. It has developed exceptionally well since first tasted in January 2010. - 96 points - James Halliday, The Weekend Australian 3 September 2011
    • 94 POINTS - A highly polished example of Barossa cabernet, dominated by red fruit on the bouquet, and a healthy dose of new oak; the essence of the wine lies in the tightness of the palate; the ample fine-grained tanning and tangy acid pull the fruit to a long, fine and even conclusion. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
    • 92 (+?) POINTS. Deep purple with a bright rim. Highly aromatic bouquet of blackberry liqueur, cassis, cured tobacco, candied licorice and floral oils, plus a peppery overtone; smells like an essence of cabernet. Vibrant, palate-staining dark berry and bitter cherry flavors are given spine by tangy acidity, with supple tannins lending shape. The floral and tobacco notes come back strong on the sappy, penetrating, very long finish. For a rich wine this is awfully lively. I'd hold onto it for at least another six years before popping a cork but it's undeniably sexy now. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

    2007 Command Shiraz

    • 95 points and 5 stars - Quite forward in development and full of raisin and mocha, dark chocolate, coffee and oak-derived characters. Roasted fruit, charred barrels, prune and licorice in the mouth, sumptuous and multi-layered. More than just a wine: a hedonistic romp. - 100 Top New Release Wines, Huon Hooke in Gourmet Traveller WINE Oct/Nov 2011
    • Pow, right out of the glass! Classic Aussie blockbuster shiraz aromas: slight mint/herbal, fleshy, juicy black plums and blackberries squeezed in your palm with the juice running down your forearm. Oh my. - 95 points - Natalie Maclean
    • Listed on Australia’s prestigious Langton’s Classification in the ‘Excellent’ category, this delivers vintage after vintage and ages well. Aromas of smoke and berry fruit rip from this full-bodied, beautifully balanced red. It’s a hedonist’s delight with waves of rich and luscious flavours—sweet, ripe mulberry, juicy Bing cherry and nuances of earth and slate—washing endlessly over the palate and dry, lengthy aftertaste. There’s also oak and a solid tannin structure needing time to knit in. - 5 stars - Vic Harradine, www.winecurrent.com
    • One of the best big Barossa reds. This lush 2007 Command is more powerful and less subtle than the '06 (if such wines can be subtle), but fans of no-holds-barred shiraz will adore it. Syrupy dark-berry fruit, demi-glace, spice and toasted coconut-like oak characters, full body and balanced, firm tannins make for a big mouthful.
        Food idea - Pot-roasted topside with winter vegetables. - 4 1/2 stars - Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age, Epicure Wine + Food Winter 2011
      • An "out-there" Barossa shiraz, quite forward in development and full of raisin and mocha, dark-chocolate/coffee oack-derived characters, but delicious to drink. Roasted fruit, charred barrels, prune and liquorice; sumptuous. More than just a wine: a hedonistic romp. Now to 2017. - 95 points - Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald 2.8.11
      • 5 stars - The Command Shiraz was judged as a Gold Star wine showing consistently high standards of fruit, flavour complexity and freshness. - Gold Star Wine - Rob Geddes, Australian Wine Vintages 2012
      • The 2007 vintage was pretty tough in the Barossa, with the drought resulting in very low yields. Elderton got just 20 per cent of its fruit for Command yet the quality is exceptional. It’s incredibly concentrated and rich, with lavish opulence. Has all the spice and dark chocolate, with a liberal dusting of parched earth on the finish. A wine built to cellar for many years. 96/100 - 96 points - Ray Jordan
      • Well it’s certainly oaky but the fruit is just about up to it – mint and liquorice, black fruit and lavish toast and spice oak. It’s full bodied and concentrated with tarry, smoky coffee flavours to the fore along with moderately fresh fruit, but a savoury wine first and foremost. At first it seemed a little dried out, but tasting over a couple of days, the edges began to smooth out, the oak receded and it looked altogether better balanced and more complete. Needs a bit more time or a big decant before drinking. I have a score of 93-94 written down, just for the record, but either of those is fine. - 93-94 points - The Wine Front, Gary Walsh
      • Opaque black dark red colour with deep dark red hue - a little more advanced than previous vintages. The nose displays excellent intensity with top notes of mocha and liquorice followed by some ripe blackberry, confectionary and vanilla. Full bodied, super rich and opulent the palate displays lavish flavours of dark plum, liquorice allsorts and mocha followed by some dark chocolate and vanilla overtones. Silky smooth tannin structure. Superb depth with long persistent aftertaste of mocha, liquorice, vanilla and spice. Available in limited supply. Hedonistic drinking now but will also cellar a further 5-6 years (2011-2017) - 97 points - Nicks Wine Merchants
      • 95 POINTS - The bouquet delivers a complex array of red and black fruit, with smoky tar and licorice on display; the palate is an experience in two parts; on entry vibrant perfume, and to conclude there is a lingering sense of black fruit, fresh leather and smoky tar all working seamlessly together. - James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2011
      • 94 POINTS. Inky purple. Highly perfumed bouquet of cherry-vanilla, candied dark berries, spicecake and woodsmoke, with a slow-building spiciness and a sexy floral quality. Lush and creamy in texture, offering sweet blackberry and blueberry flavors and an exotic note of coconut. Tannins sneak in on the finish, adding grip to the broad, deeply concentrated dark fruit. For all this wine's extroverted character there's also excellent structure and shapeliness. Made from vines that were mostly planted in 1894, and raised in 60% American oak. - Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010

      2009 Neil Ashmead GTS Grand Tourer Shiraz

      • Starts off earthy, meaty and fruity. Full bodied, yet fresh, racy and clean. Stylish. Drink now. 90 points. - James Suckling
      • Lifted floral, spicy notes on the nose. It's a highly perfumed wine made from a 70-year-old biodynamic single vineyard on Cameron Ashmead's property. It's 100 per cent shiraz. Gets 11 months in all French oak and is left on lees in barrel. Has a soft, generous mouth-feel with fine tannins and fine-grained oak. It's a sleeker, sexier wine. 93 points. - 93 points - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 11.9.11
      • The colour is slightly hazy, but the wine is admirably fresh and vibrant on the complex bouquet and palate, with an array of licorice, blackberry, satsuma plum and oak-derived aromas and flavours. - 92 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012
      • A statement of the Barossa and a tribute to the late Neil Ashmead, who lived life in the fast lane. This has a striking, fresh, ripe blackberry nose, with hints of cassis, pepper and liquorice - the oak's nicely placed. In the mouth, it's supple yet juicy, with a neat core of black-fruit and plum flavour supported by sturdy tannins that stretch like Conrod Straight through the finish. - 93 points - Nick Stock, 2011 Good Wine Guide

      2005 Barossa Command Single Vineyard Shiraz

      • 17.5 Points Drink 2009-19 "Vines planted 1894. They are apparently employing a historian to check the vine-planting records, and are paying him in wine. Rich and flattering with very nice balance. There’s a slight element of ‘dry port’ about it, lots of VA and alcohol for example, but this is pure Oz. They age it first in new oak and then used oak apparently. You could enjoy this easily already. Apparently the 1986 and 1988 are drinking beautifully now! Unctuous. There’s a bit of salt and umami." - Jancis Robinson rates 2005 Command Shiraz 17.5/20
      • Lavish 34 months in American (dominant) oak has resulted in an army greatcoat of oak wrapped around the undeniably good fruit, the latter giving the palate length. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 90
      • Another big ‘05 and another exceptionally attractive wine. Command has the ability to be brutish when it wishes but I have not seen this character emerge in the ‘05, favouring as it does a more statesmen-like position with its noble array of dark berry flavours and decadent tobacco and chocolate nuances. - Matthew Jukes - Top 100 Best Australian Wine 2009
      • Thirty-four months in oak is a long time, but this concentrated shiraz handles it surprisingly well. It has more interest and life than some of its similarly pricey Barossa neighbours. Spicy blackberry and blackcurrant-like fruit form the core, and charry vanillin oak is applied liberally. It's big, lush and velvety with ripe, grippy tannins. - 5 Stars - Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age - March Issue 2009
      • Elderton's flagship is the single vineyard Command Shiraz, a wine with serious aging potential, and one with which all other South Australia Shiraz must be compared. The opaque purple/black 2005 Command was aged in French and American oak puncheons (500 litre barrels). It offers up a sexy/kinky bouquet of wood smoke, lavender, leather, game, mineral, black raspberry, and blueberry pie. Voluptuous on the palate, complex, and dense, it demands a decade of cellaring after which it should offer hedonists much pleasure through 2035. - 97 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009
      • Inky ruby colour Vibrant raspberry, cherry-vanilla and coconut aromas are complemented by candied liquorice and smoky minerals. Pliant, palate-coating red and dark berry preserve flavours are perked up by Asian spices and smoky minerals. Pretty exotic but not over the top, with gentle tannins adding shape and focus to the long, sweet finish. This is downright sexy today. 94 points - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sep/Oct ’08 Issue
      • 8 of the Best Barossa Wines. Elderton 2004 Command Shiraz A block-buster style of red that typifies the best of the Barossa. Made from fruit from a 104-year-old single vineyard, matured in new oak puncheons, this is dark, smoky and intense. Full-bodied and potentially long lived, it’s a wine to put hair on your chest. - Windsor Dobbin – Golf Magazine, August 2008

      2009 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon

      • FUTURE RELEASE
          Deep colour, bright hue; the bouquet is essency with red and black fruit on display, complemented by lavish levels of toasty oak; juicy on entry, the firm structure takes hold and the oak remain on the finish; a young wine needing time. - 94 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012

        2008 Neil Ashmead GTS Grand Tourer Shiraz

        • Focused, juicy and effusive with black cherry, roasted red pepper and savory spices, this isn’t a heavy wine, but persistent as the finish extends. Best from 2011 through 2018.—H.S. - 92 points - Wine Spectator Insider, Nov 3 2010
        • This is like an original 1970 GTS Monaro - it's pure, authentic, classy and in no way souped-up. The octane level is well controlled, leaving plenty of space on the road for its blueberry, plum and exotic spice flavours. Over-extracted muscle machines, move aside - this is the real thing! - Tyson Stelzer, Barossa Living Magazine April 2010
        • The 2008 Neil Ashmead GTS is a Shiraz cuvee from the riper 2008 vintage. Purple-coloured, it has an alluring bouquet of damp earth, lavender, pepper, bacon and blueberry. Full bodied on the palate, it has a glossy texture, layered flavours bordering on opulent, incipient complexity, plenty of depth and richness, and a long, fruit-filled finish. It can be enjoyed now but will drink well for a decade. - 92 POINTS - ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE, REVIEWS BY JAY MILLER
        • Opaque ruby. Deep, brooding aromas of cherry pit, blackcurrant, licorice, espresso and dried violet. Spicy, palate-numbing cherry and dark berry flavors are refreshingly bitter and sharply focused, with fine-grained tannins adding grip. Juicy and subtly sweet on the finish, which strongly echoes the spice notes and clings with excellent clarity and persistence. This will repay patience. 92 POINTS - Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar Sept/October Issue
        • Vibrant colour; dark blackberry, tar and licorice aromas unite on the bouquet; the palate is fully loaded with sweet fruit, chewy tannin yet shows lightness on its feet through fine acid on the finish; playful packaging, but a serious wine. - James Halliday, 2010 Edition - Rating: 95