Our Wines – March 2024 update
If you have any questions about our wines, please contact our Cellar Door team on 08 8568 7878 or by email.
Command is truly an expression of place, and we are proud to be the current custodians of a rare piece of Barossa Valley viticultural heritage. Single vineyard, planted 1894, the Command block is celebrating 129 years in 2023, and is considered an Ancestor vineyard by the Barossa Old Vine Charter.
“Full bodied, rich and commanding, as the name suggests, with thick-shouldered blackberry and plum fruits cut with baking spices, licorice, dark chocolate, earth and punchy cedar tones. Weighty and opulent with thick, gypsum-like tannin support, plenty of Barossa horsepower and a finish that trails off persistently with flavours of ripe berries, spice and cedar.”
96 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“From a vineyard planted in 1894, this beautifully composed Barossan 2020 Shiraz Command offers a tempting array of aromas…all well-balanced. Dry and firm, it is shapely thanks to layers of fleshy sweet fruits, with a firm, tannic backbone accented by aged meat and wood smoke. This is a keeper and built for the cellar.”
95 points, Angus Hughson, Vinous
2021 ASHMEAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON
In 1997 the family sat down to discuss the viability of a 1944 Cabernet block – its saving grace was simply the pure brilliance of the fruit. It was, and is, always the standout Cabernet block on our Nuriootpa property.
“Full-bodied with an impressive balance of fruit power and grace, finishing long and black-fruited with abundant spice and charm.”
95 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“The 2021 Ashmead, a beautiful single vineyard Barossa Cabernet …all with superb purity and focus. Beautifully proportioned, it delivers vibrant sweet fruits underpinned by firm, mouth-coating tannins.”
95 points, Angus Hughson, Vinous
2021 ODE TO LORRAINE CABERNET, SHIRAZ, MERLOT
Named in honour of Lorraine Ashmead, co-founder of Elderton, the winemaking team at Elderton believe this is truly the hidden gem of our premium reds and one we know cellars brilliantly.
“Beautiful wine with intense blackcurrant pastille, cedar, vanilla aromas with hints of panforte… Builds up firm with seductive juicy dark berry fruits and savoury complexity.”
95 points, The Vintage Journal Barossa Guide 2023 by Andrew Caillard MW and Angus Hughson“…sense of elegance as the wine flows across the palate finishing long and fruit pure.”
94 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“A whole lot of flavour here…”
93 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2022 NEIL ASHMEAD GRAND TOURER SHIRAZA tribute to an amazing individual who was always willing to push the boundaries of expectations. Neil was a ‘Barossa Road Warrior’ like no other. Driving tirelessly from city to city with a car loaded with wine, doing tastings and dinners with whoever would listen, and generally spruiking the Barossa. It was his love of fast cars that made this pursuit a little easier, thus the unusual choice for the name of this Shiraz.
Gold medal, Royal Melbourne Wine Show
“In the mouth, the wine is supple and spicy, loaded with red and black fruit flavor and lit up by a constellation of exotic spice. This is delicious drinking here, really good.”
94 points, Erin Larkin, Parker’s Wine Advocate
2021 ASHMEAD FAMILY RESERVE ANCESTOR VINE SHIRAZ
*CELLAR DOOR & MAILING LIST ONLY*
“A wine that celebrates the Ashmead family’s 40th harvest…”
95 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“It’s full-bodied, rippling with tannin and chewy grip, still tastes fresh and lively, even though its a wine of heft with the volume turned up to eleven… It’ll be nectar to lovers of this style in the years to come.”
95 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front“Ancestor Vines on show here as the wine delivers not only raw power but also exceptional shape and purity of fruit.”
94 points, Angus Hughson, WinePilot
“In the big, bold and luscious style that is the indelible mark of Elderton.”
93 points + rated special value for money, James Halliday“Archetypal Barossan shiraz, hitting all the marks: power, polished oak, florals, very ripe darker to bluer fruit tones and a lick of heat across a sumptuous finish. What’s not to like?”
92 points, Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com“This is a red wine that will please a lot of folks. It’s generous, it’s creamy, it has that feel of bourbon-and-sweet-plum and it slips down smoothly. Right in the groove, this one.”
92 points, Campbell Mattinson
2021 BAROSSA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“It’s splendidly ripe and inviting on the nose… The palate displays excellent focus and drive, beautifully complemented by succulent fruit intensity and fine texture. Layers of chalky tannins
provide structure and frame, finishing long and delectable.”
94 points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit“Impressive fruit and tannin ripeness and a lovely blackberry/blackcurrant pastille finish.”
92 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“Full-bodied with silky tannins. Juicy and fresh…”
92 points, JamesSuckling.com“This is a fresh-faced style but what sets it apart is the depth of fruit…”
91 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front“Excellent richness and concentration for a wine of its price.”
91 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
After a couple of years not making a GSM, we are excited to bring this wine back in 2022! This blend is bright, elegant and textural with juicy raspberry notes and musk with a creamy backbone and a savoury finish.
“The conversation here is less about the carpentry and more about the fruit, which just so happens to be super fragrant and pure…”
93 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion“I really enjoyed this modern expression of Barossan Grenache blend. It showed that natural generosity of fruit seen in quality Grenache but also impressive underlying complexity that will
build over time.”
92 points, Angus Hughson, WinePilot
NEW VINTAGE RELEASE in coming weeks – stay tuned!
Our 2023 Riesling is produced purely from our own plantings at Craneford and we are super excited about the consistency and stylish nature of this Riesling. On the palate, delicate lime and zesty pink grapefruit, with nuances of sweetness coating the acid line which leaves a generous, yet crisp and dry finish.
Gold medal, Royal Melbourne Wine Show
“Juicy and mouth-watering on the palate with a brisk, minerally lime and a real lipsmacking sapidity to the finish. Clean, dry and racy.” 92 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
As a single site wine, our Eden Valley Chardonnay will always show typicity of the vineyard, whilst varying with what each season brings. We are on a constant learning journey adapting to what the season brings.
“Cream-dotted citrus fruits flow on the palate, which shows excellent drive and a blast of lemon curd on the exit.” 91 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
DUKE OF WELLINGTON CELLAR TAWNY
*CELLAR DOOR ONLY* This is now only available at Cellar Door – please call if you would like to order and are unable to visit Cellar Door
Duke of Wellington was the name of our tawny port made through the 1980s and we have revived the name for this wine. It is a tribute to Lorraine’s late father (named Wellington, nicknamed Duke) who originally found and bought the Nuriootpa property in the late 1970s.
Our Golden Semillon is not produced every year – only when vintage conditions are considered favourable for a later harvest of our Semillon, allowing the development of the unique characters required in this luscious style.
Launched in 2018, we are excited for the third release of this wine. Made to showcase all the hallmarks of good early drinking Barossa Shiraz, the wine has a beautiful richness and is yet extraordinarily supple having been aged in barrels that formerly held our Command Shiraz. It is the curious little parcels of Shiraz from the 2022 vintage that have a chance to shine in this blend.
If you have any questions about our wines, please contact our Cellar Door team on 08 8568 7878 or by email.
Story from our newsletter, the Elderton Buzz – March 2024 edition
