Museum wine tasting notes from the Retrospective Tasting on 27 May
by Allister Ashmead
On 27 May we held another tasting in our Retrospective Series. We opened a number of selected museum wines from our cellar to see where these wines are in their evolution. Today we are sharing our tasting notes about the wines we opened!
If you love museum wines, our Retrospective Series tastings at our Barossa Cellar Door look at museum wines from the Estate and Exceptional Sites Ranges all the way to our flagships Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon and Command Shiraz. You can book in for our next event on 12 August, when we will open six back vintage wines from across our range – all the details are at the bottom of this post.
Museum wine tasting notes
1989 Hermitage
A year where Command was not made, and thus all of that old vine fruit went to this wine. Wow, perfectly aged Barossa Shiraz still showcasing sweet plummy fruit and still a defined and precise tannin structure. Has mellowed and softened, finishing quite savoury.
Our recommendation – drink now
1988 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still hanging in there, the wine is brick red in colour, has a soft tannin structure and is still holding a touch of some sweet fruit. Notes of dried plums and beef jerky.
Our recommendation – drink now
2010 Ode to Lorraine
Such a complete wine. Dark with an endless amount of riches. The Cabernet still defining the wine with structure and tannin, and the personality of the warm chocolatey Shiraz a highlight. All blackberries and a beautiful creaminess to the wine.
Our recommendation – drink now or equally it has loads of time left in the cellar
2000 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautifully perfumed the wine has a wonderful earthy character. Still tightly structured with layers of savoury French oak still evident. The wine has a touch of umami in amongst the luscious tannin. An absolute delight from what was considered a tough year for Cabernet in the vineyard.
Our recommendation – hold or drink – depending on personal drinking preferences
2002 Command Shiraz
A rich, powerful, dark fruited and brooding Shiraz. The flavours are absolutely textbook old vine Barossa, and showcase black plums, black cherry and loads of classy dark chocolate.
Our recommendation – only a baby at 21 years old and should cellar well for eons
2013 Fifteen Shiraz
First ever release of this wine from vines planted in 1915 on our Greenock vineyard. At 10 years of age, this wine needs more time in the bottle, and probably in the decanter as well. A gigantically proportioned wine still showing big fruits of black plums through to some prunes. The wine is also held up through a lovely coffee and chocolate line that brings a suppleness and some savouriness to the wine. Definitely a wine for the lovers of super rich OTT Shiraz.
Our recommendation – keep cellaring!
Elderton Retrospective Tasting – upcoming event dates at Cellar Door
Book in for the next tasting in our Retrospective Tasting Series and there are limited tickets remaining if you’d like to join us.
Where: Elderton Cellar Door
Time: 11am
Duration: 1.5 hours
At each session we select different vintages to explore in the Elderton Retrospective Tasting Flight. Includes an accompanying cheese plate and at the end of the flight you’ll be invited to head to the bar for a complimentary tasting of new releases and to purchase an exclusive allocation of museum releases.
