96 points, Halliday Wine Companion
This does command respect thanks to the fruit coming off 123yo vines and the care with it from that moment right through to the winemaking. It is powerful and divine. Lush with the dark fruit coated with chocolate, pepper and coffee. The palate feels all velvety with the tannins neatly placed, the oak integrated and with a glass in hand, a sense that all's well with the world.
96 points, Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
2017 was a challenging season for the region with several rain events, but this wine has nailed it with a slightly less overt and more restrained style than previous vintages, although still within the established style of Command. It gets 30 months in a mix of French and American oak, a combination that remains important to the style. Importantly it is still 100 % new oak. The wine has been crafted into such a seamless and smoothly textured wine, benefitting no doubt from the vines which are now 127 years old. The chalky tannin feel contributes greatly to the appealing texture and mouthfeel. Rich dark chocolate and lush primary fruits with a spicy vanillin overlay. Dense and concentrated yet with a degree of subtlety and finesse with a palate that sits more in the medium weight zone than the more traditional big boy full body.
95 points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
The 2017 Command Single Vineyard Shiraz is spicy and savory, restrained and long. This is aging well and shows none of the premature development that I have seen in other wines from this region in this vintage. It's very good, with notes of sweet tobacco and dried herbs, salted licorice and sweet roasted game. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Elderton and the Barossa Valley Grape and Wine Association said the 2017 vintage wrapped up a month or more later than in recent years, with some standout wines showing a lot of promise and an overall yield 20% to 30% above a low five-year average. The 2016 growing season was one of the wettest on record. 2016 annual rainfall was 750 millimeters, over 150% of the long-term average. March saw the beginning of an Indian summer, which lasted until late April. This was perfect for consistent ripening of grapes, with good color development and natural acidity.
94+ points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Single vineyard. Vines planted, remarkably, in 1894. French and American oak. This year’s release has a floral element. A leather element. And a refreshing element. It’s 14.9% alcohol and yet it has an elegance; it’s its usual plush self but it has vigour. There’s a clear line of aniseed-like flavour, a rush of plum, smears of coffee and vanilla. It feels and tastes firm and solid and yet, as I say, there’s plenty of juice and bounce. It presents like a deep-set, throaty version of grenache, though of course it’s shiraz. It’s drinking pretty well already but it should age a treat.
94 points, Sarah Ahmed, Decanter
From a single 1894 block, Command is renowned for its generosity. In a milder year, this is not the most concentrated vintage, but delivers no shortage of pleasure. Ripe and supple, the plum and blackberry palate is loaded with liquorice, cedar, clove, vanilla and black cardamom. Creamy, malty mocha oak brings a plush, savoury dimension to the palate. With silty, immersive tannins it is lingering and intense, with lovely balance.
