Barossa’s Iconic - Elderton Wines
Release New ‘Elite Site’ Vintages
- 22’ Command, 23’ Ashmead, 23’ Helbig…
& The Command Vintage Vertical -
2022 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016
Monday August 18th
Hosted by Allistair Ashmead, Co-Managing Director
Masterclass: 5.30-7pm, 12 Wines with Kate Lamont nibbles, $135
Dinner: 7:30pm, 12 Wines & 4 Course Menu, $220
James Suckling’s Overview
The real strength behind the Elderton success is the ancient 72-acre Barossa floor vineyard, which produces fruit of the highest quality year in year out. Each block on the property is cherished but the two standouts are the Command Shiraz block, planted 1894, and the Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon block, planted 1944.
From the beginning…
The vineyard was first planted on the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa in 1894 by early German settlers, the Scholz family. In 1916, it was purchased by Samuel Elderton Tolley who named the Estate ‘Elderton’. He built himself a sprawling homestead on the Estate and sold the fruit to his family’s winery. It was run successfully for many years, but became derelict in the early years of the vine pull (circa 1975).
“If you buy the house, I will give you the surrounding 72 acres of old vines for nothing”. This was the proposal offered to Lorraine and Neil Ashmead. The rambling old homestead looked ideal for a growing family and the Ashmead’s worked tirelessly to salvage and restore a phenomenal treasure of a vineyard.
In 1982 the first wine was made under the Elderton label.
Ultimately the vision of the founders shone through and Elderton is today celebrated as a major reason for the rejuvenation of the Barossa.
At present, brothers Cameron and Allister (second generation) work with the Estate vineyard in Nuriootpa and have also purchased other exceptional vineyards in Craneford and Greenock. Their aim is to showcase the absolute best that the Barossa has to offer.
- The Real Review
The Wines and Menu
First Bracket
2022 Elderton Barossa GSM
Top 6 in the Young Gun of Wine Blind Tasting
Lillis chose this in his top six wines of the blind tasting. Deep rich mulberry colour in the glass, with matching aromas of plush raspberry and strawberry fruit backed by subtle white pepper spice. Palatable and smooth… balanced tannins, medium acidity, very easy acidity that doesn’t overpower the mouth.
2022 Elderton Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon
94 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
This is splendidly fruited and varietally expressive, showing cassis, violet, thyme, game and assorted nut aromas on the nose. The palate delivers terrific weight and fleshy texture, wonderfully framed by finely infused tannins, finishing sturdy and robust.
2022 Elderton Barossa Shiraz
94 Points - David Sly, Decanter
A heady waft of ripe red berries and a freshly mown meadow framed by eucalyptus trees sets the stage for a grand red berry entrance – plush, opulent and proud. This has rich redcurrant and blackberry speaking in a loud, clear voice, with the solid fruit platform propelled by a firm acid seam. It finishes tight, aided by a cluster of fine-grained tannins, which suggests a long, fruitful life in the cellar.
Second Bracket
2024 Wellington Grenache
94 Points - Dave Brooks, Halliday’s Wine Companion
One of two new grenache releases from Elderton wines, the Wellington hails from the sandy loam over red clays of the Elderton Greenock vineyard on the Western Ridge. Dark cherry, red plum and blue fruits with a slide of blood orange and amaro (hello 25% whole bunch). It's cut with medina spice, grilled fig, sage, dried herbs and crushed ironstone, with plenty of sinew and compression in the chalky tannin array. Very good indeed, this one; savoury, structured and spicy.
2022 Elderton Ode To Lorraine
94 Points - Dave Brooks, Halliday’s Wine Companion
51/45/4% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz/merlot from the Elderton Nuriootpa estate; aged for 20 months in French oak puncheons. Deep crimson in the glass with aromas of dark plum, cassis and mulberry with hints of baking spices, dark chocolate, licorice, earth, bay leaf, pencil case and cedar. Some nice fruit plushness on the palate, with powdery tannin support and sense of elegance as the wine flows across the palate finishing long and fruit pure.
2023 Elderton Neil Ashmead Gran Tourer Shiraz
95 Points - Ray Jordan, WinePilot
Gorgeous, medium bodied Shiraz from Elderton’s Greenock vineyard with vines between 34 and 69 years old. The wine has an earthy minerality evident on the nose before it heads into the balanced medium weight palate. This is a bright wine of great intensity and energy. It has a beautiful balance of fine grained French oak, fine chalky tannins and thoughtfully delicious red berry fruit. Terrific wine.
Third Bracket - Elite Vineyards New Releases
2023 Elderton Ashmead Cabernet (New Release)
92+ Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
This is an interesting Barossa cabernet. It’s dark in colour and in berry flavours but it nonetheless tends towards understatement. It tastes of blackcurrant and bay leaves, mainly, though earth, loganberry, tobacco and dust notes are also present, along with well-judged cedarwood oak. It’s juicy through the finish, and fine-grained of tannin, with satisfying length if not exceptional. It will improve, given time.
2023 Elderton Helbig 1915 Shiraz (New Release)
Elderton Tasting Notes
Brooding red fruits with spicy oak overtones. Pure and focused. A delicious whack of plums and spiced red berries. Notes of dark chocolate on the back palate, with silken long tannins to underpin the power of fruit on the finish.
2022 Elderton Command Shiraz (New Release)
92+ Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
The balance here is impeccable. Indeed so too is the freshness, and the character. It tastes of redcurrant and fresh plums, fragrant herbs, cream and cedar, with wafts of bay leaves and/or peppercorns. But the note that really stands out here is a rust-like character, which extends both through the fruit and the tannin, and this note helps to give the wine both beauty and charm. Yes there’s some alcohol warmth but the wine carries it in its stride, and the finish is then beautifully well sustained.
Fourth Bracket – Command Vertical
2020 Elderton Command Shiraz
96 Points – James Halliday’s Wine Companion
Elderton’s iconic Command Shiraz is sourced from an 1894-planted block of ancestor vines on its Nuriootpa estate; matured for an extended period in new French and American oak puncheons. 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.
2018 Elderton Command Shiraz
98 Points - Ray Jordan, The West Australian 19 March 2022
A wine that has done much to contribute to the Elderton reputation as a significant Barossa producer. The fruit comes from a single block planted in 1894. It is made in a traditional way, with 30 months in a mix of French and American oak a major part of this style. This has to be one of the best yet. Silky smooth, effortlessly long and poised, yet there is explosive Barossa fruit power. Cracking good wine.
2016 Elderton Command Shiraz
96+ Points - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate:
A bit tighter and more focused than the 2015, the 2016 Command Single Vineyard Shiraz looks to have a bit more tannic richness and length, even if it's not quite as opulent or plush. It's still full-bodied and packed with dark fruit flavors and enough oak to give it shape and length. One of the best Commands I've tried.