Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
This Cabernet makes me smile, it is that good! The classic and aristocratic 2010 Elderton Ashmead Single Vineyard stands apart from the rest of the field and outclasses most other international stars in the ultra-premium category. Deep r ruby color; comes right at you with ripe blackberries in the nose; medium bodied and subtle on the palate; dry, nice acidity, well balanced and refined; long finish, perky aftertaste. Beginning to drink now, has a long life ahead of itself. (Tasted: November 2, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet-black colored, the 2010 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon gives notes of creme de cassis, meat, dark chocolate, yeast, tea and toast. Full-bodied, rich and packed with black berry and savory flavors in the mouth, it has a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and crisp acidity, finishing long. Drink it 2014 to 2022+. Rating: 93+
-
Wine Spectator
Dense, focused, ripe and expressive, balancing dark berry, currant, floral and spice flavors on an open framework, lingering against refined tannins. Best from 2015 through 2020.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.