Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The gang went wild for the Command Shiraz—every reviewer called it "mouthfilling" (yes, really, they all wrote that very word). Though its trademark seems to be juicy, almost jammy blackberry fruit, this Shiraz also had a sweet graham-cracker-meets-chocolate note on the nose, and chocolate and caramel highlighting the berry-laden palate. Finishes long, with a little black pepper and soft tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This wine sees plenty of French oak and is structured, with high levels of extract as well as tannin. It is built for 15-20 years of cellaring. The opaque purple-colored 1997 Command Shiraz offers abundant creamy new oak in the nose, gorgeous creme de cassis aromas and flavors, a structured, moderately tannic, full-bodied, powerful, muscular style, and a finish that lasts for 35+ seconds.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.