Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of the world's greatest red wines, the active and penetrating 2009 Elderton Command is a Shiraz that makes the palate and brain stand up. Deep ruby, blackish color; penetrating red fruit aromas that shows super ripeness, but never over-the-top, it just stays where it should be, quite alluring and refined; medium bodied, brisk on the palate, graced with perfectly appointed sweet tannins; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; excellent ripe fruit flavors that dance subtly and forever on the palate; long finish, fresh and bright aftertaste. Drinking pretty fine now, but quite age worthy. (Tasted: November 2, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet, the nose of the still youthful 2009 Command Shiraz reveals a lot of oak with a good core of cedar, black berry preserves, pepper, cinnamon stick, cloves and vanilla plus a whiff of mocha. Full-bodied and powerful in the mouth, it offers a great concentration of licorice and vanilla flavors in the mouth complementing the pure berry richness with firm, rounded tannins and crisp acid supporting, finishing long and cedary. With the oak standing out at the moment, it should drink best 2015 to 2024+.
Rating: 94+ -
Wine Spectator
Velvety, round and focused, centering on blueberry, with hints of coffee and spice as the finish lingers. Poised and expressive, this comes together harmoniously and has miles and miles to go. Drink now through 2021.
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.