Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Command Shiraz shows off pronounced blueberries and dark chocolate aromas laced with Szechuan pepper and Chinese Five Spice plus a touch of menthol. Full-bodied, very structured and still showing the oak, the palate is fresh, very clean and pure with plenty of spice lingering in the long finish. Drink it now to 2025+.
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Wine Spectator
Polished, expressive and ripe, with a sense of elegance to the blackberry, plum and floral flavors. This finishes long, offering hints of crème de menthe and espresso. Shows density but not excess weight. Drink now through 2020.
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James Suckling
Starts off a little rubbery but turns to very ripe, dense fruit. A little old-school but shows some attractive dark-berry and spice character. Needs air, so decant first. Drink now.
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.