Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Elderton Command Shiraz is rich, warm and generous. Deep crimson in color, the wine exudes aromas of lifted black fruits with vanilla spice undertones. The palate is characterized by rich and attractive dark forest floor fruits with nuances of aniseed, supported by well-rounded tannins that provide structure, leading to a very long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Australian Wine Companion
Wears its heart on its sleeve, but there’s no shame in that when it has a proud record of success for its opulent purple and black fruits and deft oak handling.
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James Suckling
From a single parcel of 1894-planted shiraz at the estate vineyard in Nuriootpa. The deep, rich red plums, blackberries and blueberries on offer here are impressive, together with a floral edge and notes of fresh-tilled earth, iodine, nori and toasty oak spice. The palate has a very bold, soft, round and attractively ripe feel with impressive focus of ripe blackberry and plum flavors and chocolate building into the finish. The smooth-honed tannins run so long. A classic expression of Barossa Valley shiraz. Very drinkable now, but also capable of long aging.
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Robert Parker's 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.
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Decanter
Vibrant on the nose with cedar, vanilla, plum and a hint of lemon zest, while bright, fresh berries dance on the palate.
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.