Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Lithe and imposing, this is a tall wine, with refined texture and layered flavors of black cherry, blackberry, smoke and coffee, which linger effectively on the polished finish. Drink now through 2019.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Shiraz Elderton Estate is 100% from estate vines with an average age of 50-60 years and is matured for about 12 months in French (20%) and American (80%) oak puncheons, 20% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has pronounced blackberry and blueberry aromas with some licorice and Mediterranean herb notes plus subtle hints of pepper, chocolate and cedar. Medium to full-bodied with medium-firm finely grained tannins and high acid supporting the generous, fleshy berry and spice fruit, it has a long, pure finish. Drinking now, it should cellar through 2017.
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.