2017 Elderton Command Shiraz

Production information

2017 Elderton Command Shiraz
History : The Elderton Command Shiraz has established an enviable reputation since the first vintage in 1984. It is truly one of Australia’s best and most highly regarded icon wines. Accolades have come from the world over for vintages such as the 1992, which was chosen by the influential wine critic Robert Parker in his U.S. magazine the Wine Advocate as one of the world's Top 80 wines. The 1995 Command was awarded 95 points by Wine Spectator and placed in their Top 100 wines; the 2000 was awarded 97 points by the same magazine and placed 27 in their Top 100. The 1996 Command won the trophy for the best Shiraz in the world at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition.
The second generation of Ashmeads and Elderton Co-Managing Directors, Allister and Cameron, as the current custodians of a rare piece of Barossa Valley viticultural heritage, continue their parents aspirations and expectations to produce a great wine of the world. The Command is truly an expression of place, and one of which the family intends to preserve for generations to come.
Vineyard : 100% Estate grown on the Nuriootpa vineyard, the fruit is sourced from a single block planted circa 1894, classed as an Ancestor vineyard by the Barossa Old Vine Charter.
- Grape Variety : 100% Shiraz
- Region : Barossa
- Vine Age : 123 years
- Soil : Deep alluvial silt over red and brown earths and limestone
- Spacing : Vine spacing 1.5m, row width 3m. East to West row direction
- Yield : 1-2 tonnes per hectare
Style : Rich, powerful and elegant.
Color : Deep crimson
Aroma : Lifted ripe plums with the hints of Christmas cake spice, and subtle gamey notes.
Palate : Rich and attractive spicy ripe berries reminiscent of summer pudding, supported by silky tannins that together provide a focused structure, and a powerful yet elegant finish.
Drinkable Period : 2021 - 2037
Alcohol : 14.9%
Winemaker's Comment : Command is the sum of several small batch picks to ensure we capture every parts of the vineyard at optimum flavor concentration. We hand harvested this fruit over three weeks, allowing for the ripening process across the different soil compositions. The 2017 vintage saw us finish later than average on 12 April. The long and gentle ripening season, peppered with some showers after a winter lush with rain, ensured to intense fruit concentration in the finished wine, with a depth of seamless tannin yet elegance only achieved in great years. Cool open fermentation using a combination of heading boards, for complete cap submersion, and gentle pump over to achieve gentle extraction, ensured retention of fresh fruit characters while allowing for optimum tannin extraction. Mature in 30 months in new American and French oak puncheons.
Expert Comment : This does Command respect thanks to the fruit coming off 123 year old vines and the care with it from that moment right through to the winemaking. It is powerful and divine. Lush with the dark fruit coated with chocolate, pepper and coffee. The palate feels all velvety the tannins neatly placed, the oak integrated and with a glass in hand, a sense that all's well with the world.
Score/Award: James Halliday : 96 points (Gold Medal)
Food Pairing : Beef and Venison

Back to the top

Petros Co.,Ltd
蓓朵思有限公司