Halliday writes of Elderton's 30 Vintages

James Halliday has written a great article of the story of Elderton Wines and the Ashmead family in an article in The Weekend Australian Magazine (3.9.11), as Elderton celebrates 30 Vintages in 2011. To read the full article click here. We also received some great reviews:

2008 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon
96 points

The quality of this wine shone through in the mini-vertical tastings of the top labels. The ’01 was good, the ’02 and ’06 very good, the ’04 outstanding, the ’08 an eyelash behind the ’04. It has superb drive and intensity to the back palate, with a lingering finish and aftertaste, the tannins positively silky. It has developed exceptionally well since first tasted in January 2010.

2008 Ode to Lorraine
95 points

A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 37% shiraz and 8% merlot, with open fermentation concluded in barrel. The colour is deep but clear, the bouquet and palate offering blackberry, blackcurrant and plum aromas and flavours. There is ample structure from the cabernet component, giving line, length and balance to a quality wine. The toasty oak is evident, but does not challenge the fruit. Mercifully, the shocking pink colour of prior vintage labels has (almost) disappeared.

2010 Eden Valley Shiraz
92 points

From the Craneford Vineyard purchased by Elderton in 2007. It has vivid colour, and a fragrant plum-and-blackberry bouquet. The medium-bodied palate has great purity coupled with excellent texture and overall mouthfeel, and a long, supple finish. The wine was pressed straight to older American oak puncheons, amplifying the texture but leaving no distracting vanilla oak footprints.

#cabernetday enjoyed across the world

1 September is Cabernet Day and was celebrated across the world. Those who enjoyed a Cabernet or two also shared their experiences via Twitter #cabernetday.

Here at the Elderton Cellar Door we had our range of current release Cabernet Sauvignon single varietals and blends available for tasting.

Some happy participants also shared their Elderton Cabernet experiences via Twitter:

@miss_shiny Grand designs for delicious dinner tossed out the window. Elderton's 2008 #Cabernet is sustenance enough.

@artofandyellis Been meaning to crack this for a while now, perhaps tonight in honour of #CabernetDay #Barossa 1992 Elderton Cabernet: http://pic.twitter.com/GnLXXPZ *as a side note, this wine is infact the Jimmy Watson Trophy Winner from 1993!

We now look forward to next year's Cabernet Day and what it may hold in store for us!

Cheers!

Elderton Wines in James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2012

Elderton has this year been awarded five red stars by James Halliday, signifying Elderton is an, "Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity." Other qualifications include two wines rated 94 points or above and having received 5-star ratings in the previous two years. This puts us among only 5.1% of wineries rated by Halliday in the Wine Companion - a pretty select group!

Two wines in our Eden Valley range received ratings of 'Special Value for Money':

2010 Eden Valley Shiraz, 92 points and Special Value for Money
RRP $19

“Vivid purple hue; a luscious, youthful and exuberant wine, showing pure blackberry, licorice and juicy fruit across the palate; not inhibited by heavy-handed winemaking, with fruit purity the aim of the game.”

2010 Eden Valley Chardonnay, 91 points and Special Value for Money
RRP $19

“Pale colour, bright; the bouquet is restrained showing pear, nectarine, citrus and a light touch of toasty oak; the palate is racy and lean in style, with a lingering grilled nut and toast conclusion.”

For full details on the ratings our wines received visit our website www.eldertonwines.com.au

Elderton and Gourmet Traveller WINE dinner - August 16, 2011

A limited number of tickets are still available to attend dinner celebrating 30 Vintages of Elderton Wines. Hosted by Gourmet Traveller WINE Editor Judy Sarris and wine writer Nick Ryan, enjoy a three-course meal matched with a past and present vintage of wine from Elderton Wines.

When: Tuesday 16 August, 2011 6.30pm for a 7pm start
Where: Bistrode CBD, Cnr York and King Streets, Sydney NSW
Cost : $120 per person
To book: call Bistrode on (02) 9240 3000

Top Awards Received

Elderton Wines has received two top awards in Australian Wine Vintages 2012 (The Gold Book), written by Rob Geddes.

The Command Shiraz was judged as a Gold Star wine showing consistently high standards of fruit, flavour complexity and freshness.

The 2010 Eden Valley Riesling was judged one of the Top 100 Wines in over 3500 tasted for the 29th edition of Australian Wine Vintages.

wine named in 100 Best Australian Wines 2011

Elderton's 2008 Ode to Lorraine has been named in Matthew Jukes' 100 Best Australian Wines 2011 list released this week. Jukes' comments on the wine:

I would like to think that it is the dribble of Merlot in this Cab/Shiraz that gives it its peculiar appeal. Look past the label (and its endearing ugliness) and focus your powers of deduction on the magical fruit assemblage within. Some palates may find this wine too velvety and mouth-coating, however, I am a disciple. Elderton’s portfolio has never looked better and at the top of the tree 2006 and 2007 Command Shiraz are both my wishes, too.

Thanks to Mum

Mothers are celebrated across the globe on Mother's Day, and the World Wine Guys pointed out some of the great mothers in the world of wine, including Elderton's own Lorraine Ashmead. The World Wine Guys write of the few wine labels that are wonderful tributes to ladies of wine. The Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a perfect example, a wine dedicated to Lorraine by her sons in recognition of her work at Elderton, as as a mother. Read more