Being left with more and more time on our hands is something many of us are not used to. Until a few weeks ago, we were constantly pushed to move faster, connect more, and pack more into a day. Now we must learn to take things slowly, a lesson winery staff is constantly reminded of. You can’t rush a vine to grow, a grape to ripen, or wine to age. This week’s wine, the Elderton Barossa Shiraz, illustrates that slow progression with intensity and finesse, while also capturing the influences of the 2017 vintage for all time.
Tasting Notes: The 2017 Elderton Estate Grown Barossa Shiraz is 100% Shiraz, showing dense black fruit, baking spices and light floral aromatics. The palate is packed with dark berries, chocolate, oak spices and leaves a lingering finish. The balanced acidity and ripe tannins give solid structure to the wine and allow it to be enjoyed now or over the next several years for those learning to take it slowly.
Enjoy With: Lamb is the classic match, but Elderton Estate Grown Barossa Shiraz is also great with stews, steak, barbeque and cheeses like gouda or edam.
Style: A dry, rich, full-bodied red wine.
Terroir/Region: Taken from key, winery-owned vineyards in the Barossa region of Australia, the Ashmead family uses the diverse microclimates of the region to create a balanced Shiraz which is hailed as a benchmark of the region. Many of the family vineyards have important blocks of old vines, some over 100 years old! These ‘Centurions’ only produce a small number of intensely flavoured grapes which add an extra richness to the wine.
Producer: First planted in the 1890s by German settlers, then purchased by Samuel Elderton Tolly in 1916, the vineyards now owned by the Ashmead family (who kept the winery’s original Elderton name) have seen it all over the years. In the 1970s, they were left to grow wild as the land became derelict, but after these vineyards were purchased by the Ashmeads in 1980, they received the highest level of care and now produce top fruit as a result.
Availability: Elderton Estate Grown Barossa Shiraz will be available in the Vintages section of your local LCBO and for online ordering/pick-up this weekend, but a few stores may already have it on the shelf. Pick up a few bottles to be slowly enjoyed over time, and maybe another bottle for right now!
Check LCBO store inventory
Price: $24.95
LCBO#: 713024
Size: 750mL
Alcohol Content: 14.5% alc./vol.
