Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
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Australian Wine
Companion -
James
Suckling - Decanter
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Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson in color. Enticing aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and bay leaf. Rich blackberry and cassis fruits follow on the palate, with nuances of bay leaf. The generous fruit flavors are supported by a backbone of tightly wound tannins that will further soften with medium to long term cellaring.
Professional Ratings
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Australian Wine Companion
Full-bodied, rich and opulent, with new oak very much in evidence from start to finish. Unexpectedly, it is on the aftertaste that the fruit breaks free from the yoke of the oak.
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James Suckling
From a single parcel in the Nuriootpa Vineyard, this has aromas of currants, violets, spiced bread and blueberries as well as cassis and mulberries. Some earthy notes, too. The palate has a very focused core of black cherries, dark plums and blueberries and smooth, even tannin texture. Supple and long. Medium-to full-bodied and very drinkable.
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Decanter
Generous fruit on the nose. Creamy palate with delicious strawberry and raspberry flavours. Savoury note on the long finish.
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Wine Spectator
Red licorice and star anise accents work well with the core of pure pomegranate and wild strawberry flavors, which is pure and elegant, with polished, integrated tannins, showing harmony and elegance on the finish. Drink now through 2034.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A bit leafier than the stellar 2016, the 2017 Ashmead Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is still a fine, elegant example of Barossa Cabernet. Medium-bodied, it's smooth and streamlined, with a somewhat linear feel and a crisp, gently tannic finish.
Other Vintages
2016-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Robert
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James
Suckling -
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James
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Spectator -
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Robert
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Wilfred
Wong -
Robert
Parker -
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Robert
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Spectator
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Enthusiast -
Robert
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After time spent working in Saudi Arabia, Neil and Lorraine Ashmead, moved to the Barossa in 1979, after Lorraine’s father identified a beautiful home with potential. The Ashmeads believed this would be a great place to raise their family. The homestead, in the heart of the township of Nuriootpa, was surrounded by extremely old Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. At a time where demand for Australian table wine was negligible, the vineyard had become derelict. After years of no interest, the real estate agent eventually offered the Ashmeads the 72 acre vineyard as a bonus, as part of the sale of the homestead. Three years later, after restoring the vineyard, Elderton Wines was born.
The second generation, Cameron and Allister, took the reins of the business in 2003 and today work together to run Elderton Wines, with Lorraine still involved through her role on the Board. Cameron and Allister believe very strongly in continuing the traditions that began a generation earlier, on the Nuriootpa vineyard. Wanting to take the family company to the next level, they together devised a plan to buy great vineyards in other significant sub appellations of the Barossa. Through using sustainable practices, the hope is that the next generation of the Ashmead family have a lot to work with when they are at the helm.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
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.