July 13, 2021 - Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine is of deep ruby colour, with fading rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, with pronounced intensity aromas of black fruit of blackberry, cassis, dark plum and bilberry, dried fruit of prune, oak notes of toast, kernel notes of coffee and chocolate, mineral notes of earth, pungent spice of liquorice, sweet spice of clove, hints of maturity notes of savory. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium (+) acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin of ripe and silky texture, high alcohol, full body and exhibiting pronounced intensity of flavours of black fruit of cassis, blackberry and dark cherries, dried fruit of prune, oak notes of toast, kernel notes of chocolate, pungent spice of liquorice, herbal notes of eucalyptus. The wine has a long finish.
Conclusion: Outstanding quality Australian Shiraz with a very strong nose showing great complexity, with plenty of ripe black fruit, French oak and a wide range of earthy, spicy and chocolate characters. The palate is powerful, with good acidity and tannin, and great concentration of flavours, finishing with an exceptional long finish. It is ready to drink now and can further develop for another 5-7 years.
November 25, 2020 - I completely concur with the assessments by DANNYKOZ and Jay Miller for the WA. This fine was fantastic upon opening and was screaming good at about 30 minutes from there on out. A fantastic nose of scorched earth, blackberries and blueberries leading to a balanced full-bodied palate with an awesome finish. The wine definitely lived up to the amazing packaging and hype. Hats off to Chris on this great wine.
October 30, 2020 - Of all the wines I’ve laid down, this lived up to the price and commitment of a decade and a half of storage. This had everything I could want. Fruit bomb, for sure, like a good new world wine. It also had a hint of eucalyptus like my favorite Rhône’s. Deep, layered fruit with sweet, soft tannins, perfectly controlled alcohol heat and depth for days. Perhaps my favorite wine in recent memory. EPIC.
April 26, 2020 - Magnificently balanced rich wine, perfect on its one or with a really great marinated charred steak.
July 8, 2019 - 100 cases of the 2005 Shiraz spent 30 months in new French oak. Sourced from vineyards with 40- and 100-year-old vines. Opaque purple in colour, the intense perfume earth, tar, liquorice, blueberry, cassis. Voluptuous, thick rich, and a little sweet for my palate. Similar to Napa valley wine.
November 20, 2017 - Competent wine but not at the level the scores indicate IMHO. Heavy, viscous and mouth filling, with the typicality of a well-made new world Shiraz. Strong coffee and chocolate notes, was expecting some flavor development after all these years, but couldn't find much secondary notes. Aging has helped mellowed the alcohol burn and tannins which makes it an neatly-folded and polished wine. The packaging is just gimmicky.
December 27, 2016 - The unboxing, like a magician unfolding his stage, silenced the room in anticpation.
His dominion established; unicorns were freed to prance harmoniously with animated stems supporting aspiring forest fruits.
Their nectar rolls through the palate as Father Time's orbuculum elongates reality.
May 31, 2014 - My second bottle after 2 years and it has developed further and shows plenty of lovely characters. Rich and robust but not jammy and heavy. Layers of black fruits, blackberries and dark plum. Showing great balance and harmony with almost 10 years of aging. Still very impressive. Long persistent finish with spicy aftertaste. Drinking very well now, will see how my 3rd bottle evolve.
April 20, 2012 - The Laird Wines Dinner (Imperial Treasure, Great World City): Very dark and opaque and darker than Elderton Command 1999. Lifted nose, very primary and fruits driven, showing aromas of dark fruits, plum, blackberry with a touch of smokiness. Double decant 3 hours and it evolved nicely on palate. Very opulent and good concentration, plenty of sweet fruits, blackbrerry, blueberry and plum. Very good, rounded mouthfeel with a long persistent aftertaste and velvety tannins. This is very enjoying and one step up of Command.
November 30, 2010 - Great ausie wine with cool package to boot. Big fruit, but not over the top for and Aussie.