Oh my! I was not expecting this to have held up as well as it has! Still dark and jammy with velvety smooth tannins. Australia hasn’t been my go to for about a decade. Very impressed with the quality. My first sip was within 5 minutes of opening. Tasting in a Riedel Ouverture Magnum glass.
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It took about a hour to open up after double decanting for sediments. At first it was closed and sort of muted, but then it came back to life. Color was dark garnet with bricking. Typical Shiraz nose with blackberries and plums, and a hint of oak. Very nice acidity, lots of black fruits here, cocoa beans, plums, wet forest floor, licorice-like notes; grippy tannins, balanced vanilla ending. Leathery notes throughout. I know the description seems pretty textbook-like - because this is a textbook Aussie Shiraz. However, this was nuanced and complex, with tertiary notes coming out but with still a lot of vibrancy and freshness in it. I would say at peak, but could go on for a few years more. Truly enjoyable and another masterpiece from Elderton.
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Shane's 6th Annual Game Dinner - Game & Truffle (Chateau Lea, New Jersey): In my cellar since release. Double Decanted at 2:30pm to bring to Shane’s game dinner. Nearly opaque dark garnet. Nose has dark and dried fruit as well as game meat, shoe leather and garrique. Very dense chewy mouthfeel with very bright acidity. Dusty and seems to have some grippy tannins. Palate is prune, boysenberry herbs and leather. Long finish. All this just after opening. More after the meal… We drank this at around 6:15pm it had brightened and lightened slightly in color. The nose had black currant, forest floor, licorice and a little black pepper. Several people said they could just “smell this wine all night”. The palate had a touch of balsamic, black pepper, lots of minerals, leather and a distinctly saline finish that was quite long. Very balanced, bright and energetic. Great acidity had this drinking very fresh and lively through the evening. I think this was the most surprising wine of the night in that it was more complex and interesting than most thought would be true of a 20 year old Shiraz. It was much more reminiscent of a top level “Old World” Rhône Syrah than I had expected. It also paired wonderfully with the Yak Sausage dish. Plenty of life remaining!
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Coravined pour. Medium dark translucent garnet. Nose has old baseball glove leather, spice/pepper, bittersweet chocolate, blackberry and licorice. Palate is gorgeously smooth, rich and earthy. The fruit is subtle but accentuated by the sausage dish my friend made, popping with blueberry on top of the blackberry spices and earthy leather. Really delicious long finish. Candidate or Shane’s next game dinner next weekend.
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Blinded, one of my colleagues thought it might be an old CDP, an excellent observation. At this point in its life it is very French, with ample plum and violets, vanilla and baking spice. Silky tannins with a lingering finish, it held up very well after >two hours in the decanter. Unlikely to get better but by no means is this ok the decline, it should drink very well over the next five to ten years. An absolute joy, and why we own cellars.
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Splash decanted. Fully roided Aussie old school shiraz. Alcohol heat. Plenty of fat, glycerol on the palate, positively unctuous, you could cut this with a knife. Plums, prunes, raisins and blackberries backed by vanilla, cream, chocolate. The bottle says 15%. I suspect it might be nearer 16+. Had a fight with a 7 week dry aged Hereford Angus cross rib eye and won. Compelling and disturbing in almost equal measure.
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Quite a big hot gooey mess here. Motor oil texture, big black berry and blueberry fruit pie, rich, huge, gooey, little bitter in the overextracted finish. Taylor's Steak House Dirty Dozen dinner.
Havent tried this in 5 years, good chance to check back in on it. Last bottle of the evening, with Mer and Charlotte. Splash decant, drank over an hour. Mild sediment
Deep, bright ruby/purple. No signs of thinning. Earthy nose of dark fruits, bramble, earthy. Fruit forward in a very Aussie way...blackberry, blue fruits, baking spice, prunes and fig. I would note the prune notes are likely more of a feature than a bug...:) Full body, medium finish.
Started to fade a bit around 90 minutes in. Has held up since last tasting, only the fade suggests the age at this point. Will go for a while, lots of life left. Guessing it will be at its best in next 5 years. My girls liked it, but the style is very distinct and not for everyone...
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Brought this to Tunglok Xihe for a wine dinner with a group of wine enthusiast. Theme of the evening: Australian wines.
A slight notch better as compared to the last time I drank it. The fruits have faded and the secondary notes have taken over. Vanilla, cream, cassis, and some black pepper.
On the whole this is a very satisfying and enriching drink. Makes one wonder why spending time and money on the other wines?
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Annual Coravin blitz - day one (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Jammy blackberry and cherry, vanilla, coconut, cedar, chocolate, with time in glass a little volatility and meatiness. In the mouth it's positively oily and concentrated to the point of savouriness. The merest tannic whisper. Medium plus length. Kind of fun
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Much more in line with my 2010 note forecasting a 15-year horizon than my note from July suggesting it was hurry-up-and-drink time. This bottle was youthful and bright in appearance, had freshness and purity on the nose and in the mouth but also lots of mature tertiary notes as well. If this bottle is an indicator rather than my previous one, this will drink well for another four or five years, but it seems like it’s at peak.
Blackberry, red and black currant, leather, minty herbs, some cedar wood and smoky notes. It’s really wonderful.
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Complex nose, black cherry, cigar, a little tar. Still structured with soft tannins. Dark mature berry in the mouth, balanced throughout, leading to a long wonderful finish. Sadly last bottle. Stored correctly since release.
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Loads of mature aromas and flavors in the wine now. Plum and berry compote, with leather and tobacco. Drink these sooner than later. Still excellent, but on the downslope now.
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PWS (@ PdV): In the bouquet Eucalyptus, sweet spices, vanilla and wet leather. Also cigar box, graphite and fennel. On the palate some salty and sweet licorice, red berries, vanilla, Eucalyptus again, good acidity and soft tannin. A beautiful and mature wine.
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Part of vertical tasting of four early 2000's vintages. Under cork
Dense, smoke, blue berries
Smooth tannins, acidity still holding well, long and satisfying mouth feel Over an hour went from being most approachable of four to third.
General comment on all four vintages ('01, '02, '04, '05). Family resemblance pronounced. Aromatics develop at slightly different rates, '01 overall being most intense. On palate, '05 has most fruit and acidity, distinctly less developed than others. '04 shows most savoury elements. '02 showed most development of flavours in glass. All demonstrate potential to be enjoyable for several more years
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Excellent wine with nice balance of age, fruit and structure. Needed several hours decanting before serving. But agree that this has probably peaked and should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
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Second bottle of two bought at an auction. Whereas the previous one was flawed this one was more of what could be expected. Loads of licorice and shorched earth and bacon. In the mouth, very sweet attack but the mid and finish was a lot more balanced and harmonius. A rich wine of the times I presume.
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Full frontal blueberry compote, cedary smoke and still quite dense, aging at a glacial pace. While it hasn't really improved since last bottle, it is drinking en pointe. Not my style of wine but I can definitely appreciate the appeal.
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I agree with Randy. My bottle was in fine condition, so there was not an issue with anything structural. If you have this wine, enjoy it before the Easter Bunny returns in 2018.
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Licorice, prunes, toast and oak upon opening. Some walnut, grilled meat, cocoa and dried herbs chiming in after awhile. For now, I'd say this is lacking fruit. A faulty bottle? Or in decline?
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A near port-like experience, both on the nose, palate. Viscous mouthfeel. Prunes, stewed dark fruit glide in a thick glycerine teeth-staining, tongue-coating wash.
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Amazing bottle, over 6 years since last visited this wine. Stored correctly from the cellar. Nose of blackberries, leather, pleasant smoke. Mature, fully integrated tannins, fruit driven sweetness, but ends with a bit of acidity that brings you back for another taste.
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Powerful nose of smoke and dark berries. Still a big punch of alcohol. which I like. The berries carry thru on the palate and then a spicy element really hits big time. Some tannins at the end that add a tingle. Although mature, still has plenty of life in it so I'm moving drink date back a year to 2018.
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This was a disappointment for me and my wife. Cellared well (perfectly) since purchase in 2009 in original timber case. Broke open the case and opened a bottle. Cork broke. Sediment+++. Decanted for 2 hours. Very big red. Velvety smooth texture. But lacking. Maybe I just got a bad bottle. Certainly will be drinking the last 5 in the next year or two.
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I write this note in rather fortuitous circumstances. After attending the Vivino Sydney Offline Christmas Dinner 2016, I lost this phone twice in the same night! Yes twice! I've just paid a homeless guy $50 for it's safe return two days later! I therefore celebrate in style with this iconic Aussie Barossa Shiraz of 15 years vintage that I picked up on a Greys Wine auction last week.
And what a wine it is. It's deep, dark and brooding. With that signature black fruit premium smokey French oak experience I've come to love in my collection of Elderton Commands. Dark berries, liquorice, vanilla, sage, and smoked oak spices tantalise the senses. Oh, it's so moorish, and beautifully balanced. Not as big as the 02. But it's really nice. It therefore gets a Wozza 94/100 (4.0/5.0) from me.
Decanted and gave it plenty of time to breathe. On the nose: Sweet dark red fruit , oak, vanilla, leather and chocolate. On the palette a heavy Australian syrah: sweetness, chocolate and dark red berries, syrup, silky and chewy. Still showed some tannin grip towards the end. Good to drink now but will hold a few years longer. There is nothing more than to love this!
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Slow oxed for about 2 hours, had a few glasses over 2 hours. Drank post a Washington Syrah, its beejn a while since I visited this wine, thought I would check in on development...
From prior notes: "Dark ruby/purple color, big shiraz nose, earthy, black fruits. Big fruit on the front of the palate, dark fruits, blackberry, blueberry, spice, prunes, fig. Defintely Aussie but more subdued, long finish. Tannins are well integrated. Towards the end of the bottle, it developed some stewed charcterisitcs...seemed to be fading."
The extra time has done this wine well, my prior observations may be due to not letting it open, I don't remember as much complexity as this bottle showed. The secondary characteristics were much more prevalent - earth, black chocolate, smoke, leather. Medium finish, nice silky texture.
Its a big/jammy Aussie to be sure, but its got a lot more going on at this stage than I would have predicted from the last bottle. Not for everyone given fruit profile - our crowd was split on this. Goes well with grilled meats...seems like it should hold at this level for a while, glad I didn't give up on it...
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Clear dark purple in colour with a little bricking on the sides. Clean nose of plums, black chocolate, and floral. Dry, med+body, med acidity, smooth elegant tannins. Lots of big fruit still. Jammy, but not overly so. Black chocolate, plum, black berry, and some spice. Med+ finish. Wow, this wine is still drinking well. i am not a huge fan of Australian Shiraz, but not in this case. Big, but still lots going on. I wish I had more bottles of this. Drink now, but could still go on for another 10 years easily.
Drank alongside a 2004 Standish The Relic. Great wine, tremendous balance, the fruit is still all there and the wine is round and lush on the palate. Still have 4 left of a 6-pack.
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Perhaps this is a slightly flawed bottle given the average review on this wine. Almost like a cherry cough syrup thing going on here with an alcoholic somewhat tart raisin-like finish. Tannins are still alive and kicking. Not really my cup of tea but we will let it open up a bit and see if anything happens. I have another bottle so it will be interesting to see if there is a difference.
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If tasted blind I would have guessed a port from just sniffing it. Lots of prunes and raisins and that sticky sweetness. In the mouth there's almost a total lack of structure, no acidity, no tannins., just cooked fruit This was bought at an auction recently and my guess is that this bottle has been stored too hot and just gone flat. Or is it simply way over the top? Unfair to rate.
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Dark ruby with vibrant crimson hues, showing nice expressive nose of dark plum, blueberry, chocolate and hints of eucalyptus. Sweet fruits entry, nice and supple with good intensity, exhibits ripe fruits, dark plum, chocolate and some prune raisin character. Showing good development with mellow mouth-feel but it tend to be one dimensional compare to other wines in the lineup. But it has a long lingering finish and smooth tannins.
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Nose: Medicinal Palate: a little bit sweet, mellow, juicy, delicious, smoky, ripe plum, vanilla. Med+ body. Starting to show the secondary notes. Time to drink up.
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One of 10 bottles consumed tonight at our "blind tasting." 3 1/2 hour decant. Folks loved the wine, but no one guessed it as shiraz! Still plenty of life left -- could hold a few more years. Fruit, oak, tannins well integrated. Nose: muted black fruit, dark chocolate, tobacco, anise, etc. Velvety texture. The group missed the age as well, with no one guessing old enough to be 2001. This is an elegant wine that can stand with the best from any from the new or old world. This is another reminder that one should remain comitted to collecting and trying some of Australia's best.
Opened this wine last night at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck (Paragon) with my 2 best friends from University and their spouses/ family.
Drank it alongside the 1998 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne.
My 2nd experience with this wine and a clear and remarkable difference between the Barossa (Australia) and Hermitage (France) styles is the level of sweetness between the two. While the Hermitage appeared more subtle, rustic and balanced, the Barossa was more powerful, fruit forward, and full bodied.
Colour is purplish red, with a nose that reminded me of oak, sander wood and dark red fruits. On the palate the wine is remarkably smooth with significantly higher level of sugar (as compared to the Hermitage). Notes of dark berries and crushed black pepper in the body. Nice, smooth and lingering finish.
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Very nice nose showing chocolate, espresso notes along with blackberries and dark plums. Elegant and subtle. Mellow and elegant on palate but still robust and retain good intensity, deep ripe plums, blackberries and a well balance mouth feel. It has a long persistent finish, spicy aftertaste and fine velvety tannins.
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this wine has aged amazingly well. gone is the jammy fruit and in its place is a well integrated shiraz with lots of fruit but a Nice layer of spice and pepper as well. decent length of finish as well.
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Enjoyed at Red Cat in NYC w/T&L visiting from Melbourne. Also drank '91 Penfolds Grange. The latter was a bit less robust than previous experiences, and the Command the better of the two.
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a wonderful shiraz. all the elements are working in this one. big fruit(without being heavy) nice hint of white pepper(without being overly spicy) nice silky texture on the palate and a longg finish
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Some GREAT wine swith friends (new and old) (Chris and Renee's Home): One might be tempted to dismiss this wine from the flight based on rep. That would be wrong. This easily held it own. Purple in color, looking like it was just released. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, a touch of espresso. Full bodied and juicy. On the palate, layers of complexity unwind in the glass. Great juicy texture. complex with black raspberries, vanilla, pepper all intertwined. Long finish. Drinking beautifully now with years left in it.
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1 hour of airtime. Very nice and elegant command with more smoky notes than other commands I've had. A nice velvety mouthfeel on this (which is the command's calling card) but not quite to the level of the 2002 or even the 1999, both of which I was able to acquire for $10-$15 less than this. Drink over the next 5 years. Although very good, if I had the choice I would buy the 2002 over this.
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Enjoyable. Others note large sediment which I did not have so it did not really need a decant which I did for sediment. Very dark. Nose very jammy initially but palate shows some funk like earth or leather which I love (big Cayuse fan). Medium - full body. However not hugely complex but still quite good now. Probably won't evolve much more in the bottle. Finish not very long. Good Barossa
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At home with hamburgers...first bottle from an OWC bought from a fellow collector. Splash decanted, drank over 2 hours.
Dark ruby color, big shiraz nose, earthy, black fruits. Big fruit on the front of the palate, dark fruits, blackberry, blueberry, spice, prunes, fig. Defintely Aussie but more subdued, long finish. Tannins are well integrated. Towards the end of the bottle, it developed some stewed charcterisitcs...seemed to be fading.
Nice wine, not exceptional. Drink now, may be past its peak.
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One of six red wines at a dinner party, so no detailed notes. However, it stood out like a sore thumb among five other Syrahs and Rhone blends - by far the biggest and baddest but by far the most polished, as well. Although it may be past its peak, it still has plenty to offer and plenty of time left on it.
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Similar to last bottle. Color has mellowed with a dark ruby, very viscous. Nice mouthfeel, alcohol blows off quickly. Gorgeous nose, floral, fruity and earthy. Luscious round mature wine. Complex and layered flavor profile of blackberry bramble, black currant, licorice, earth and vanilla. Only disappointment is the aftertaste being a little shorter that I'd like.
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Brought to CT Seattle monthly tasting with a "south of the equator" theme. Complete, intense wine. Started with perfume, blueberry, a touch of alcohol. In the mouth flowers, sweet alcohol, spice, brambly. Very long finish. Second night it had calmed down into a deep red fruit and mocha wine, very smooth. My WOTN, though third for the group.
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Setting: Bottle “E” in the blind tasting. Notes were taken before I knew the wine identity.
Sight: This wine is bright; No evidence of gas or particles. Color is light purple at the core fading to garnet about 1/8” from the meniscus. Light concentration of color. Legs are thin and move quickly down the glass.
Nose: This wine does not smell flawed. medium intensity. Primary fruit aromas of blueberries and blackberries. The wine has secondary notes of menthol, with a hint of chocolate. Detectable oak on this wine, but it was unobtrusive. I picked up some heat on the nose.
Palate: This wine is medium bodied and a bit lush in the mouth, great mouthcoating. Primary fruit flavors of blackberries and some cherry; very fruit forward; a bit jammy even. Minimal secondary notes; maybe a hint of chocolate and spice. No detectable earth or minerals. Tannins and oak are well integrated, almost undetectable. You can taste the alcohol, but it doesn’t come across as high or excessive.
Structure: This wine is dry. Acid is low. Alcohol is medium to medium plus. Tannins are medium, but well integrated. Finish is medium. Complexity is low.
Conclusion: My guess is this is an Aussie Shiraz from a decent quality producer. The wine is fruit forward, but the well integrated tannins and color lead me to believe this wine has some age. The fruit and alcohol with low acid suggest this is a warmer than normal vintage.
Final thoughts: This was a nice bottle of wine. It had a great, lush mouthfeel, but it was fairly one dimensional. This wine was saying “I can really only give you one thing, but I do it pretty well.” Different flavor profile, but similar experience to the previous wine, the 2008 Cantena. The off balanced acid/fruit profile dropped this #3 for me. The rest of guys voted it #3 as well, but a pretty wide spread in the voting.
My Ranking: 3rd out of 6 bottles (Flawed bottle not included)
Group Ranking: 3rd out of 6 bottles (Flawed bottle not included)
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Beautiful mature bouquet with smoke, cinnamon and a touch of pleasant barnyard. On the palate rose hips, cinnamon, some licorice, a beautifully soft balance between acidity and sweetness and stot tannin and bitterness. A beautifully mature and luxurious wine. Completely ready now and no real hurry, but I will drink my last bottle in 2015 or 2016.
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Dark opaque wine. Nice nose of coffee and chocolate. On the palate, this wine is pure hedonism. The chocolate flavour dominates, with undercurrents of blackberries and caramel. With such a masculine and powerful taste, it was surprising the finish was smooth. I deducted some points for lack of balance, but maybe I would have felt different if I had paired it with steak. 2 words for the Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command --- consistently good.
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Very rich, opulent wine with massive flavours of dark chocolate, sweet dates, and raisins. Very fruit driven. Absolutely loved the wine, though it can be quite overpowering for some. Complex, concentrated wine with an excellent finish. Felt quite saturated after a few glasses due to its intensity. I agree, this is a hedonistic wine indeed!
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Opaque, inky rosewood color with a maroon rim. Popped and poured, this is immediately expressive (despite being at cellar temperature) with a dense, lush red fruit aroma accented by cocoa. Over time as this warms up and aerates, a bright, sweet note of candied cherries begins to emerge. On the palate this is opulent and gorgeous, incorporating flavors of stewed cherries and garrigue. The tannins are smooth as silk but still have structural integrity. The entire wine was seamless without being monolithic. This is delicious to the point of going down way too easily; several times I had to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the individual elements as they sing out in turn. Another superlative Command. Excellent right now, should remain at a peak for at least three more years.
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Aerate to decanter and serve, teaspoon of sediment left over. Color dark red with some purple tones, slight sign of bricking at the edge. Superb big bouquet of black and red berries, baking spices, French press coffee, scorched earth, and slight funk of mushroom. Overall outstanding Shiraz nose from a great ripe Aussie vintage. Packed big on taste with flavors of black and red fruit, coffee, mocha and earth. Medium acid (?), full tannins softened and integrated with age, long finish showing a little alcohol the longer it was open. Overall a great V-Day experience, but I felt for whatever reason it did not show all it could and thus did not live up to the WS96. Perhaps it was attributable to the fact that I bought this only about 4 years ago so it spent the majority of its life at room temp on the store shelf. Value OK considering what it delivered for premium price of 75.
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Jwg's note nails it. I'd add some forest and earthy notes in the mid palate as well. I love the dusty dark black cherry menthol on the nose.
Be forewarned: this bottle had tons of sediment. I'm going to stand this upright for a week next time and be very careful when decanting. Benefitted from a few hours of air.
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Smoke and dark berries on the nose, big-time. A punch of alcohol too, but seems appropriate and not overbearing at all, but rather gives it a virility. The berries carry thru on the palate and work with a chocolate note and especially an espresso hit. There's also a spicy element as the flavor develops. A pleasure with a ripe robiola for starters, and an onion risotto.
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This has aged very nicely. However when put up against a 2007 Tensley Syrah, the Elderton loses. With all the exciting progress going on in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, I honestly don't know why one would bother with Australian Shiraz's.
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Inky dark purple. Initial nose somewhat alcoholic but it blows off after a half hour with plenty of red and black fruit, chocolate and spice. Secondary smells and flavors seem hidden but after several hours the coffee/espresso tea and mushrooms come out. On the palate it is thick and jammy with blackberry, blueberry and cherry coming through. The coffee and chocolate are more prominent in the aftertaste. Unlike some reviewers I don't think it is time to drink this up. I prefer the secondary flavors rather than just the fruit up front and with some more time in bottle my guess is this will be more integrated and more to my liking. I do agree this peaks within 4-5 hours and won't be nearly as good the second day.
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Dark inky color. Muted blackberry and alcohol aromas. Well integrated flavors of blackberry and oak. Smooth and full bodied with nice finish. Hoped for more complexity, but I believe this is on the decline.
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A touch out of balance and I get the feeling the fruit will continue to fade and the oak will dominate more and more. For this reason I suggest drinking up if you have any. Reckon the CT drinking window of 2017 is optimistic!
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Decanted 3 hours. Disappeared quickly. Moderate nose of dark berry. Complex dark and blue berry with spice, leather/earth, and cedar on the palate. Elegant structure. Balanced and nearly resolved tannins with medium long finish. Delightful.
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Sweet fruit forward, a bit jammy, not atypical of many Aussie shirazes, but the fruit is denser with greater complexity. Black and red cherries dominate, sweet palate. Tannins have settled and integrated well. Medium finish. Definitely in drinking window now and for probably few more years at least. Good wine but a bit too sweet for me. Overall, not sure it's worth the $70 I paid for this many years back.
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Outstanding, and perfectly mature. Went well with beef filet at Arooji's. Continued to improve for six hours, with last glass at home. Sweet complex mocha nose, seems like American oak. Medium-full bodied, packed with matching fruit flavors. Perfectly balanced with fruit, acid; only light tannin. Extremely long, balanced aftertaste. A great bottle from a great year, at its peak...too bad it's my last bottle!
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Aussies at Abe and Louie's (Abe & Louie's): Reminded me of alan Reva. Someroad tar and some prune notes. after a while, red fruit dominated with some licorice and blackberry. The wine was a bit tart, zesty and towad end of bottle some strawberry and blueberry emerged.
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- It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and cedar with a full body. Oily texture with a long finish - Huge. Blows you away. Don't be fooled, it has many years left but isfabulous now. Reminds me of Grange. This wine is not for everyone but if you love Aussie Shiraz you will love it over the next 5-10yrs. 95
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This is as good of Austrialian Shiraz as I have had...however I'm learning I just not a big fan of Austrialian Shiraz. Plum, rasberry jam, and cigar box. Smooth tanins.
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I love this wine. Has one of the most prominent cigar-box tastes I've ever had, and I love that. I had w it over two nights and it was much better on the first night. I suspect this has not got too much longer to go. Great red fruit, velvoty tannins. This is a wine that is like comfort food - if you are feeling down and want to relax you could easily drink way too much of this.
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Lovely. Right in its drinking window. Loads of chocolate, good fruit but little to no tannin or acid which leads me to believe its not going to last til 2017 (CT drinking window).
I think I'lll drink my last one in 12-18months.
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Hurricane Night: I have had mostly hits with this wine. This one was not as good, but still really solid. Big fruits, chocolate, spice. A little too sweet and long on the finish. Drink now.
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Absolutely amazing. from the eucalyptus on the nose to the chocolate and espresso notes. The deep red fruit and a finish that would not quit. Perhaps the best shiraz that has crossed my palate. sorry that it was my last 01.
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A great bottle of wine, aging well. Well integrated, but big, big, big. Some people won't like the style, but it has much more complexity than the normal furit-bomb. Cigar, dark blue fruit, earth and a touch of soy. Didn't do well the second night. This is one of my favorite Shiraz.
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Fantastic. Opened this after opening a very disappointing 06 Pride Merlot & what a wonderful change. Killer immediately out of the bottle after 10 yeas! P&P = Delicious!. This is chocolate creme pie in a glass, velvet sexy liquid fruit. Got some of that coffee thing Day II, the finish just explodes . . . lingers in a big way. This was great w pork stew last night & fine on it's own now. Note to self, buy more. I left this open in the decanter & the nose is a bit off now & it is falling apart a bit, the tannins fading. So I agree w other TN's. Open, decant for a short bit and consume or air vac for a Day II experience. Agree w most of the tasters. July 22. Tasted the dregs before throwing away the bottle. Porty looking, porty nose, Held together pretty well. Still some burnt prune fruit, sweet finish, some nice rusty, charred old oak sweeeet fruit, some heat, lingers.
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Decanted x 2 hours, drank over 3 hours. Complex nose at times fruit and earth, some leather, and medicine or spice. taste was also complex with same notes particularly earth and notes of tobacco and anise but not overpowering. The wine is wonderfully balanced with fine, smooth tannins (not silky), finish medium. Dark garnet, purple, no brick or aging yet. Wow, wife and I both impressed. Wouldn't want every week but it's a welcome and pleasing experience, well done but outside the usual for us. I'm going back for the remaining bottles, all vintages , and hope to enjoy them for many seasons.
Day after: I've just revised my score from yesterday upward from 94. I know this is a sketchy thing to do but I can still feel the tingle on my tongue and in the shadows of the day were lurking the spiciness and zing of a truly outstanding bottle of wine. I have never scored a bottle above 94 previously and generally trend toward conservative scoring. I'd like to think of it as a freshman mistake. Love this wine.
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This wine simply gets better and better (had my previous bottles end of 2009). Fantastic nose of old cigar boxes, dark forest fruits, some fine leather and touches of coffee. The taste is powerfull, fat, oily and rich, tannins are much more integrated now. You can feel the 15% which almost gives it a Porto touch, but not boring in any way, simply a very BIG wine. I'm keeping the other bottles for future enjoyment.
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Smokey, savory flavors. This has an almost reduction-like concentration. There is a bit of heat in this, but the alcohol isn't obtrusive other than the buzz one feels after drinking a couple of glasses. The evolution of this wine has been fairly glacial, some muting of the fruit, and some bacon fat like notes developing over the past couple of years.
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Very interesting experience with this wine. I opened my 1st bottle about 2-3 years ago - perhaps late 2008 and as I recall, it was very lean back then. Don't recall much beyond that, but hoped that my second and last bottle would evolve. Fast forward to mid 2011 and this has totally filled out into a massively expressive shiraz. Popped an poured. Color was a beautiful deeply opaque brownish-purple with browning at the edges due to its age (10 years old). Nose of sweet cigar box and spicy dark fruits. As it opened up, I got more fruit and meat. 1st taste was a mouthful of different flavors but the most striking impression was the surprising mouth-puckering acidity that first gripped the sides of my tongue. Not at all a fruit bomb, butl a HUGE Shiraz with tons of complex flavors. Herbs and meat, tobacco, perfumed spice, cocoa and mocha swirl around an understated core of sweet dark dried cassis and blackberry fruits. Well-balanced Long-finish reminded me of a tawny-port though not as sweet. Very full-bodied and mouth coating. Slightly hot due to 15% but generally well-masked by all of the deep flavors.
While not my preference stylistically, I certainly appreciate that this is a special bottle of Shiraz. Happy to have experienced an Australian classic.
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This is a one of those bottles that reminds you why it’s worth pursuing good vino. The parts of this wine add up to a seemless experience that personifies a good Aussie syrah, with the right proportion of fruit. Elderberry, light menthol and spice on the nose. Really shines on the palate with a pleasing balance of mature fruit, whiff of bacon, acid spine, and tannic backdrop. The parts are common to any good syrah, but the way the parts come together harmoniously into just the right sense of body to shape the flavors makes for that elusive experience, and the finish simply completes the experience, extending the pleasurable elements without injecting anything new or unexpected. Give it just a bit of air (30-60 minutes) to let it open up and the textures to develop. As it begins to fade 2-3 hours later, it is likely a wine to drink in the next couple of years. As an aside, Elderberry is like blackberry with hints of Concord grape.
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Bring it, Big Reds Mini Offline (My House): Nose: Very complex with assorted herbs and some eucalyptus with mineral and flower aromas present. The nose changed about three times on this wine with different attributes taking turns at center stage. Very cool! Palate: Good tannins with black pepper, spice and the assorted herbs showing. There was almost a pan grille aspect as well. If there was a Nose of the Night award this would be a strong candidate. Very solid Aussie!
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Bring it Big Reds, Mini Offline (Matt's): Dark red/purple color. Huge nose, road tar, eucalyptus, blackberry, plum, perfumed herbs and spices, oak, and later becoming carmelized. The palate is big and deep too with blackberry liquer, anise, glycerin, pepper, oak and hints of alcohol that is fairly well hidden. This sucker is a big wine.
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This is an excellent example of a Big Barossa Valley Shiraz. Deep, opaque purple color. The nose is very expressive with aromas of cassis, blackberry, violets, coffee bean, some cedar and some hints of licorice. This is a big, dense full bodied wine with an unctuous texture, deep, bright, dark fruit with leather, espresso, white pepper, anise and abit of caramel with a nice, moderately long finish. The tannins have resolved leaving a well balanced, mature Barossa Valley Shiraz. If you like this style of wine, its hard to go wrong with a bottle of Elderton Command.
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This is an enjoyable Shiraz. No fruit bomb here. Balanced, mature, complex. Blackberries, spice, leather, cedar, tar progressed as it opened. Firm but softening tannins. Years left. Hard to put down the glass. A real hit with the wine cellar group.
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Very pleased to find that this wine was just as I remembered it: huge, but bright and lithe, with floral, minty notes. Beautiful nose of cassis and mint, with a little cedary earth and leather, too. The mouth is blackberry and exotic spices, with layers or cassis and cigarbox. Powerful and silky, very well structured though the tannins are imperceptibly fine. Long finish, with no heaviness at all, nothing pruny or raisined. Though I loved the '05 Clarendon Moritz I had last week, this is a much better wine, as good as anything I've had this year. At just few months short of 10 years old, this drinks very much as it did upon release, shows no signs of age at all. I'd bet on this one going strong for another 15 years or more.
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A monster of a wine; exhibiting big, dark fruit, sweet tannins, chocolate, oak, and a hint of tobacco. This really should accompany a grilled steak, or similarly robust cuisine. Give this wine 3-5 more years and it will be exquisite.
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Big and rich with good concentration for sure. Plum, prune and coffee or espresso undertone and some sweet oak. Good length. Does have a bit of an overripe quality but not more than many other Aussie Shirazes. After three hours, I have now edited my score and raised it by two points. The wine shows excellent depth and stature and very good structure which should allow it to live for many more years. Whether this wine will evolve much is another question, but it is certainly a very tasty and substantial wine.
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Nicely balanced and not showing the Aussie fruity bomb charactieristics of mnay wines. This was delicious and obviously enjoyed by the guests at the Labor Day party. Thanks, John, for contributing such a great wine.
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Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): Larger than life, extreme concentration, slightly sweet. Loveable for its fruit purity and added typicity of eucalypt, coconut and mint. Needs a tad more depth and complexity, I would say. Maybe a few years in the cellar, will serve this cheeky brat right...
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I slightly preferred the 2002 vintage, but this was excellent good. Sweet fruit on the nose, smooth sweet fruit aftertaste that lingered from the first sip to the last. Excellent balance and tannins. It's got a long life ahead of it.
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Made an excellent after-dinner aperitif. Agree with previous notes that this has some Port-like characteristics. Very ripe with some savory components on finish. Didn't drink this when it was younger, so curious as to whether these raisiny characteristics are typical in all aged Aussie shiraz.
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Dark, extracted, and somewhat pruny and porty wine which I don't normally associate with Command. Very forward. Fine tannins. Could have some residual sugar. Not an enjoyable bottle.
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PWS 2010-01: Rhône varietals. (@ My place): Expressive and impressive complex bouquet. Coffee, vanilla and soft ripe fruits. On the palate buttery soft, chocolate, ripe fruits, little bit of leather. Soft tannin. Very elegant and a beautiful balance. Great wine.
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Opened (not decanted) about an hour before drinking. No obvious Aussie-ness. Blueberries, tea, Asian spices. You name it - if it's a desirable red wine characteristic, it was there. Complexity, beautiful balance, terrific finish - otherwise, it sucked. Medium body and an overriding impression of elegance and sophistication. Amazingly, it was a little tight, and I expect it to improve to at least a 95 score with another year or two in the bottle.
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Chesapeake Wood Duck Inn Weekend. No formal notes. Decanted for about 30 minutes. Served with a too-die-for duck breast, lentils, and spring vegetables with a Port au Jus (best duck ever!). Came after a Autard '07 CdP Cote Ronde. I guess wine can get better than this, and if so, I'm really looking forward to having some! This was spectacular. Last bottle about three years ago was fruity and muscular, and balanced. This was chocolate, espresso, satin, and length. Whereas the CdP went very well with the duck and Port au Jus, this melded with them into an almost spiritual experience (well, OK, we were a couple bottles into the evening). All six of us loved this, and I could hear Jeffery sigh contentedly from the kitchen as well. Grand stuff, and I look forward to seeing where how the other two bottles develop with even more time.
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I popped and pored but on the next run I will decant for at least an hour because the aroma and taste really developed immensely throughout the evening. This is wonderful and drinking well now but it should evolve at least another point over the next 3-5 years while being good for 10-15 after that. In my opinion the fruit will emerge victorious on the palate just as well as it does on the nose over that time frame. Don't get me wrong, they are already beautiful but there is a promise of 'more' in its present concentrated and emerging character. The velvety tannins will subside more and some of the remnant heat will dissipate making this a perfectly balanced, pure and wonderful example of Australian Shiraz, if ever there was one. I'll continue to my share sampling going forward. I have another 19 bottles left :-)
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This continues to be an amazing wine! Wonderful dark berry, with a bit of vanilla, and a slight hint of oak. It was great as a "pop and pour", but it even became better after about 30 minutes of breathing time. In my opinion, Shiraz does not get any better than this.
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Pop-n-pour. A VERY BIG wine!!! Whilst the tannins have softened and there are some secondary characteristics coming through on the palate, the oak is still too dominant which is a bit of a concern for the wine's future, particularly if the fruit is not up to it!.
Hold and hope......... Drink my next bottle in 2013
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What a fantastic wine. Full of delicious black berries and exotic spices with a lovely undertone of meat sauce. In the end you get some soft expresso coffee notes and burnt nuts. Silky tannins that are completely integrated. The alcohol is not present, although this is a big wine. Delicious stuff. Drink it now !
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Quite good, complex, nose of oak, earth, crushed berry. Flavors tend toward ripe blackberry, green tea, eucalyptus leaf. Complex, probably near its peak. I think, however, the fruit may be starting to wain and this probably should be consumed by year ten. Plenty of acidity but the tannins are mild and well integrated and perhaps not sufficient for more than the next two or three years.
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Showing great right now. Can last longer, but this is in the perfect drinking stage right now. Tannins have rounded out and this isn't such a monster any more. Well balanced.
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Again and comparing to other notes and other vintages I've drunk I this one just wasn't together. Had a slight metallic burnt streak at times and was not quite balanced but still had a wonderful creamy body. Just the fruit was as together as I would expect in a command compared to all the other ones I've had. Comparing with other notes my 2 bottles may have been damaged.
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I'd wanted to try this for a long time as shiraz is definitely my favorite, and it did not disappoint. Last bottle in stock at 33. Beautifully smooth and balanced with a bit of smoke, chocolate and the perfect amount of typical bramble fruits without going overboard. There was also a little menthol on the nose upon opening that I honestly didn't catch untll Jeff pointed it out.
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Aromatically - bbq smelling synthetic toasted oak, nutmeg, walnuts. On the palate very sweet with a medium plus density and plenty of synthetic tasting oak, this wine has the class of a red light district woman.
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Absolutely lovely Shiraz with elegance and layers of flavours. But, alas, as with so many Aussie Shiraz' this is not quite what it was a few years ago. Drink them now while they still have a song left to sing.
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Had it with a cheese course. 12 years old chedder and 4 years old gouda. Well, quite different from how I remember the last bottle. Scorched earth, smoky, chocolate and complex. Not your typical Australian shiraz. Much better than the 1999 I had earlier this year. 15% alcohol and not showing it this time. An interesting wine.
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nose- smoky, medicinal (per dad), almost smells like a brandy - complex nose. Mouth - roasty and toasty, herbal like qualities which remind me of a digestif. I get a touch of raisin which gives the hint of possibly being a little overripe. Tried side by side with the 2001 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz which I preferred. over this.
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Intriguing nose that's dominated early by menthol, softening later into strong herbal notes, but the black and red fruit is strong enough to keep up and give it some balance. Blackberry and creme de cassis in the mouth, with a nice minty currant finish. Very bright profile overall, the tannins were not really perceptible, but the wine is still nicely structured. I like it a lot, but I know for previous bottles that this is only a moderate performance for this wine.
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Dissappointed in this bottle compared to all the other Commands I've had that have all been outstanding. I don't think this one was spoiled but it just wasn't together and had a really burnt kind of taste to it that was off putting. Got better with air throughout the night but never ever became balanced and structured but seem to have the right stuff that with more age this bottle may have come together. Have one more which I'll let rest for a couple of more years while I enjoy some other Commands.
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WOW!! what a shiraz! huge huge flavour, just an explosion in my mouth. great length on the finish and very smooth. probably another 10yrs of life left.
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My first Elderton, purchased at the time when many top shelf Aussie wines were still affordable, even being dumped in the US market. $59. Purple-red, but not so deep that you cannot see thorugh the wine in the glass. No cloudiness or brett flaws. Nose is perhaps a bit one dimensional, it smells like violet blue would, in my mind. Sort of a combination of ecalyptus leaves, blue berry fruits and a little heat to the nostrils. Very interesting, nonetheless. Very fine, well integrated tannins, a nice acidic backbone and flavors of blueberry, raspberry, evergreen leaf and a bit of heat. Very nice but dries up a bit on the palate at this point. Finish is truncated in the front of the mouth due to this, although it lingers in the back of the throat. I think this will mellow a bit with age, perhaps showing more restraint, but I am not sure that it will be better then. Probably has a 10 year drinking window starting today, as I have recently had '96 Octavius and it is a rip-snorter at 12 years age. This is very much in the same category.
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Posted Aug 13, 2008 11:33 PM Hide Post wonderful opaque colour with a hint of brick starting to emerge; bouquet is quite elegant and refined
this wine has really come together; no hint of tannins at all; smooth, silky on the palate with a beautiful combination of flavours that linger in your mouth to enjoy
pure liquid pleasure; quite enjoyable now but has the stuffing to last a few more years
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Dark ruby in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, spices, coffee and vanilla. Big and bold on the palate with dark fruits, toasted oak and chocolate. Nice long finish - has a few years ahead of it for sure.
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Well now I know what Gary Vaynerchuk mean's by "oak monster". This had a wonderful vanilla blueberry nose, and long finish, but the oak just buried the fruit. It's too bad, as the fruit seemed to be wonderful. But ulitimately, it was too much like licking a board. I can only give it an 89. Had they toned down the oak, it would have been outstanding.
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Decanted four hours and had with dinner of ham, sweet potatoe and veggies. Delicious and mature. Very big, yet remarkably smooth and balanced. Dark fruit, with chocolate and a hint of smokiness (less smoky than the last bottle I had in March, 2007). The finish was long, and this wine should drink well for at least another ten years.
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Dark ruby/black colour; almost opaque. Aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant, spice, pencil lead, and hints of eucalyptus. Full-bodied, unctuous, beautiful texture showing good fruit with vanilla, blackcurrant, blackberry, and spice notes on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins. Long finish, ~40-45s, with black berry fruit. Very approachable tending toward ready to go. Fantastic stuff.
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Barbeque Wines for Labor Day (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had a bunch of roasted meat aromas mixed with expresso, black raspberry, and vanilla. The palate had plum, cherry, mocha, spice, and a little meat. The finish was very good.
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WOW this wine has continued to come together nicely. Smooth, smooth, smooth. dark berries, chocolate and smoke. This wine has evolved into a powerhouse.
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Definitely highlight of the night and I wasn't even going to open this for Father's day dinner. We just so happened to have a fair size lamb shoulder left and thought we need to wash this down with something. Since the Shafer we had earlier with the steak had already been depleted, I thought that a Barossa Shiraz should be up to the job. Dark red. A penetrating and gorgeous aroma of cherry, plum and mocha makes its presence known immediately which presses on to a full body, smooth mouth feel, fine acidity, and plum taste. Unfortunately, the alcohol and weight of it is just as formidable and ultimately makes for a feeling of super-saturation and over-indulgence. In sum, it is a memorable and outstanding wine. The aroma itself is 95 points. But the whole package is probably 93. For those who like restraint, balance and finesse, this is a definite pass. But then, they know this already.
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AGAIN.....This wine is awesome...Man I can't get over how good this wine is! Dark inky color, cocoa and dark cherries on the nose, great consentration of smooth tannins, spice, plums, and cherries on the tongue (extremely well balanced I might add), and the finish...by my watch was 50+ seconds! The body of this wine is full and shows such great potential for aging. In 10 years this wine will be drop dead! Penfold's Grange is a comparison but to me this is THE #1 shiraz.
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TWC 3-Year Anniversary Dinner (Chez Splat, Markham, Canada): Opaque dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of alcohol, mint, blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla. Full-bodied, rich, lovely acidity, with vanilla, blackcurrant, raspberry, coffee/toffee. Lots of silky tannins, but everything is in balance. Moderate-long finish, 40+ seconds, with dark fruit. Will be fantastic with additional cellaring.
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Rich, well-integrated. A touch of oakiness over the fruit. A very rewarding wine. Curiously, along with the 2005 Amon Ra Shiraz, I detect an almost saline attack on the palate initially. I wonder what the relative sodium content of these wines are, and what, if not sodium, might be eliciting this.
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This is a huge wine that has many, many years ahead of it. The fruit extract is remarkable, balanced by huge, sweet tannins and sufficient acidity to make it work. I would not open another for at least 5 years. Deep purple, dark jammy fruit, pepper, everything that is typical in a big Aussie shiraz, just done much better than most. 93 now, with a huge upside!
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Chocolate, plum, and briar......give this another 3 years. Oak is overpowering the fruit at this juncture, but wonderful never the less. Moderately tannic with a long finish
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This was poured at a retailer tasting last week. Among my favorite wines poured at this event. A big broad expansive wine with tons of fruit. The tannisn were fine and not overpowering. A hint of mint on the nose. Notes of crushed grape skin, boysenberry and plum. Full bodied and a long finish. Under better circumstances this could have scored higher. 92-93+ points
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Poured at a retailer tasting. Very dark in color. Initially there was an overwhelming peppermint aroma. I went back a couple of times to retaste, and with more air it took on leathery and meaty aromas. Still tannic, with blueberry and deep minty dark fruit flavors. $61.99.
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a beautiful wine! a great shiraz, with great generous nose of complexe aroma of mocha, dark chocolatey, and plenty of spice and freshness. I jusd grlad to habit!
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Paired the COMMAND against Mitolo G.A.M. 2004 and the Elderton blew it away. We're big fans of Mitolo, so it was a surprise to find a shiraz with so much more depth, complexity and mouthfeel. What a wine!
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Visual: Dark, dense, viscous; lots of fine sediment. Nose: Animal, oak, not much fruit. Palate: Fruit shows up on palate, along with sweet oak, coffee, chocolate, caramel; sharply acidic, tannic, high alcohol (15%). Overall: Heavy!
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Man I can't get over how good this wine is! Dark inky color, cocoa and dark cherries on the nose, great consentration of smooth tannins, spice, plums, and cherries on the tongue (extremely well balanced I might add), and the finish...by my watch was 50+ seconds! The body of this wine is full and shows such great potential for aging. In 10 years this wine will be drop dead! Penfold's Grange is a comparison but to me this is THE #1 shiraz. Drank at Woodfire Grill in ATL. Perfect match to a perfect meal!
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Very tasty. Will improve with age. Near black, thick, a nose of menthol and eucalyptus, with chocolate, coffee and black fruits on the palate. Try again in 3 years.
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give this one another year or two.....we had this following the '98 and there was no comparison....however, i remember the '98 at this stage previously was similar. In two years this will be spectacular and might even live up to it's ratings
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Wow. This is a fantastic wine. Just below the alban and henry's drive 2003 reserves we've enjoyed so much. Decanted but certainly excellent right out of the gate. Not quite as big a fruit bomb as the Henry's Drive Reserve.
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Australian Icons Shiraz tasting & dinner (Marche Bacchus): Dense nose, with chocolate, spice, and hint of tar and black pepper. Lithe but powerful flavors of cherry, plum, and blackberry with brown spices that linger on the finish. This wine, the only one of the evening that I'd previously tasted, was not as remarkable as I remember. Could well be that it was sitting next to the likes of of Astralis, RunRig, and Grange. I remember the previous bottle as more boisterous and floral, but this is still an wonderful wine. Tonight, 93-94, and my #4 of six.
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Rich chocolate and spice and distinct black fruits with floral grace notes on the nose. A strong core of fruits on the palate: black cherry, plum, and blackberries, and more spices. Exceptionally balanced and elegant Aussie shiraz, but still packs all the power. Must enjoy this wine. Pretty good value compared to other comparable Australian wines.
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WIML93,NOWA,WS96 Tasted October 22, 2005 at a retail tasting. Opened and served in Riedel Syrah glasses, restaurant series. Not sure how long the bottle was open but it had been open a little while as we received two of the three last pours. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bacon, chocolate, cassis and black pepper. Flavors of black cherry, plum and some mocha notes. Still a very young wine with plenty of tannins and acidity for the long haul. I’d recommend holding a few more years before re-tasting or if you must open one now start at one hour in the decanter and work your way from there. Recommended without reference to price.
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Syrah/Shiraz Wine Dinner (Atlanta - Food Studio): Decanted 3 ½ hrs. Rich nose of blackberry and spice. Deep blackberry with spice, strong vanilla and dark chocolate and a hint of violet and blueberry. Smooth, round mid-palate texture with a nice long, lingering finish.
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Decanted 3 hr’s. Rich nose of blackberry and spice. Deep, rich and intense blackberry flavors that starts with a nice blended core of spice and dark chocolate with just a hint of violet and blueberry while the chocolate grew stronger and dominated the spice as the evening evolved. This has a very supple, velvet smooth, and round mid-palate texture with a nice long, lingering finish. Recommend cellaring at least 2 more years.
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2/13/2024 - kevinnasr61@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Oh my! I was not expecting this to have held up as well as it has! Still dark and jammy with velvety smooth tannins. Australia hasn’t been my go to for about a decade. Very impressed with the quality. My first sip was within 5 minutes of opening.
Tasting in a Riedel Ouverture Magnum glass.
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1/6/2024 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
It took about a hour to open up after double decanting for sediments. At first it was closed and sort of muted, but then it came back to life.
Color was dark garnet with bricking. Typical Shiraz nose with blackberries and plums, and a hint of oak.
Very nice acidity, lots of black fruits here, cocoa beans, plums, wet forest floor, licorice-like notes; grippy tannins, balanced vanilla ending. Leathery notes throughout.
I know the description seems pretty textbook-like - because this is a textbook Aussie Shiraz. However, this was nuanced and complex, with tertiary notes coming out but with still a lot of vibrancy and freshness in it. I would say at peak, but could go on for a few years more. Truly enjoyable and another masterpiece from Elderton.
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9/7/2023 - Kaizah Likes this wine: 93 Points
Short decant revealed a micely integrated wine. Leather woth hints of tobacco. Still on a fun drinking window, but that window is slowly closing.
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6/24/2022 - prestonlee_lc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wasn't expecting this to be that intrigued. The caramel rush at first is quickly balanced by the tea palate.
Easily another 3-5 years ahead. Great value for money.
Bought to blind taste with friends against Grange of the same vintage. Watch this space!
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12/19/2021 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 94 Points
still fresh and delicious at 20 years! Still a pretty big style but balanced unlike may made at this time. Drink up if you have any.
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9/18/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
Shane's 6th Annual Game Dinner - Game & Truffle (Chateau Lea, New Jersey): In my cellar since release. Double Decanted at 2:30pm to bring to Shane’s game dinner. Nearly opaque dark garnet. Nose has dark and dried fruit as well as game meat, shoe leather and garrique. Very dense chewy mouthfeel with very bright acidity. Dusty and seems to have some grippy tannins. Palate is prune, boysenberry herbs and leather. Long finish. All this just after opening. More after the meal… We drank this at around 6:15pm it had brightened and lightened slightly in color. The nose had black currant, forest floor, licorice and a little black pepper. Several people said they could just “smell this wine all night”. The palate had a touch of balsamic, black pepper, lots of minerals, leather and a distinctly saline finish that was quite long. Very balanced, bright and energetic. Great acidity had this drinking very fresh and lively through the evening. I think this was the most surprising wine of the night in that it was more complex and interesting than most thought would be true of a 20 year old Shiraz. It was much more reminiscent of a top level “Old World” Rhône Syrah than I had expected. It also paired wonderfully with the Yak Sausage dish. Plenty of life remaining!
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9/12/2021 - oldwines wrote: 94 Points
Coravined pour. Medium dark translucent garnet. Nose has old baseball glove leather, spice/pepper, bittersweet chocolate, blackberry and licorice. Palate is gorgeously smooth, rich and earthy. The fruit is subtle but accentuated by the sausage dish my friend made, popping with blueberry on top of the blackberry spices and earthy leather. Really delicious long finish. Candidate or Shane’s next game dinner next weekend.
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8/18/2021 - JDubyaMtl Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blinded, one of my colleagues thought it might be an old CDP, an excellent observation. At this point in its life it is very French, with ample plum and violets, vanilla and baking spice. Silky tannins with a lingering finish, it held up very well after >two hours in the decanter. Unlikely to get better but by no means is this ok the decline, it should drink very well over the next five to ten years. An absolute joy, and why we own cellars.
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5/22/2021 - chatters wrote:
Splash decanted. Fully roided Aussie old school shiraz. Alcohol heat. Plenty of fat, glycerol on the palate, positively unctuous, you could cut this with a knife. Plums, prunes, raisins and blackberries backed by vanilla, cream, chocolate. The bottle says 15%. I suspect it might be nearer 16+. Had a fight with a 7 week dry aged Hereford Angus cross rib eye and won. Compelling and disturbing in almost equal measure.
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4/21/2021 - peternelson Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Quite a big hot gooey mess here. Motor oil texture, big black berry and blueberry fruit pie, rich, huge, gooey, little bitter in the overextracted finish. Taylor's Steak House Dirty Dozen dinner.
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12/30/2020 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very Barrosa and somewhat port-like. Also very enjoyable.
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12/25/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 90 Points
Havent tried this in 5 years, good chance to check back in on it. Last bottle of the evening, with Mer and Charlotte. Splash decant, drank over an hour. Mild sediment
Deep, bright ruby/purple. No signs of thinning. Earthy nose of dark fruits, bramble, earthy. Fruit forward in a very Aussie way...blackberry, blue fruits, baking spice, prunes and fig. I would note the prune notes are likely more of a feature than a bug...:) Full body, medium finish.
Started to fade a bit around 90 minutes in. Has held up since last tasting, only the fade suggests the age at this point. Will go for a while, lots of life left. Guessing it will be at its best in next 5 years. My girls liked it, but the style is very distinct and not for everyone...
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3/28/2020 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Voluptuous fruit, still full bodied, secondary notes, sweet tannins, smooth on the palate and long finish. Very pleasing wine.
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10/5/2019 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brilliant; balanced; mature fruit; long smokey finish.
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8/25/2019 - colin107 wrote: 89 Points
Very jammy with pepper and still so young. Easily another 10yrs.
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6/25/2019 - stayhappy21 wrote: 94 Points
Brought this to Tunglok Xihe for a wine dinner with a group of wine enthusiast. Theme of the evening: Australian wines.
A slight notch better as compared to the last time I drank it. The fruits have faded and the secondary notes have taken over. Vanilla, cream, cassis, and some black pepper.
On the whole this is a very satisfying and enriching drink. Makes one wonder why spending time and money on the other wines?
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5/25/2019 - shebbar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Has aged superbly with an extraordinary finish coating the tongue and back of the throat with tastes of cherry and vanilla. Last bottle in the cellar.
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1/31/2019 - chatters wrote:
Annual Coravin blitz - day one (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Jammy blackberry and cherry, vanilla, coconut, cedar, chocolate, with time in glass a little volatility and meatiness. In the mouth it's positively oily and concentrated to the point of savouriness. The merest tannic whisper. Medium plus length. Kind of fun
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12/30/2018 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Open fragrant nose with intense rich dark fruit on the thick palate with soft tannins and acidity on the moderate finish.
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12/27/2018 - pgm Likes this wine: 95 Points
Much more in line with my 2010 note forecasting a 15-year horizon than my note from July suggesting it was hurry-up-and-drink time. This bottle was youthful and bright in appearance, had freshness and purity on the nose and in the mouth but also lots of mature tertiary notes as well. If this bottle is an indicator rather than my previous one, this will drink well for another four or five years, but it seems like it’s at peak.
Blackberry, red and black currant, leather, minty herbs, some cedar wood and smoky notes. It’s really wonderful.
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11/30/2018 - RR47 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Complex nose, black cherry, cigar, a little tar. Still structured with soft tannins. Dark mature berry in the mouth, balanced throughout, leading to a long wonderful finish. Sadly last bottle. Stored correctly since release.
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11/21/2018 - JWG wrote: 93 Points
Another excellent bottle of this powerful wine. Notes from 2017 still apply and it is a luscious drink.
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7/22/2018 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Loads of mature aromas and flavors in the wine now. Plum and berry compote, with leather and tobacco. Drink these sooner than later. Still excellent, but on the downslope now.
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6/6/2018 - matt4wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A beauty, inky silky smooth and elegant for 17 yrs. I wish I had more. I'd say there was a few years life left, not to rush.
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12/29/2017 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
PWS (@ PdV): In the bouquet Eucalyptus, sweet spices, vanilla and wet leather. Also cigar box, graphite and fennel. On the palate some salty and sweet licorice, red berries, vanilla, Eucalyptus again, good acidity and soft tannin. A beautiful and mature wine.
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12/9/2017 - royalscam Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully integrated and well balanced - lots of excellent Australian shiraz fruit here
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11/13/2017 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at 67
Rich nose of dark brooding fruits with a silky smooth palate. Lovely.
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11/8/2017 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of vertical tasting of four early 2000's vintages. Under cork
Dense, smoke, blue berries
Smooth tannins, acidity still holding well, long and satisfying mouth feel
Over an hour went from being most approachable of four to third.
General comment on all four vintages ('01, '02, '04, '05). Family resemblance pronounced. Aromatics develop at slightly different rates, '01 overall being most intense. On palate, '05 has most fruit and acidity, distinctly less developed than others. '04 shows most savoury elements. '02 showed most development of flavours in glass. All demonstrate potential to be enjoyable for several more years
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10/28/2017 - posulli828 Likes this wine:
Excellent wine with nice balance of age, fruit and structure. Needed several hours decanting before serving. But agree that this has probably peaked and should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
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10/15/2017 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Second bottle of two bought at an auction. Whereas the previous one was flawed this one was more of what could be expected. Loads of licorice and shorched earth and bacon. In the mouth, very sweet attack but the mid and finish was a lot more balanced and harmonius. A rich wine of the times I presume.
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7/31/2017 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Full frontal blueberry compote, cedary smoke and still quite dense, aging at a glacial pace. While it hasn't really improved since last bottle, it is drinking en pointe. Not my style of wine but I can definitely appreciate the appeal.
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7/8/2017 - Steven Austin wrote: 93 Points
I agree with Randy. My bottle was in fine condition, so there was not an issue with anything structural. If you have this wine, enjoy it before the Easter Bunny returns in 2018.
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7/4/2017 - randyscheffel wrote: 93 Points
A great wine but within a few years of its life.
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6/16/2017 - jkoenen wrote: 86 Points
Licorice, prunes, toast and oak upon opening. Some walnut, grilled meat, cocoa and dried herbs chiming in after awhile. For now, I'd say this is lacking fruit.
A faulty bottle? Or in decline?
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5/6/2017 - mats13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A near port-like experience, both on the nose, palate. Viscous mouthfeel. Prunes, stewed dark fruit glide in a thick glycerine teeth-staining, tongue-coating wash.
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2/26/2017 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow
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2/4/2017 - chatters wrote:
Old School Aussie Shiraz with age (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Black cherry and dust, slight Balsamic, dense on the palate with a fair amount of glycerol. But of funky cellar dirt as well. Full on.
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2/3/2017 - RR47 wrote: 94 Points
Amazing bottle, over 6 years since last visited this wine. Stored correctly from the cellar. Nose of blackberries, leather, pleasant smoke. Mature, fully integrated tannins, fruit driven sweetness, but ends with a bit of acidity that brings you back for another taste.
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1/29/2017 - JWG wrote: 93 Points
Powerful nose of smoke and dark berries. Still a big punch of alcohol. which I like. The berries carry thru on the palate and then a spicy element really hits big time. Some tannins at the end that add a tingle. Although mature, still has plenty of life in it so I'm moving drink date back a year to 2018.
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1/4/2017 - Cigar nuke wrote: 87 Points
This was a disappointment for me and my wife. Cellared well (perfectly) since purchase in 2009 in original timber case. Broke open the case and opened a bottle. Cork broke. Sediment+++. Decanted for 2 hours. Very big red. Velvety smooth texture. But lacking. Maybe I just got a bad bottle. Certainly will be drinking the last 5 in the next year or two.
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12/10/2016 - redpinot wrote: 88 Points
Good concentrated shiraz, but feel that it needs more distinctive character to deserve its price.
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12/5/2016 - Wozza Likes this wine: 94 Points
I write this note in rather fortuitous circumstances. After attending the Vivino Sydney Offline Christmas Dinner 2016, I lost this phone twice in the same night! Yes twice! I've just paid a homeless guy $50 for it's safe return two days later! I therefore celebrate in style with this iconic Aussie Barossa Shiraz of 15 years vintage that I picked up on a Greys Wine auction last week.
And what a wine it is. It's deep, dark and brooding. With that signature black fruit premium smokey French oak experience I've come to love in my collection of Elderton Commands. Dark berries, liquorice, vanilla, sage, and smoked oak spices tantalise the senses. Oh, it's so moorish, and beautifully balanced. Not as big as the 02. But it's really nice. It therefore gets a Wozza 94/100 (4.0/5.0) from me.
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12/2/2016 - darren81 Likes this wine:
8/10 - Refer to prior note. Still just as powerful and juicy and gamy. A pity it was the last bottle!
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11/13/2016 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted and gave it plenty of time to breathe. On the nose: Sweet dark red fruit , oak, vanilla, leather and chocolate.
On the palette a heavy Australian syrah: sweetness, chocolate and dark red berries, syrup, silky and chewy. Still showed some tannin grip towards the end. Good to drink now but will hold a few years longer. There is nothing more than to love this!
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9/11/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
Slow oxed for about 2 hours, had a few glasses over 2 hours. Drank post a Washington Syrah, its beejn a while since I visited this wine, thought I would check in on development...
From prior notes: "Dark ruby/purple color, big shiraz nose, earthy, black fruits. Big fruit on the front of the palate, dark fruits, blackberry, blueberry, spice, prunes, fig. Defintely Aussie but more subdued, long finish. Tannins are well integrated. Towards the end of the bottle, it developed some stewed charcterisitcs...seemed to be fading."
The extra time has done this wine well, my prior observations may be due to not letting it open, I don't remember as much complexity as this bottle showed. The secondary characteristics were much more prevalent - earth, black chocolate, smoke, leather. Medium finish, nice silky texture.
Its a big/jammy Aussie to be sure, but its got a lot more going on at this stage than I would have predicted from the last bottle. Not for everyone given fruit profile - our crowd was split on this. Goes well with grilled meats...seems like it should hold at this level for a while, glad I didn't give up on it...
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9/10/2016 - shebbar Likes this wine: 96 Points
Excellent finish. Silky. Has aged well. Could probably cellar another year or two.
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6/1/2016 - rexmerlot wrote: 93 Points
Clear dark purple in colour with a little bricking on the sides. Clean nose of plums, black chocolate, and floral. Dry, med+body, med acidity, smooth elegant tannins. Lots of big fruit still. Jammy, but not overly so. Black chocolate, plum, black berry, and some spice. Med+ finish. Wow, this wine is still drinking well. i am not a huge fan of Australian Shiraz, but not in this case. Big, but still lots going on. I wish I had more bottles of this. Drink now, but could still go on for another 10 years easily.
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5/5/2016 - Barry Raterink Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank alongside a 2004 Standish The Relic. Great wine, tremendous balance, the fruit is still all there and the wine is round and lush on the palate. Still have 4 left of a 6-pack.
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4/1/2016 - Tannic Monster wrote:
Perhaps this is a slightly flawed bottle given the average review on this wine. Almost like a cherry cough syrup thing going on here with an alcoholic somewhat tart raisin-like finish. Tannins are still alive and kicking. Not really my cup of tea but we will let it open up a bit and see if anything happens. I have another bottle so it will be interesting to see if there is a difference.
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11/10/2015 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
an excellent example of aged Shiraz. jammy fruit has faded now a nice pkg of dark fruits and vanilla, decent length of finish as well
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11/4/2015 - Barry Raterink Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing wine - 1st bottle of 6-pack box.
Complex nose, great balance and acidity.
Wonderful Shiraz/
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9/20/2015 - ken-yyz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great fruit. Nice acidity. Excellent balance. Not too ripe. Not too hot. Not too oaky. Just right. A great bottle.
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6/1/2015 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
i loved it last time and amazingly it just gets better. This is what Shiraz is meant to be
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5/31/2015 - kenthargis wrote: 93 Points
Still a wonderful wine. Mocha and eucalyptus flavors predominate. Not as powerful as a few years back, but still vibrant with lush fruit. Drink up.
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5/2/2015 - Mascarello59 wrote: flawed
If tasted blind I would have guessed a port from just sniffing it. Lots of prunes and raisins and that sticky sweetness. In the mouth there's almost a total lack of structure, no acidity, no tannins., just cooked fruit This was bought at an auction recently and my guess is that this bottle has been stored too hot and just gone flat. Or is it simply way over the top? Unfair to rate.
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4/1/2015 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby with vibrant crimson hues, showing nice expressive nose of dark plum, blueberry, chocolate and hints of eucalyptus. Sweet fruits entry, nice and supple with good intensity, exhibits ripe fruits, dark plum, chocolate and some prune raisin character. Showing good development with mellow mouth-feel but it tend to be one dimensional compare to other wines in the lineup. But it has a long lingering finish and smooth tannins.
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3/20/2015 - jskuek Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: Medicinal
Palate: a little bit sweet, mellow, juicy, delicious, smoky, ripe plum, vanilla. Med+ body. Starting to show the secondary notes. Time to drink up.
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12/18/2014 - papabluez wrote: 94 Points
One of 10 bottles consumed tonight at our "blind tasting." 3 1/2 hour decant. Folks loved the wine, but no one guessed it as shiraz! Still plenty of life left -- could hold a few more years. Fruit, oak, tannins well integrated. Nose: muted black fruit, dark chocolate, tobacco, anise, etc.
Velvety texture. The group missed the age as well, with no one guessing old enough to be 2001. This is an elegant wine that can stand with the best from any from the new or old world. This is another reminder that one should remain comitted to collecting and trying some of Australia's best.
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11/9/2014 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous notes.
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9/20/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
consistent delivery from this producer
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8/17/2014 - stayhappy21 wrote: 94 Points
Opened this wine last night at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck (Paragon) with my 2 best friends from University and their spouses/ family.
Drank it alongside the 1998 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne.
My 2nd experience with this wine and a clear and remarkable difference between the Barossa (Australia) and Hermitage (France) styles is the level of sweetness between the two. While the Hermitage appeared more subtle, rustic and balanced, the Barossa was more powerful, fruit forward, and full bodied.
Colour is purplish red, with a nose that reminded me of oak, sander wood and dark red fruits. On the palate the wine is remarkably smooth with significantly higher level of sugar (as compared to the Hermitage). Notes of dark berries and crushed black pepper in the body. Nice, smooth and lingering finish.
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6/6/2014 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
consistent with my last btl, very good!
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5/30/2014 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Very nice nose showing chocolate, espresso notes along with blackberries and dark plums. Elegant and subtle.
Mellow and elegant on palate but still robust and retain good intensity, deep ripe plums, blackberries and a well balance mouth feel.
It has a long persistent finish, spicy aftertaste and fine velvety tannins.
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5/30/2014 - stayhappy21 wrote: 94 Points
Drank this at Royal Pavilion last night with some Aussie wine lovers.
Wine was well integrated at time of opening and was truly impressive from start to finish.
The latent potential in the wine was evident and this wine stood head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.
One of the guest mentioned "The Command has earned my Respect" and I couldn't agree more with the statement.
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5/24/2014 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
this wine has aged amazingly well. gone is the jammy fruit and in its place is a well integrated shiraz with lots of fruit but a Nice layer of spice and pepper as well. decent length of finish as well.
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5/5/2014 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous reviews.
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5/3/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed at Red Cat in NYC w/T&L visiting from Melbourne. Also drank '91 Penfolds Grange. The latter was a bit less robust than previous experiences, and the Command the better of the two.
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4/12/2014 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
a wonderful shiraz. all the elements are working in this one. big fruit(without being heavy) nice hint of white pepper(without being overly spicy) nice silky texture on the palate and a longg finish
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3/23/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Some GREAT wine swith friends (new and old) (Chris and Renee's Home): One might be tempted to dismiss this wine from the flight based on rep. That would be wrong. This easily held it own. Purple in color, looking like it was just released. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, a touch of espresso. Full bodied and juicy. On the palate, layers of complexity unwind in the glass. Great juicy texture. complex with black raspberries, vanilla, pepper all intertwined. Long finish. Drinking beautifully now with years left in it.
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3/22/2014 - smcilhen Likes this wine:
1 hour of airtime. Very nice and elegant command with more smoky notes than other commands I've had. A nice velvety mouthfeel on this (which is the command's calling card) but not quite to the level of the 2002 or even the 1999, both of which I was able to acquire for $10-$15 less than this. Drink over the next 5 years. Although very good, if I had the choice I would buy the 2002 over this.
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3/1/2014 - perlasteve Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyable. Others note large sediment which I did not have so it did not really need a decant which I did for sediment. Very dark. Nose very jammy initially but palate shows some funk like earth or leather which I love (big Cayuse fan). Medium - full body. However not hugely complex but still quite good now. Probably won't evolve much more in the bottle. Finish not very long. Good Barossa
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1/10/2014 - walkerjfw wrote: 89 Points
At home with hamburgers...first bottle from an OWC bought from a fellow collector. Splash decanted, drank over 2 hours.
Dark ruby color, big shiraz nose, earthy, black fruits. Big fruit on the front of the palate, dark fruits, blackberry, blueberry, spice, prunes, fig. Defintely Aussie but more subdued, long finish. Tannins are well integrated. Towards the end of the bottle, it developed some stewed charcterisitcs...seemed to be fading.
Nice wine, not exceptional. Drink now, may be past its peak.
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11/29/2013 - Strikermax wrote: 93 Points
Robijnrood, tranend. Dikke geur van zoet, zwoel rijp fruit, kruidig, eucalyptus. Zeer geconcentreerde smaak, zoetje, cassis, kersen, chocolade. Afgeronde tannines, lang aanhoudend. Goede balans, verwarmend, maar niet vermoeiend alcoholisch. Hele dikke, luxe wijn.
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11/28/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of six red wines at a dinner party, so no detailed notes. However, it stood out like a sore thumb among five other Syrahs and Rhone blends - by far the biggest and baddest but by far the most polished, as well. Although it may be past its peak, it still has plenty to offer and plenty of time left on it.
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11/9/2013 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous notes.
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10/26/2013 - oldwines wrote: 94 Points
Similar to last bottle. Color has mellowed with a dark ruby, very viscous. Nice mouthfeel, alcohol blows off quickly. Gorgeous nose, floral, fruity and earthy. Luscious round mature wine. Complex and layered flavor profile of blackberry bramble, black currant, licorice, earth and vanilla. Only disappointment is the aftertaste being a little shorter that I'd like.
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10/17/2013 - skifree wrote: 94 Points
Brought to CT Seattle monthly tasting with a "south of the equator" theme. Complete, intense wine. Started with perfume, blueberry, a touch of alcohol. In the mouth flowers, sweet alcohol, spice, brambly. Very long finish. Second night it had calmed down into a deep red fruit and mocha wine, very smooth. My WOTN, though third for the group.
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10/16/2013 - f22nickell wrote: 90 Points
Seattle Wine Group - Oct 2013 Tasting - Theme: Southern Hemisphere Reds (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Shiraz – Barossa
Setting: Bottle “E” in the blind tasting. Notes were taken before I knew the wine identity.
Sight: This wine is bright; No evidence of gas or particles. Color is light purple at the core fading to garnet about 1/8” from the meniscus. Light concentration of color. Legs are thin and move quickly down the glass.
Nose: This wine does not smell flawed. medium intensity. Primary fruit aromas of blueberries and blackberries. The wine has secondary notes of menthol, with a hint of chocolate. Detectable oak on this wine, but it was unobtrusive. I picked up some heat on the nose.
Palate: This wine is medium bodied and a bit lush in the mouth, great mouthcoating. Primary fruit flavors of blackberries and some cherry; very fruit forward; a bit jammy even. Minimal secondary notes; maybe a hint of chocolate and spice. No detectable earth or minerals. Tannins and oak are well integrated, almost undetectable. You can taste the alcohol, but it doesn’t come across as high or excessive.
Structure: This wine is dry. Acid is low. Alcohol is medium to medium plus. Tannins are medium, but well integrated. Finish is medium. Complexity is low.
Conclusion: My guess is this is an Aussie Shiraz from a decent quality producer. The wine is fruit forward, but the well integrated tannins and color lead me to believe this wine has some age. The fruit and alcohol with low acid suggest this is a warmer than normal vintage.
Final thoughts: This was a nice bottle of wine. It had a great, lush mouthfeel, but it was fairly one dimensional. This wine was saying “I can really only give you one thing, but I do it pretty well.” Different flavor profile, but similar experience to the previous wine, the 2008 Cantena. The off balanced acid/fruit profile dropped this #3 for me. The rest of guys voted it #3 as well, but a pretty wide spread in the voting.
My Ranking: 3rd out of 6 bottles (Flawed bottle not included)
Group Ranking: 3rd out of 6 bottles (Flawed bottle not included)
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8/16/2013 - michelvl wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with my previous reviews.
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7/28/2013 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous notes.
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7/13/2013 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful mature bouquet with smoke, cinnamon and a touch of pleasant barnyard. On the palate rose hips, cinnamon, some licorice, a beautifully soft balance between acidity and sweetness and stot tannin and bitterness. A beautifully mature and luxurious wine. Completely ready now and no real hurry, but I will drink my last bottle in 2015 or 2016.
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7/7/2013 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 94 Points
Dark opaque wine. Nice nose of coffee and chocolate. On the palate, this wine is pure hedonism. The chocolate flavour dominates, with undercurrents of blackberries and caramel. With such a masculine and powerful taste, it was surprising the finish was smooth. I deducted some points for lack of balance, but maybe I would have felt different if I had paired it with steak. 2 words for the Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command --- consistently good.
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7/5/2013 - Davyd Chong Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very rich, opulent wine with massive flavours of dark chocolate, sweet dates, and raisins. Very fruit driven. Absolutely loved the wine, though it can be quite overpowering for some. Complex, concentrated wine with an excellent finish. Felt quite saturated after a few glasses due to its intensity. I agree, this is a hedonistic wine indeed!
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5/28/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opaque, inky rosewood color with a maroon rim. Popped and poured, this is immediately expressive (despite being at cellar temperature) with a dense, lush red fruit aroma accented by cocoa. Over time as this warms up and aerates, a bright, sweet note of candied cherries begins to emerge. On the palate this is opulent and gorgeous, incorporating flavors of stewed cherries and garrigue. The tannins are smooth as silk but still have structural integrity. The entire wine was seamless without being monolithic. This is delicious to the point of going down way too easily; several times I had to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the individual elements as they sing out in turn. Another superlative Command. Excellent right now, should remain at a peak for at least three more years.
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4/7/2013 - darren81 Likes this wine: 92 Points
8/10 - Yummy blackberries sprinkled with some sea salt, game and dark chocolate.
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2/17/2013 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous reviews.
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2/14/2013 - Vinacull wrote: 92 Points
Aerate to decanter and serve, teaspoon of sediment left over. Color dark red with some purple tones, slight sign of bricking at the edge. Superb big bouquet of black and red berries, baking spices, French press coffee, scorched earth, and slight funk of mushroom. Overall outstanding Shiraz nose from a great ripe Aussie vintage. Packed big on taste with flavors of black and red fruit, coffee, mocha and earth. Medium acid (?), full tannins softened and integrated with age, long finish showing a little alcohol the longer it was open. Overall a great V-Day experience, but I felt for whatever reason it did not show all it could and thus did not live up to the WS96. Perhaps it was attributable to the fact that I bought this only about 4 years ago so it spent the majority of its life at room temp on the store shelf. Value OK considering what it delivered for premium price of 75.
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2/3/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Jwg's note nails it. I'd add some forest and earthy notes in the mid palate as well. I love the dusty dark black cherry menthol on the nose.
Be forewarned: this bottle had tons of sediment. I'm going to stand this upright for a week next time and be very careful when decanting. Benefitted from a few hours of air.
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1/31/2013 - JWG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smoke and dark berries on the nose, big-time. A punch of alcohol too, but seems appropriate and not overbearing at all, but rather gives it a virility. The berries carry thru on the palate and work with a chocolate note and especially an espresso hit. There's also a spicy element as the flavor develops. A pleasure with a ripe robiola for starters, and an onion risotto.
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12/8/2012 - JJA wrote: 91 Points
This has aged very nicely. However when put up against a 2007 Tensley Syrah, the Elderton loses. With all the exciting progress going on in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, I honestly don't know why one would bother with Australian Shiraz's.
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11/4/2012 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my previous notes
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10/12/2012 - clarktoews wrote: 93 Points
still holding strong and integrating ver well. not a fruit bomb at all
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10/6/2012 - michelvl wrote: 95 Points
Still perfect as per my previous note in 2010 but lost a little of the fruit explosion. More civilized now and ultimately lovely.
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8/5/2012 - oldwines wrote: 94 Points
Inky dark purple. Initial nose somewhat alcoholic but it blows off after a half hour with plenty of red and black fruit, chocolate and spice. Secondary smells and flavors seem hidden but after several hours the coffee/espresso tea and mushrooms come out. On the palate it is thick and jammy with blackberry, blueberry and cherry coming through. The coffee and chocolate are more prominent in the aftertaste. Unlike some reviewers I don't think it is time to drink this up. I prefer the secondary flavors rather than just the fruit up front and with some more time in bottle my guess is this will be more integrated and more to my liking. I do agree this peaks within 4-5 hours and won't be nearly as good the second day.
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6/9/2012 - rlafreni wrote: 80 Points
Unusual taste and smell. Disappointing
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5/19/2012 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Dark inky color. Muted blackberry and alcohol aromas. Well integrated flavors of blackberry and oak. Smooth and full bodied with nice finish. Hoped for more complexity, but I believe this is on the decline.
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4/28/2012 - tonsta wrote: 92 Points
A touch out of balance and I get the feeling the fruit will continue to fade and the oak will dominate more and more. For this reason I suggest drinking up if you have any. Reckon the CT drinking window of 2017 is optimistic!
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4/20/2012 - Empirate wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Disappeared quickly. Moderate nose of dark berry. Complex dark and blue berry with spice, leather/earth, and cedar on the palate. Elegant structure. Balanced and nearly resolved tannins with medium long finish. Delightful.
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4/8/2012 - acheng wrote: 92 Points
Smoky, bacon, Chinese spice, plum and dried tangerine. Intense, sweet and fullish. Hedonistic drink with complexity.
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2/7/2012 - Old Vino wrote: 89 Points
Over the top fruits - prunes/fig. Medium finish. Pleasant to drink. Enjoyable, but not that special.
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2/7/2012 - Stevey wrote: 91 Points
Sweet fruit forward, a bit jammy, not atypical of many Aussie shirazes, but the fruit is denser with greater complexity. Black and red cherries dominate, sweet palate. Tannins have settled and integrated well. Medium finish. Definitely in drinking window now and for probably few more years at least. Good wine but a bit too sweet for me. Overall, not sure it's worth the $70 I paid for this many years back.
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1/28/2012 - Ex-Ray wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding, and perfectly mature. Went well with beef filet at Arooji's. Continued to improve for six hours, with last glass at home. Sweet complex mocha nose, seems like American oak. Medium-full bodied, packed with matching fruit flavors. Perfectly balanced with fruit, acid; only light tannin. Extremely long, balanced aftertaste. A great bottle from a great year, at its peak...too bad it's my last bottle!
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1/18/2012 - rdsboca wrote: 90 Points
Aussies at Abe and Louie's (Abe & Louie's): Reminded me of alan Reva. Someroad tar and some prune notes. after a while, red fruit dominated with some licorice and blackberry. The wine was a bit tart, zesty and towad end of bottle some strawberry and blueberry emerged.
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1/14/2012 - Zed57 wrote:
- It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and cedar with a full body. Oily texture with a long finish - Huge. Blows you away. Don't be fooled, it has many years left but isfabulous now. Reminds me of Grange. This wine is not for everyone but if you love Aussie Shiraz you will love it over the next 5-10yrs. 95
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12/28/2011 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Weekly tasting group #014a; End of year tasting; a mixed set. (@ My place): Blackberries and chocolate. Concentrated. Good juice. Enormously tasteful. Elegance as well. Still very beautiful and I don't think the wine will improve.
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11/19/2011 - xcblazer10 wrote: 85 Points
This is as good of Austrialian Shiraz as I have had...however I'm learning I just not a big fan of Austrialian Shiraz. Plum, rasberry jam, and cigar box. Smooth tanins.
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10/11/2011 - LMK wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark red, great lush bouquet. I'd drink this again and again.
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9/29/2011 - Winevestor wrote: 94 Points
I love this wine. Has one of the most prominent cigar-box tastes I've ever had, and I love that. I had w it over two nights and it was much better on the first night. I suspect this has not got too much longer to go. Great red fruit, velvoty tannins. This is a wine that is like comfort food - if you are feeling down and want to relax you could easily drink way too much of this.
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9/4/2011 - tonsta wrote: 94 Points
Lovely. Right in its drinking window. Loads of chocolate, good fruit but little to no tannin or acid which leads me to believe its not going to last til 2017 (CT drinking window).
I think I'lll drink my last one in 12-18months.
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8/28/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 92 Points
Hurricane Night: I have had mostly hits with this wine. This one was not as good, but still really solid. Big fruits, chocolate, spice. A little too sweet and long on the finish. Drink now.
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8/17/2011 - 1961Vintage wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely amazing. from the eucalyptus on the nose to the chocolate and espresso notes. The deep red fruit and a finish that would not quit. Perhaps the best shiraz that has crossed my palate. sorry that it was my last 01.
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8/16/2011 - Winevestor wrote: 93 Points
A great bottle of wine, aging well. Well integrated, but big, big, big. Some people won't like the style, but it has much more complexity than the normal furit-bomb. Cigar, dark blue fruit, earth and a touch of soy. Didn't do well the second night. This is one of my favorite Shiraz.
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8/15/2011 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Slightly alcoholic nose, this had grapey, almost sweet flavors of raspberry, oak and chocolate. Seemed a bit long in the tooth. Drink now.
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7/30/2011 - Empirate wrote:
Too hot (ambient) to enjoy this big wine (despite refrigerating it to 60s F), should've known better!
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7/18/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic. Opened this after opening a very disappointing 06 Pride Merlot & what a wonderful change. Killer immediately out of the bottle after 10 yeas! P&P = Delicious!. This is chocolate creme pie in a glass, velvet sexy liquid fruit. Got some of that coffee thing Day II, the finish just explodes . . . lingers in a big way. This was great w pork stew last night & fine on it's own now. Note to self, buy more. I left this open in the decanter & the nose is a bit off now & it is falling apart a bit, the tannins fading. So I agree w other TN's. Open, decant for a short bit and consume or air vac for a Day II experience. Agree w most of the tasters. July 22. Tasted the dregs before throwing away the bottle. Porty looking, porty nose, Held together pretty well. Still some burnt prune fruit, sweet finish, some nice rusty, charred old oak sweeeet fruit, some heat, lingers.
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7/8/2011 - dpohlman wrote: 94 Points
This is still my favorite Shiraz. The 2001 is almost as good as the 2005!
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7/6/2011 - Empirate wrote: 97 Points
Decanted x 2 hours, drank over 3 hours. Complex nose at times fruit and earth, some leather, and medicine or spice. taste was also complex with same notes particularly earth and notes of tobacco and anise but not overpowering. The wine is wonderfully balanced with fine, smooth tannins (not silky), finish medium. Dark garnet, purple, no brick or aging yet. Wow, wife and I both impressed. Wouldn't want every week but it's a welcome and pleasing experience, well done but outside the usual for us. I'm going back for the remaining bottles, all vintages , and hope to enjoy them for many seasons.
Day after: I've just revised my score from yesterday upward from 94. I know this is a sketchy thing to do but I can still feel the tingle on my tongue and in the shadows of the day were lurking the spiciness and zing of a truly outstanding bottle of wine. I have never scored a bottle above 94 previously and generally trend toward conservative scoring. I'd like to think of it as a freshman mistake. Love this wine.
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6/17/2011 - Ltim BE wrote: 94 Points
This wine simply gets better and better (had my previous bottles end of 2009). Fantastic nose of old cigar boxes, dark forest fruits, some fine leather and touches of coffee. The taste is powerfull, fat, oily and rich, tannins are much more integrated now. You can feel the 15% which almost gives it a Porto touch, but not boring in any way, simply a very BIG wine. I'm keeping the other bottles for future enjoyment.
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6/15/2011 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Smokey, savory flavors. This has an almost reduction-like concentration. There is a bit of heat in this, but the alcohol isn't obtrusive other than the buzz one feels after drinking a couple of glasses. The evolution of this wine has been fairly glacial, some muting of the fruit, and some bacon fat like notes developing over the past couple of years.
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6/8/2011 - enovino wrote: 94 Points
Very interesting experience with this wine. I opened my 1st bottle about 2-3 years ago - perhaps late 2008 and as I recall, it was very lean back then. Don't recall much beyond that, but hoped that my second and last bottle would evolve. Fast forward to mid 2011 and this has totally filled out into a massively expressive shiraz. Popped an poured. Color was a beautiful deeply opaque brownish-purple with browning at the edges due to its age (10 years old). Nose of sweet cigar box and spicy dark fruits. As it opened up, I got more fruit and meat. 1st taste was a mouthful of different flavors but the most striking impression was the surprising mouth-puckering acidity that first gripped the sides of my tongue. Not at all a fruit bomb, butl a HUGE Shiraz with tons of complex flavors. Herbs and meat, tobacco, perfumed spice, cocoa and mocha swirl around an understated core of sweet dark dried cassis and blackberry fruits. Well-balanced Long-finish reminded me of a tawny-port though not as sweet. Very full-bodied and mouth coating. Slightly hot due to 15% but generally well-masked by all of the deep flavors.
While not my preference stylistically, I certainly appreciate that this is a special bottle of Shiraz. Happy to have experienced an Australian classic.
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5/5/2011 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Not my style at all. Couldn't even finish a glass.
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4/24/2011 - dekay wrote: 94 Points
This is a one of those bottles that reminds you why it’s worth pursuing good vino. The parts of this wine add up to a seemless experience that personifies a good Aussie syrah, with the right proportion of fruit. Elderberry, light menthol and spice on the nose. Really shines on the palate with a pleasing balance of mature fruit, whiff of bacon, acid spine, and tannic backdrop. The parts are common to any good syrah, but the way the parts come together harmoniously into just the right sense of body to shape the flavors makes for that elusive experience, and the finish simply completes the experience, extending the pleasurable elements without injecting anything new or unexpected. Give it just a bit of air (30-60 minutes) to let it open up and the textures to develop. As it begins to fade 2-3 hours later, it is likely a wine to drink in the next couple of years. As an aside, Elderberry is like blackberry with hints of Concord grape.
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2/20/2011 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Bring it, Big Reds Mini Offline (My House): Nose: Very complex with assorted herbs and some eucalyptus with mineral and flower aromas present. The nose changed about three times on this wine with different attributes taking turns at center stage. Very cool! Palate: Good tannins with black pepper, spice and the assorted herbs showing. There was almost a pan grille aspect as well. If there was a Nose of the Night award this would be a strong candidate. Very solid Aussie!
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2/20/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Bring it Big Reds, Mini Offline (Matt's): Dark red/purple color. Huge nose, road tar, eucalyptus, blackberry, plum, perfumed herbs and spices, oak, and later becoming carmelized. The palate is big and deep too with blackberry liquer, anise, glycerin, pepper, oak and hints of alcohol that is fairly well hidden. This sucker is a big wine.
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1/23/2011 - shiel wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous Aussie Shiraz that sings with deep dark sweet chocolate. Best of best.
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1/2/2011 - mmcdds wrote: 94 Points
This is an excellent example of a Big Barossa Valley Shiraz. Deep, opaque purple color. The nose is very expressive with aromas of cassis, blackberry, violets, coffee bean, some cedar and some hints of licorice. This is a big, dense full bodied wine with an unctuous texture, deep, bright, dark fruit with leather, espresso, white pepper, anise and abit of caramel with a nice, moderately long finish. The tannins have resolved leaving a well balanced, mature Barossa Valley Shiraz. If you like this style of wine, its hard to go wrong with a bottle of Elderton Command.
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12/24/2010 - RR47 wrote: 94 Points
This is an enjoyable Shiraz. No fruit bomb here. Balanced, mature, complex. Blackberries, spice, leather, cedar, tar progressed as it opened. Firm but softening tannins. Years left. Hard to put down the glass. A real hit with the wine cellar group.
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12/20/2010 - pgm wrote: 96 Points
Very pleased to find that this wine was just as I remembered it: huge, but bright and lithe, with floral, minty notes.
Beautiful nose of cassis and mint, with a little cedary earth and leather, too.
The mouth is blackberry and exotic spices, with layers or cassis and cigarbox. Powerful and silky, very well structured though the tannins are imperceptibly fine. Long finish, with no heaviness at all, nothing pruny or raisined.
Though I loved the '05 Clarendon Moritz I had last week, this is a much better wine, as good as anything I've had this year.
At just few months short of 10 years old, this drinks very much as it did upon release, shows no signs of age at all. I'd bet on this one going strong for another 15 years or more.
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9/23/2010 - gigabit wrote: 92 Points
A monster of a wine; exhibiting big, dark fruit, sweet tannins, chocolate, oak, and a hint of tobacco. This really should accompany a grilled steak, or similarly robust cuisine. Give this wine 3-5 more years and it will be exquisite.
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9/13/2010 - burgbob wrote: 93 Points
Big and rich with good concentration for sure. Plum, prune and coffee or espresso undertone and some sweet oak. Good length. Does have a bit of an overripe quality but not more than many other Aussie Shirazes. After three hours, I have now edited my score and raised it by two points. The wine shows excellent depth and stature and very good structure which should allow it to live for many more years. Whether this wine will evolve much is another question, but it is certainly a very tasty and substantial wine.
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9/5/2010 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Nicely balanced and not showing the Aussie fruity bomb charactieristics of mnay wines. This was delicious and obviously enjoyed by the guests at the Labor Day party. Thanks, John, for contributing such a great wine.
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8/20/2010 - jkoenen wrote:
Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): Larger than life, extreme concentration, slightly sweet. Loveable for its fruit purity and added typicity of eucalypt, coconut and mint. Needs a tad more depth and complexity, I would say. Maybe a few years in the cellar, will serve this cheeky brat right...
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8/20/2010 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes. This time I was a little less impressed and scored it a bit lower.
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6/13/2010 - pizzler wrote: 93 Points
I slightly preferred the 2002 vintage, but this was excellent good. Sweet fruit on the nose, smooth sweet fruit aftertaste that lingered from the first sip to the last. Excellent balance and tannins. It's got a long life ahead of it.
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4/18/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 88 Points
Made an excellent after-dinner aperitif. Agree with previous notes that this has some Port-like characteristics. Very ripe with some savory components on finish. Didn't drink this when it was younger, so curious as to whether these raisiny characteristics are typical in all aged Aussie shiraz.
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4/10/2010 - psmith wrote:
Dark, extracted, and somewhat pruny and porty wine which I don't normally associate with Command. Very forward. Fine tannins. Could have some residual sugar. Not an enjoyable bottle.
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4/3/2010 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
PWS 2010-01: Rhône varietals. (@ My place): Expressive and impressive complex bouquet. Coffee, vanilla and soft ripe fruits. On the palate buttery soft, chocolate, ripe fruits, little bit of leather. Soft tannin. Very elegant and a beautiful balance. Great wine.
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4/3/2010 - Night Train wrote: 93 Points
Opened (not decanted) about an hour before drinking. No obvious Aussie-ness. Blueberries, tea, Asian spices. You name it - if it's a desirable red wine characteristic, it was there. Complexity, beautiful balance, terrific finish - otherwise, it sucked. Medium body and an overriding impression of elegance and sophistication. Amazingly, it was a little tight, and I expect it to improve to at least a 95 score with another year or two in the bottle.
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3/27/2010 - 2Travel wrote: 98 Points
Chesapeake Wood Duck Inn Weekend. No formal notes. Decanted for about 30 minutes. Served with a too-die-for duck breast, lentils, and spring vegetables with a Port au Jus (best duck ever!). Came after a Autard '07 CdP Cote Ronde. I guess wine can get better than this, and if so, I'm really looking forward to having some! This was spectacular. Last bottle about three years ago was fruity and muscular, and balanced. This was chocolate, espresso, satin, and length. Whereas the CdP went very well with the duck and Port au Jus, this melded with them into an almost spiritual experience (well, OK, we were a couple bottles into the evening). All six of us loved this, and I could hear Jeffery sigh contentedly from the kitchen as well. Grand stuff, and I look forward to seeing where how the other two bottles develop with even more time.
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2/5/2010 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Occasional tasting group: "Terroir or bottles with a story" (@ TBa): Complex bouquet with soft ripe fruits, liquorice, laurel, eucalyptus and vanilla. Lush and sexy, harmonious wine. Ready now and will stay on this level for several years.
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1/9/2010 - gregsp wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with prior notes - very ready to drink. Big, beautiful, smooth and balanced.
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1/9/2010 - michelvl wrote: 97 Points
I popped and pored but on the next run I will decant for at least an hour because the aroma and taste really developed immensely throughout the evening. This is wonderful and drinking well now but it should evolve at least another point over the next 3-5 years while being good for 10-15 after that. In my opinion the fruit will emerge victorious on the palate just as well as it does on the nose over that time frame. Don't get me wrong, they are already beautiful but there is a promise of 'more' in its present concentrated and emerging character. The velvety tannins will subside more and some of the remnant heat will dissipate making this a perfectly balanced, pure and wonderful example of Australian Shiraz, if ever there was one. I'll continue to my share sampling going forward. I have another 19 bottles left :-)
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12/29/2009 - dpohlman wrote: 98 Points
This continues to be an amazing wine! Wonderful dark berry, with a bit of vanilla, and a slight hint of oak. It was great as a "pop and pour", but it even became better after about 30 minutes of breathing time. In my opinion, Shiraz does not get any better than this.
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12/28/2009 - Lindaoneal wrote: 100 Points
Herman 1 xmas 2009
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12/25/2009 - tonsta wrote: 92 Points
Pop-n-pour. A VERY BIG wine!!! Whilst the tannins have softened and there are some secondary characteristics coming through on the palate, the oak is still too dominant which is a bit of a concern for the wine's future, particularly if the fruit is not up to it!.
Hold and hope......... Drink my next bottle in 2013
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12/15/2009 - Ltim BE wrote: 93 Points
What a fantastic wine. Full of delicious black berries and exotic spices with a lovely undertone of meat sauce. In the end you get some soft expresso coffee notes and burnt nuts. Silky tannins that are completely integrated. The alcohol is not present, although this is a big wine. Delicious stuff. Drink it now !
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12/10/2009 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
Quite good, complex, nose of oak, earth, crushed berry. Flavors tend toward ripe blackberry, green tea, eucalyptus leaf. Complex, probably near its peak. I think, however, the fruit may be starting to wain and this probably should be consumed by year ten. Plenty of acidity but the tannins are mild and well integrated and perhaps not sufficient for more than the next two or three years.
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10/18/2009 - GA wrote: 93 Points
10/09 concentrated bold black fruit with chocolate structured smokey finish - well-balanced - in a good window with legs. 93 pts.
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10/12/2009 - kenthargis wrote: 94 Points
K didn't love as much as I did. I really, really enjoyed. Really at its peak. Luscious with great fruit.
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10/11/2009 - winelovr2001 wrote: 94 Points
Showing great right now. Can last longer, but this is in the perfect drinking stage right now. Tannins have rounded out and this isn't such a monster any more. Well balanced.
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9/19/2009 - cmr wrote: 88 Points
Again and comparing to other notes and other vintages I've drunk I this one just wasn't together. Had a slight metallic burnt streak at times and was not quite balanced but still had a wonderful creamy body. Just the fruit was as together as I would expect in a command compared to all the other ones I've had. Comparing with other notes my 2 bottles may have been damaged.
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8/28/2009 - gregsp wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with prior notes - delicious and mature. Very big, yet beautifully smooth and balanced - so civilized.
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7/26/2009 - stlbites wrote: 95 Points
I'd wanted to try this for a long time as shiraz is definitely my favorite, and it did not disappoint. Last bottle in stock at 33. Beautifully smooth and balanced with a bit of smoke, chocolate and the perfect amount of typical bramble fruits without going overboard. There was also a little menthol on the nose upon opening that I honestly didn't catch untll Jeff pointed it out.
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7/22/2009 - mhulan wrote:
off smell -- almost minty, but air took care of that. Taste is black fruit. Very nice Shiraz, but not the Pow! I expect from Command.
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6/5/2009 - Harrypotter wrote: 84 Points
Aromatically - bbq smelling synthetic toasted oak, nutmeg, walnuts. On the palate very sweet with a medium plus density and plenty of synthetic tasting oak, this wine has the class of a red light district woman.
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4/8/2009 - gregsp wrote: 96 Points
Really excellent. Delicious and mature. Big, balanced and smooth. Dark fruit with a little chocolate on the end.
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1/24/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely lovely Shiraz with elegance and layers of flavours. But, alas, as with so many Aussie Shiraz' this is not quite what it was a few years ago. Drink them now while they still have a song left to sing.
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12/23/2008 - acheng wrote: 92 Points
Had it with a cheese course. 12 years old chedder and 4 years old gouda. Well, quite different from how I remember the last bottle. Scorched earth, smoky, chocolate and complex. Not your typical Australian shiraz. Much better than the 1999 I had earlier this year. 15% alcohol and not showing it this time. An interesting wine.
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12/10/2008 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
nose- smoky, medicinal (per dad), almost smells like a brandy - complex nose. Mouth - roasty and toasty, herbal like qualities which remind me of a digestif. I get a touch of raisin which gives the hint of possibly being a little overripe. Tried side by side with the 2001 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz which I preferred. over this.
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11/3/2008 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
Intriguing nose that's dominated early by menthol, softening later into strong herbal notes, but the black and red fruit is strong enough to keep up and give it some balance. Blackberry and creme de cassis in the mouth, with a nice minty currant finish. Very bright profile overall, the tannins were not really perceptible, but the wine is still nicely structured. I like it a lot, but I know for previous bottles that this is only a moderate performance for this wine.
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9/21/2008 - cmr wrote: 88 Points
Dissappointed in this bottle compared to all the other Commands I've had that have all been outstanding. I don't think this one was spoiled but it just wasn't together and had a really burnt kind of taste to it that was off putting. Got better with air throughout the night but never ever became balanced and structured but seem to have the right stuff that with more age this bottle may have come together. Have one more which I'll let rest for a couple of more years while I enjoy some other Commands.
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9/15/2008 - clarktoews wrote: 94 Points
WOW!! what a shiraz! huge huge flavour, just an explosion in my mouth. great length on the finish and very smooth. probably another 10yrs of life left.
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9/6/2008 - guitarguy wrote: 93 Points
My first Elderton, purchased at the time when many top shelf Aussie wines were still affordable, even being dumped in the US market. $59. Purple-red, but not so deep that you cannot see thorugh the wine in the glass. No cloudiness or brett flaws. Nose is perhaps a bit one dimensional, it smells like violet blue would, in my mind. Sort of a combination of ecalyptus leaves, blue berry fruits and a little heat to the nostrils. Very interesting, nonetheless. Very fine, well integrated tannins, a nice acidic backbone and flavors of blueberry, raspberry, evergreen leaf and a bit of heat. Very nice but dries up a bit on the palate at this point. Finish is truncated in the front of the mouth due to this, although it lingers in the back of the throat. I think this will mellow a bit with age, perhaps showing more restraint, but I am not sure that it will be better then. Probably has a 10 year drinking window starting today, as I have recently had '96 Octavius and it is a rip-snorter at 12 years age. This is very much in the same category.
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8/13/2008 - maverickdrinker wrote: 95 Points
Posted Aug 13, 2008 11:33 PM Hide Post
wonderful opaque colour with a hint of brick starting to emerge; bouquet is quite elegant and refined
this wine has really come together; no hint of tannins at all; smooth, silky on the palate with a beautiful combination of flavours that linger in your mouth to enjoy
pure liquid pleasure; quite enjoyable now but has the stuffing to last a few more years
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8/4/2008 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
Another pitifully spoiled bottle of Aussie shiraz. Every other Command I have ever had has been smoking awesome.
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7/31/2008 - medpres wrote: 95 Points
A Big Big shiraz, will drink well for years
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6/23/2008 - E wrote: 95 Points
Developing secondary flavors...really getting eucalyptus at this point...no significant oak
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4/19/2008 - Cobbster wrote: 95 Points
Smokey cream. Awesome.
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3/24/2008 - CAS wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, spices, coffee and vanilla. Big and bold on the palate with dark fruits, toasted oak and chocolate. Nice long finish - has a few years ahead of it for sure.
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3/7/2008 - robertgoulet wrote: 94 Points
No detailed notes, but remembered it was amazing. A big shiraz, minus the overthetop jaminess.
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3/4/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 95 Points
Deep, rich roasted coffee and pine. Exceptionally well integrated. Quite a wine.
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3/1/2008 - Bunbury wrote: 89 Points
Well now I know what Gary Vaynerchuk mean's by "oak monster". This had a wonderful vanilla blueberry nose, and long finish, but the oak just buried the fruit. It's too bad, as the fruit seemed to be wonderful. But ulitimately, it was too much like licking a board. I can only give it an 89. Had they toned down the oak, it would have been outstanding.
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1/1/2008 - 2Travel wrote: 96 Points
Exceptional range of flavors and beautiful body, best of tasting
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12/25/2007 - gregsp wrote: 96 Points
Decanted four hours and had with dinner of ham, sweet potatoe and veggies. Delicious and mature. Very big, yet remarkably smooth and balanced. Dark fruit, with chocolate and a hint of smokiness (less smoky than the last bottle I had in March, 2007). The finish was long, and this wine should drink well for at least another ten years.
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11/28/2007 - futronic wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby/black colour; almost opaque. Aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant, spice, pencil lead, and hints of eucalyptus. Full-bodied, unctuous, beautiful texture showing good fruit with vanilla, blackcurrant, blackberry, and spice notes on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins. Long finish, ~40-45s, with black berry fruit. Very approachable tending toward ready to go. Fantastic stuff.
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9/1/2007 - mmurry wrote: 94 Points
Barbeque Wines for Labor Day (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had a bunch of roasted meat aromas mixed with expresso, black raspberry, and vanilla. The palate had plum, cherry, mocha, spice, and a little meat. The finish was very good.
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7/21/2007 - orcharddude22 wrote: 96 Points
WOW this wine has continued to come together nicely. Smooth, smooth, smooth. dark berries, chocolate and smoke. This wine has evolved into a powerhouse.
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6/17/2007 - acheng wrote: 93 Points
Definitely highlight of the night and I wasn't even going to open this for Father's day dinner. We just so happened to have a fair size lamb shoulder left and thought we need to wash this down with something. Since the Shafer we had earlier with the steak had already been depleted, I thought that a Barossa Shiraz should be up to the job.
Dark red. A penetrating and gorgeous aroma of cherry, plum and mocha makes its presence known immediately which presses on to a full body, smooth mouth feel, fine acidity, and plum taste. Unfortunately, the alcohol and weight of it is just as formidable and ultimately makes for a feeling of super-saturation and over-indulgence.
In sum, it is a memorable and outstanding wine. The aroma itself is 95 points. But the whole package is probably 93. For those who like restraint, balance and finesse, this is a definite pass. But then, they know this already.
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3/15/2007 - royalscam wrote: 93 Points
Pleasing and unique nose, strong roasted berries, and mellow tannins. Well-balanced mid-palate with spice box predominant; short but pleasant finish.
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2/23/2007 - TomTom wrote: 83 Points
Too much black licorice and alcohol for my taste.
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1/24/2007 - Halcyn wrote: 96 Points
AGAIN.....This wine is awesome...Man I can't get over how good this wine is! Dark inky color, cocoa and dark cherries on the nose, great consentration of smooth tannins, spice, plums, and cherries on the tongue (extremely well balanced I might add), and the finish...by my watch was 50+ seconds! The body of this wine is full and shows such great potential for aging. In 10 years this wine will be drop dead! Penfold's Grange is a comparison but to me this is THE #1 shiraz.
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1/20/2007 - futronic wrote: 93 Points
TWC 3-Year Anniversary Dinner (Chez Splat, Markham, Canada): Opaque dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of alcohol, mint, blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla. Full-bodied, rich, lovely acidity, with vanilla, blackcurrant, raspberry, coffee/toffee. Lots of silky tannins, but everything is in balance. Moderate-long finish, 40+ seconds, with dark fruit. Will be fantastic with additional cellaring.
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1/20/2007 - rael007 wrote: 94 Points
Rich, well-integrated. A touch of oakiness over the fruit. A very rewarding wine. Curiously, along with the 2005 Amon Ra Shiraz, I detect an almost saline attack on the palate initially. I wonder what the relative sodium content of these wines are, and what, if not sodium, might be eliciting this.
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12/30/2006 - cadamson wrote: 93 Points
This is a huge wine that has many, many years ahead of it. The fruit extract is remarkable, balanced by huge, sweet tannins and sufficient acidity to make it work. I would not open another for at least 5 years. Deep purple, dark jammy fruit, pepper, everything that is typical in a big Aussie shiraz, just done much better than most. 93 now, with a huge upside!
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12/9/2006 - NealN wrote: 88 Points
Group tasting of syrahs and shiraz. Some floral nose. Dark jammy fruit, black cherry jam, earth, pepper.
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11/12/2006 - JLL wrote: 94 Points
Chocolate, plum, and briar......give this another 3 years. Oak is overpowering the fruit at this juncture, but wonderful never the less. Moderately tannic with a long finish
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10/3/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
This was poured at a retailer tasting last week. Among my favorite wines poured at this event. A big broad expansive wine with tons of fruit. The tannisn were fine and not overpowering. A hint of mint on the nose. Notes of crushed grape skin, boysenberry and plum. Full bodied and a long finish. Under better circumstances this could have scored higher. 92-93+ points
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10/1/2006 - lumber1 wrote: 94 Points
Wow, just an insane wine ... big and beefy ... could likely go away for a long, long time ... took a bottle to Erin's house.
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9/29/2006 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. Very dark in color. Initially there was an overwhelming peppermint aroma. I went back a couple of times to retaste, and with more air it took on leathery and meaty aromas. Still tannic, with blueberry and deep minty dark fruit flavors. $61.99.
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9/2/2006 - beachnic wrote: 88 Points
Must have gotten a bad bottle. I did not like this at all. Way too tanic and not pleasant to drink. Would not buy again
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8/18/2006 - swyang wrote: 94 Points
a beautiful wine! a great shiraz, with great generous nose of complexe aroma of mocha, dark chocolatey, and plenty of spice and freshness. I jusd grlad to habit!
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8/12/2006 - MWes wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful Shiraz. Ir really opened up after a couple of hours.
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7/22/2006 - Halcyn wrote: 97 Points
Just look at my previous entries....this is the best Shiraz I have had.
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5/23/2006 - idrinkvino wrote: 97 Points
Paired the COMMAND against Mitolo G.A.M. 2004 and the Elderton blew it away. We're big fans of Mitolo, so it was a surprise to find a shiraz with so much more depth, complexity and mouthfeel. What a wine!
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5/17/2006 - JLL wrote: 95 Points
Huge nose of chocooakalatte. Mouthful of darkberry shaded by spice/smoke finished by vanillan oak mocha. Incredible
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5/17/2006 - Barbara B wrote: 85 Points
Tasted 2006-05-15
AIS, Rome, 6 Australian reds
Visual: Dark, dense, viscous; lots of fine sediment.
Nose: Animal, oak, not much fruit.
Palate: Fruit shows up on palate, along with sweet oak, coffee, chocolate, caramel; sharply acidic, tannic, high alcohol (15%).
Overall: Heavy!
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4/29/2006 - Halcyn wrote: 96 Points
Man I can't get over how good this wine is! Dark inky color, cocoa and dark cherries on the nose, great consentration of smooth tannins, spice, plums, and cherries on the tongue (extremely well balanced I might add), and the finish...by my watch was 50+ seconds! The body of this wine is full and shows such great potential for aging. In 10 years this wine will be drop dead! Penfold's Grange is a comparison but to me this is THE #1 shiraz. Drank at Woodfire Grill in ATL. Perfect match to a perfect meal!
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4/20/2006 - hifiwine wrote: 95 Points
yes it's that good. 2 consumed.
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4/7/2006 - Evargsoc wrote: 95 Points
RPJ
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3/28/2006 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
Very tasty. Will improve with age. Near black, thick, a nose of menthol and eucalyptus, with chocolate, coffee and black fruits on the palate. Try again in 3 years.
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3/26/2006 - Halcyn wrote: 96 Points
I can't wait to drink this again in about 3 to 5 years! This wine will certainly crest the Extraordinary line!
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3/5/2006 - JLL wrote: 92 Points
give this one another year or two.....we had this following the '98 and there was no comparison....however, i remember the '98 at this stage previously was similar. In two years this will be spectacular and might even live up to it's ratings
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3/3/2006 - E wrote: 95 Points
Wow. This is a fantastic wine. Just below the alban and henry's drive 2003 reserves we've enjoyed so much. Decanted but certainly excellent right out of the gate. Not quite as big a fruit bomb as the Henry's Drive Reserve.
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2/23/2006 - pgm wrote: 93 Points
Australian Icons Shiraz tasting & dinner (Marche Bacchus): Dense nose, with chocolate, spice, and hint of tar and black pepper. Lithe but powerful flavors of cherry, plum, and blackberry with brown spices that linger on the finish. This wine, the only one of the evening that I'd previously tasted, was not as remarkable as I remember. Could well be that it was sitting next to the likes of of Astralis, RunRig, and Grange. I remember the previous bottle as more boisterous and floral, but this is still an wonderful wine. Tonight, 93-94, and my #4 of six.
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1/5/2006 - pgm wrote: 95 Points
Rich chocolate and spice and distinct black fruits with floral grace notes on the nose. A strong core of fruits on the palate: black cherry, plum, and blackberries, and more spices. Exceptionally balanced and elegant Aussie shiraz, but still packs all the power. Must enjoy this wine. Pretty good value compared to other comparable Australian wines.
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12/11/2005 - Wrighty wrote: 91 Points
Christmas '05 in Australia; 12/8/2005-12/27/2005 (Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne and Gold Coast): Dense, browny purple colour; strong alcohol on nose with some spice. Initial fruit but disappeared behind oak and tannin. Fine structure and balance with a hint of chocolate and cherry. Medium fine tannic finish.
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10/23/2005 - J.Rhode wrote: 92 Points
Very good now, but should have waited. Nice complexity with usual Command fruit. Not over the top Aussie.
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10/22/2005 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93,NOWA,WS96
Tasted October 22, 2005 at a retail tasting. Opened and served in Riedel Syrah glasses, restaurant series. Not sure how long the bottle was open but it had been open a little while as we received two of the three last pours. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bacon, chocolate, cassis and black pepper. Flavors of black cherry, plum and some mocha notes. Still a very young wine with plenty of tannins and acidity for the long haul. I’d recommend holding a few more years before re-tasting or if you must open one now start at one hour in the decanter and work your way from there. Recommended without reference to price.
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7/31/2005 - GreenDrazi wrote: 96 Points
Syrah/Shiraz Wine Dinner (Atlanta - Food Studio): Decanted 3 ½ hrs. Rich nose of blackberry and spice. Deep blackberry with spice, strong vanilla and dark chocolate and a hint of violet and blueberry. Smooth, round mid-palate texture with a nice long, lingering finish.
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6/24/2005 - GreenDrazi wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 3 hr’s. Rich nose of blackberry and spice. Deep, rich and intense blackberry flavors that starts with a nice blended core of spice and dark chocolate with just a hint of violet and blueberry while the chocolate grew stronger and dominated the spice as the evening evolved. This has a very supple, velvet smooth, and round mid-palate texture with a nice long, lingering finish. Recommend cellaring at least 2 more years.
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5/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Aussie's at Momo's: Blind Red 6 - Big, sweet brown sugar and maple with a touch of crème and vanilla. Sweet, slightly tangy, with bright red fruit.
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