Langton’s Selections ^3Elderton Command Shiraz, Elderton Shiraz Elderton was founded in 1979 by Lorraine and the Late Neil Ashmead. The first release was in 1982. The vineyard however was planted by Samuel Elderton Tolley in 1900. Elderton won a reputation for big vinous statements and brash self-promotion during the 1980s. The critics were silenced when Elderton won the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the 1993 Melbourne Wine Show, one of Australia’s most prestigious wine show trophies. With over a quarter century of vintages under its belt, Elderton has forged a very solid reputation among fine wine buyers and is a well-regarded name on the secondary wine market. Generational change has brought freshness and renewed vigour to the Elderton name. Brothers Cameron and Allister Ashmead (co-winemaker with Richard Langford) are an impressive team with a both a long term perspective and a well-honed understanding of the contemporary market. Elderton is the first winery in South Australia to go “carbon neutral” offsetting its green house gas emissions by planting more native trees. Elderton Command Shiraz is a classic old vine Barossa Shiraz style and one of the most highly sought after on the Australian secondary wine market. The name was coined because the best fruit commanded special treatment. The fruit is entirely estate grown on 3 vineyards – all between 80 and 110 years old. The vineyards are all located on the banks of the Para River at Nuriootpa in the centre of the Barossa Valley. There is a saying in the Barossa that winemakers "pick on shrinkle not shrivel", referring to the condition and ripeness of the fruit. Vintage takes place in late March/early April. The wine is made in a traditional manner – open fermented at approximately 30 degrees Centigrade for 8 to 10 days – regularly plunged and pumped over to maximise colour and flavour. The wines are not as strong or overt as the traditional Barossa style but are extremely well balanced, having benefited from an extra 18 months of maturation effect. They are of medium to high intensity with raspberry/blackberry meaty/violet fruit and some dark chocolate, pronounced chalky firm tannin structures and underlying/integrated oak. In recent years Elderton has released a couple of other “elite range” wines; the loud, pink labelled but beautifully opulent estate wine Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot and the chocolaty Ashmead single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak puncheons for 30 months. I have a particular fondness for Elderton wines and memories of tremendous enthusiasm and kindness. Many years ago I lost my wallet in Nuriootpa and found myself in a spot of bother. Neil Ashmead sorted me out. I often think that the spirit of personality is inherently a part of wine, as much as brushstroke can reveal the sensibility of an artist. Elderton wines have an appealing freshness and generosity. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's