Elderton Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz 2023

Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Elderton’s founder, Neil Ashmead, who sadly passed away far too early in 1997, will remember what a force of nature he was. One suspects he would have been absolutely delighted with this wine, a force of nature itself. From vines planted back in 1954 in Nuriootpa and 1980 in Greenock, it was first released in 2008. For this release, 16% whole bunches were included in the fermentation and the wine spent fourteen months maturing in French oak puncheons, 45% of them new. The colour here is a vibrant deep crimson/mahogany, while the nose exhibits rose petals, chocolate, mulberries, florals, blueberries, cassis and milk chocolate. The oak is deftly handled and leaves the wine with the impression of a silky texture, serious length and the finest satiny tannins imaginable. This is a wine for enjoying any time over the next ten to fifteen years. Love it.