Elderton Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz 2023
- 95
- $60
- Drink by: 2025-2039
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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.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
