Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Like the Command block, which is an amazing resource to the Elderton Estate, the Ashmead block has consistently produced small parcels of excellent quality fruit. The vineyard was almost destroyed in 1997 to make way for higher yielding vines, however the family made the decision to promote the vineyard to a higher destiny – thus the Ashmead.

The 2017 vintage release of Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon is the eighteenth release of this unparalleled wine, and is a superior example of Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon aged in a mix of new French oak hogsheads from about 8 different coopers. Elderton is not unfamiliar with premium Cabernet, having won more than 8 trophies for this varietal including the 1993 Jimmy Watson Trophy.

Estate grown on the Nuriootpa vineyard, the fruit is sourced from a single block planted circa 1944. Deep alluvial silt over red and brown earths and limestone near the banks of the North Para River allow the vines to grow deep roots and the vines therefore need minimal irrigation.

The 2017 vintage was characterised by steady ripening of fruit across the Barossa. From our vineyards we were able to get great fresh flavours particular to each site, with some tight just-ripe tannins behind to balance the fruit. The hand harvested fruit was fermented in open top concrete fermenters with chilled ferments, hand pump-overs and cap submerging with oak header boards for eight days; the process finished with barrel ferment and malolactic fermentation in new French oak. Winery Notes