Elderton Command Shiraz 2019 is lifted spiced plum and roasted coffee bean on the nose, with spiced summer pudding, cloves, graphite, dark plum, blackberry, black cherry, fruitcake spice, black strap liquorice, and high-cocoa dark chocolate on the palate. Silken layers of tannin carry the fruit to a long, seamless finish. Deep crimson. Bold, rich, structured, and elegant. Estate-grown vines planted circa 1894. 96 Points, Dave Brookes, James Halliday Wine Companion.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Deep crimson of exceptional richness and Barossa intensity — the hallmark colour of estate-grown Shiraz from the celebrated Command vineyard in Nuriootpa, where vines planted circa 1894 span from the North Para River on the western side to Cellar Door at the eastern end.
Aroma
Lifted and immediately captivating — spiced plum and roasted coffee bean of exceptional richness and complexity, with intense dark plum, blackberry, black cherry, fruitcake spice, and cedar creating an aromatic profile of outstanding depth and genuine old-vine Barossa distinction.
Palate
Full-bodied and pure — spiced summer pudding brooding with cloves and an undertone of graphite, with intense dark plum, blackberry, black cherry, fruitcake spice, black strap liquorice, high-cocoa dark chocolate, and cedar of outstanding depth and concentration. Superfine gypsum-like tannins and a concentrated, balanced finish that lingers admirably — silken layers of tannin carrying the fruit to a long and seamless finish.
Pairs With
Slow-roasted lamb, beef Wellington, venison, duck confit, roasting meats, and aged hard cheeses — the spiced plum, dark chocolate, black strap liquorice, and superfine tannins of Elderton Command Shiraz deliver a benchmark Barossa experience of outstanding power, elegance, and old-vine distinction.
Reviews
“Rich and commanding as always... superfine gypsum-like tannins and a concentrated and balanced finish that lingers admirably.”
— 96 Points, Dave Brookes, James Halliday Wine Companion, August 2022
Who Should Drink This?
Elderton Command Shiraz 2019 is for lovers of serious, structured Barossa Shiraz — those who appreciate the power, depth, and complexity that only century-old estate vines can deliver. It’s a benchmark collector’s wine and a compelling choice for anyone who wants to experience the pinnacle of what the Barossa Valley is capable of producing. Equally rewarding now with decanting, or cellared for decades of further development.
Why Is Elderton Command Shiraz Famous?
The Command Shiraz is one of Australia’s most celebrated and consistently awarded single-vineyard Shiraz expressions — produced from estate-grown vines planted circa 1894 on the Command vineyard in Nuriootpa. The vineyard’s age, the Elderton family’s commitment to estate growing, and the wine’s extraordinary track record of critical acclaim across multiple vintages have established Command Shiraz as a benchmark of Australian fine wine and a must-have for serious collectors.
Is It Worth Ageing?
Absolutely — the 2019 Command Shiraz is built for the long haul. The superfine gypsum-like tannins, exceptional fruit concentration, and 24 months of French and American oak puncheon ageing provide a framework for 20–25 years of further development. Drink now with extended decanting (2–3 hours minimum) to reveal its full complexity, or cellar to 2040–2045 for the full expression of this remarkable vintage. Store on its side in a cool, dark environment.
What’s Similar?
Fans of Elderton Command Shiraz may also enjoy Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz or Torbreck RunRig for a comparable old-vine Barossa power and structure, or explore Henschke Hill of Grace for the ultimate benchmark of single-vineyard South Australian Shiraz. Within the Elderton range, the Elderton Estate Shiraz offers a more accessible expression of the same Barossa estate character.
Why Do Critics Love It?
Dave Brookes’ 96-point score from the James Halliday Wine Companion captures what makes Command Shiraz so compelling — the combination of richness, power, and the superfine tannin structure that sets it apart from lesser Barossa expressions. The 2019 vintage, shaped by a severe spring frost that dramatically reduced crop load and concentrated the fruit of the century-old vines, is widely regarded as one of the finest Command Shiraz releases in recent memory.
Winemaking Notes
Crafted from estate-grown Shiraz planted circa 1894 on the Command vineyard in Nuriootpa — harvested over a week from 13 to 18 March 2019 in several picks, achieving perfect balance from each section of the vineyard as clay content gradually increases from the North Para River on the western side to Cellar Door at the eastern end. A combination of heading boards and standard open fermentation, with a small amount of barrel ferment. Post-pressing, transferred to new French and American oak puncheons from trusted coopers, undergoing malolactic fermentation and 24 months of further ageing. Jules Ashmead & Brock Harrison. 750ml. Barossa Valley, South Australia.
Vintage Conditions
Spring 2018 delivered a severe frost to the Command vineyard, significantly damaging a large percentage of new shoots and severely reducing crop load from the estate’s old vines planted circa 1894. Fine conditions followed, allowing the team to ripen a much smaller, highly concentrated crop — the reduced yield delivering fruit of exceptional intensity, depth, and old-vine Barossa character. The 2019 vintage Command Shiraz is the direct result of this adversity: bold, rich, structured, and elegant, with intense dark plum, blackberry, fruitcake spice, and superfine gypsum-like tannins of outstanding concentration.
