Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2022

The winemaking team at Elderton believe this is truly the hidden gem in the Elderton portfolio of premium reds. A Cabernet/Shiraz/Merlot blend was added to our portfolio from the 1992 vintage. It was a belief that through blending only the best parcels of fruit from the Elderton vineyard, a truly wondrous and complete wine could be made that showed the highlights of the three grape varieties.

The decision was made from the 2002 vintage onwards for the wine to be renamed (from CSM) in honour of co-founder of Elderton Wines, Lorraine Ashmead. This wine is dedicated to their mum, a woman who is greatly admired in the Barossa for her passion, dedication and commitment to not only Elderton, but to all the wonders that make our beautiful valley so special.

After a cracker vintage in 2021, Elderton approached 2022 with caution, hoping the weather would allow for another great vintage. Sufficient winter rains gave the vines a good start and they escaped some tricky spring storms. The ripening season was mild and they kept a close eye on predicted rain but were lucky to have finished their harvest as the season broke. The Cabernet in the blend comes from a gnarly, spur pruned parcel planted in the 1960s. Typically it delivers structure with a distinct juicy herbal edge which is certainly showing in our 2022. Tempered with the generosity of Shiraz with some barrel ferment and just a touch of Merlot, the resultant wine is generous and bold with a long, fine tannin line.