2018 Elderton Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley

It once again shows that when the Barossa gets it right, cabernet excels. This opens with lifted red berry notes on the nose with high tone perfumes. A nice cedary character mingles with sweet fruit on the palate creating a succulent rich flavour of medium weight. It’s a focussed and most stylish wine which extends seamlessly and effortlessly to a very long finish. This was a great vintage in the Barossa and the younger vine fruit was exceptional, which is what has gone into this wine, which is focussed and stylish before a long finish. The oak treatment is particularly impressive with mostly older French oak puncheons used, allowing the fruit to reveal its bright and lively energy.

92 points Ray jordan The West

This is Eden Valley dominant and has aromas of violets, blueberries, black cherries and dark berry pastry with attractive, cedar and fresh-tobacco notes. The palate offers very attractive chocolate, plum paste and licorice. Smoothly layered tannins with blueberry flavor and a little oak spice to close. Great concentration. Drink over the next eight years.

 93 points Nick Stock jamessuckling.com

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown exclusively on the three Elderton Vineyards situated on the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa, on the western ridge near Greenock and the Eastern ranges in Craneford. The 1988 vintage was chosen by Qantas for first class, the 1992 vintage won the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 1993 and for the next two years won Gold and Trophy at the Barossa Wine Show. The 1994 vintage gave Elderton its first international Gold medal at the 1996 London International Wine Show. The 1998 once again won Gold and Trophy, in the Barossa Wine Show for the Best Regional Cabernet, and the 1999 won a trophy in Belgium for the best wine imported into the country. A proven consistent performer, we believe that the 2015 will easily continue in this trend.

A blend of fruit from Nuriootpa (75%) and Eden Valley (25%), the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon features lovely varietal aromas of mint, tobacco and cassis. Full-bodied but firm and slightly austere, it does turn silky on the finish. Fine with steak now, it should age well for over a decade.