2022 Elderton Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz, Barossa Valley

The late Neil Ashmead was a sports car nut, and I've always liked this wine for its purity and the gear stick imprinted on the capsule. Estate-grown fruit, 82/18% Greenock/Nuriootpa, matured 14 months in French oak puncheons. Satsuma plum, dark cherry and macerated berry fruits with hints of baking spices, earth, violets, roasting meats, olive tapenade, espresso and dark chocolate. Full bodied yet energetic and vital with deep, pure fruit, a tight, fine tannin frame and a regional thumbprint that is long and true.

94 points Dave Brooke winecompanion.com.au

Deep, bright and youthful purple-red colour with a complex and ripe aroma of brandied cherries, blackberry and spices, the faintest whiff of charry oak, well managed. Full bodied and rich in the mouth, with ample soft, ripe tannins that provide velvet texture and there are mocha notes that sneak up as the wine progresses along the palate. Good flesh and density, and a long carry. A very smart modern Barossa shiraz. 23 Sep 2023 Drink 2024–2037

94 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Plush fresh fruit reminiscent of summer berry pudding with a spiced note of charcuterie with peppery zest to freshen. Creamy seamless palate with powerful yet collected powdery tannins.

This wine is a unique expression of Barossa Shiraz from our Nuriootpa vineyard planted in 1954 and more recently our Greenock vineyard, from Shiraz planted in 1980. These two parcels, whilst surrounded by other blocks of Shiraz, act quite differently. They are often the first to ripen and have a beautiful distinct and powerful blue-fruited note balanced with a very linear expression of Shiraz on the palate.

First released from the 2008 vintage, the Grand Tourer Shiraz is a wine named after and produced in honour of Elderton co-founder, Neil Ashmead. Neil, who along with wife Lorraine, established Elderton and was a vital link in creating the Barossa’s currently enjoyed status as one of Australia’s most important viticultural areas. Infectious enthusiasm was one of Neil’s drivers in helping to pioneer the revitalisation of the region from the doom and gloom era of the late 1970s and early 80s.

Neil was a ‘Barossa Road Warrior’ like no other. Driving tirelessly from city to city with a car loaded with wine, doing tastings and dinners with whoever would listen, and generally spruiking the Barossa in a time where people were not really interested in a region that was stereotyped as a fortified producer. It was his love of fast cars that made this pursuit a little easier, thus the unusual choice for the name of this Shiraz. Unfortunately Neil passed away prematurely in 1997, however is succeeded by his two sons, Cameron and Allister, who believe this wine to be a very fitting tribute to an amazing individual who was always willing to push the boundaries of expectations and limitations.