Elderton Command Shiraz is a classic, old-vine Barossa Shiraz first made in 1984 from a single, low-yielding block planted in the 1890s on the banks of the North Para River at Nuriootpa. The vines are anchored in deep, alluvial silt over red-brown earths and limestone. Command Shiraz is typified by raspberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, meaty, aniseed aromas and flavours, pronounced chalky, firm tannin structures, plenty of mid-palate richness and underlying integrated oak. Command has won many international accolades, appearing twice in (U.S.) Wine Spectators annual Top 100 and winning the trophy for Best Shiraz in the World at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.

Back in 1998 Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher, decided it was time to take Wolf Blass into the modern world and the result was a single varietal Shiraz that was 100% aged in French Oak, unlike their famous flagship the Black Label which is a blend and aged in American Oak. A wonderful contemporary version of Wolf Blass that is a cavalcade of rich blueberry, blackberry and complex elements of dark chocolate and warm spice. Superbly long on the palate with an obvious hint to a long future in the cellar.

Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1,460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz.

Penfolds RWT Shiraz is a big juicy Barossan Shiraz refined by the use of older French oak barrels. 1998 is considered to be one of the classic vintages of the modern age. Drinking wonderfully now but with many years still to come in its development, this is a great addition to any cellar.