Elderton Wines Grand Tourer Shiraz 2021

Wine review: Elderton Wines Grand Tourer Shiraz 2021

This week I wanted to share a special wine that I first tried when we visited the Barossa Valley last year. We visited Elderton Wines and Small Victories on our trip and had a great tasting at both cellar doors (definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area). We have a few Elderton Wines in our cellar, so I was excited to visit and try their range. As you would expect, everything was absolutely delicious. However one of my favourites was the Elderton Wines Grand Tourer Shiraz 2021. However as it was the last stop on our trip, we had no room left to pick up another bottle of wine. So when it arrived in the mail as a sample (thanks Jess) I was so excited to revisit it.

The Grand Tourer Shiraz is a wine named after and produced in honour of Neil Ashmead: Elderton’s co-founder. He was one of the pioneers in revitalising the region after the 70s and 80s and had an infectious enthusiasm. Neil loved fast cars and spent a lot of time driving from city to city in a car loaded with wine. Unfortunately, Neil passed away prematurely in 1997, and so his sons Cameron and Allister who succeeded him produced this wine in tribute to his willingness to push the boundaries of expectations and limitations. It’s also not just in the name: The cap on the bottle has a car gear detail which really tops it off!

But the Elderton Wines Grand Tourer Shiraz 2021 is more than just a lovely-looking bottle. It’s a seriously delicious Barossa Shiraz that could be cellared for years to come. What really blew me away about this wine is how smooth it is. Although it is heavy in ABV, the smooth and creamy palate makes it feel more medium-bodied. On the nose, notes of blueberry, spice and vanilla come together and follow through into the palate which has vibrant fruit notes balanced by vanilla undertones. A hint of savoury notes and pepper balance out the vanilla and fruit, making this wine simply delectable. It’s a taste sensation from start to finish.

About Elderton Wines

Elderton Wines was started by Neil and Lorraine Ashmead who moved to the Barossa from Saudi Arabia in 1979. The homestead they moved to in Nuriootpa was surrounded by extremely old Shiraz and Cabernet vines that had become derelict at a time when demand for Australian table wine was minimal. The agent offered them 72 acres of vineyards as a bonus to purchasing the homestead, and three years later, after restoring the vineyard, Elderton Wines was born.

Elderton Wines is still proudly owned to this day by the Ashmead family and offers some of the best Barossa wines that the region has to offer. Their vision is to create excellence from distinguished vineyard sites. They have three vineyards that highlight the individual terroirs of the region through a wide range of variables. Their wines show balance and can be enjoyed young, but will still stand the test of time.

You can purchase this wine from The Elderton Wines website.

Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.