G’day Mate… Want To Taste A 97?
Here at WineExpedition, we don’t like to put too much stock in wine scores; after all, TASTING IS SUBJECTIVE… That said, I have to talk about a unique bottle that I discovered at a wine tasting not long ago, and the fact that it received a 97 from wine critic Robert Parker…You don’t see too many 97’s out there. A lot of 90’s, 92’s and maybe the occasional 93 or 94. And once you hit 94, it usually means you’re looking at a bottle of wine that fetches over $100. Which makes this 97-scoring bottle even more interesting as it has a price tag of $79. But wait there’s more…
When I think of a wine scoring a 97, I picture a first growth Bordeaux, a Grand Cru from Burgundy or some crazy Cabernet from Napa. This 97 is from none of above; rather, it’s from Australia and it’s a Shiraz…!
The 2005 Elderton “Command” Single Vineyard Shiraz hails from vines that were planted in the early 1900’s in the Barossa Valley of southern Australia. ‘Command’ is a good name for this wine, as it’s commanded respect and garnered numerous accolades every year since it’s first vintage back in 1984. Not to mention the fact that it commanded my attention from the moment I brought the glass up from the tasting table at my friendly, neighborhood K&L Wine Merchant in Hollywood.
This wine is inky purple and strong aromas of juicy blackberry, raspberry and blueberry intertwined with a smoky tinge of lavender and vanilla filled my nostrils as I admired the color. I took a generous mouthful and swirled it around… holy cow! This wine is thick and rich and chewy. It was if I had bitten into a big piece of blackberry pie; a pie with a sweet, complex filling laced with chocolate, licorice, spices and a dash of pepper. Silky tannins and a mile-long finish added to the glory of this wine; I had to ask for another taste.
Therein lies the moral of this story. I wouldn’t have known about this wine were it not for the weekly tastings at K&L. If you have a wine retailer in your town that offers a tasting program of any kind, don’t waste the opportunity… CHECK IT OUT! There’s no better way to discover new wines than to attend a wine tasting. Wine retailers like to showcase wines from a wide array of regions, grape varietals and price ranges. Tastings are generally cheap or free and will feature several bottles, so take advantage. Who knows, you might find yourself tasting a 97….
