TN: Maxwell Ellen Street Shiraz 2016

[Waiters Friend]

I bought my first Ellen Street on a trip across the country in 1995. At that time, I recall (perhaps incorrectly) that the Ellen Street was the top shiraz sold by Maxwell at the time. There's now a couple more at higher price points.

Purple black in colour. Intense nose of dark plums, cloves, vanilla, and chocolate - LOTS of chocolate! There's a bit of savouriness underneath as well. The palate is rich and flavourful, with grippy tannins and good supporting acid. There's also a slight slipperiness to the mouth-feel. Long satisfying finish.

I know from experience that these develop well with a few years on them, but this is the best young Ellen Street I've tasted, and it will be hard to keep the remaining bottles in the cellar.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

…. so I bought some more and another 6 months has made a modest difference to the wine. Blueberry is now more dominant, and the chocolate has moderated considerably. It still seems to be medium bodied but I get the impression it will gain weight and character with age. Its delicious now but hints at what is to come in time.

Just as well there's more than a few bottles on their way. This is a wine I could be talking about for 8-10 years - AND I have just ordered some more back vintages from a local (WA) source.

Happy days

Allan

[phillisc]

Hi Allan, not sure how I missed your original post, but at lasts years Shiraz Challenge at the Ed Cellars here in Adelaide, this wine rated very highly. And for the price (low $30s) I picked up six and a few more since. Rich, decadent, lovely plush wine. Again MV at the forefront and if a Barossan would be 3 times the price. Maxwell really hit the jackpot in 2016...great wine and yes will look at one in a decade.

Cheers Craig

[Waiters Friend]

After buying and drinking this wine on and off for over 25 years, this time I read the back label It tells me that the vineyard bordering Ellen Street was planted in 1953. This doesn't necessarily mean that the grapes for this wine come (partially or entirely) from that vineyard. The label is more specific, however, in stating that this wine is matured in French and American oak for 24 months. The age of the oak is not mentioned. Regardless .....

A few years on from my most recent post on this wine, it still looks fairly primary.

Deep purple in colour, and only slightly lighter than 4 years ago. A plush nose with blueberry, blackberry, dark plums, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and mocha. Very little sign of secondary development and lots of Christmas pudding components here.

The palate is where the signs of development come into play. There's some slightly tart red fruits on the palate, alongside the dark fruits and Christmas pudding characters, and there's good supporting acid. Tannins are grippy without being chunky, and and there's a touch of earthiness before a gentle trasnsition through to a long finish.

This is in a good place right now, and should go another 5 years gracefully.

Cheers
Allan

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