94 Points Robert Parker
A spectacular offering, the 1998 Command Shiraz (which spent 3 years in French and American oak) is the type of wine that is impossible to duplicate outside of selected Barossa and McLaren Vale vineyard sites. An opaque purple color is followed by spectacular aromas of toasty oak, camphor, blackberry liqueur, and asphalt. It is humongous in the mouth, decadently rich, and luxuriously fruited, with a viscous texture as well as a 40-second finish. Low acidity and ripe tannin add to the succulent impression. Still youthful, it requires another 2-3 years of cellaring it should age effortlessly for 15-16+ years.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Robert M. Parker, Jr. October, 2002
94 Points James Halliday
Medium to full red-purple; the deep and complex bouquet has an array of rich, dark berry, plum, chocolate and vanilla aromas, the rich palate with an unctuously sweet fruit, chocolate and vanilla mix; the overall extract is well handled, and this is a very good example of the full-on American oaked Shiraz style. Drink to 2013.
Source: James Halliday. February, 2002
Gary Lynch
i have a timber box set of this 1998 is it time to break it open Drink Now
April, 2012