GLAETZER AMON-RA SHIRAZ 2021

This stellar Shiraz by Ben Glaetzer comes from very old vines of up to 130 years! There's loads of flavour without being heavy. Instead it offers both elegance and richness, with huge depths of spicy dark fruit in a perfectly balanced, sophisticated palate. Although delicious now it will continue to age for a good while. Hard to imagine a better example of this modern Aussie style.

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"In Egyptian mythology, Amon-Ra is considered to be the king of all gods. The temple of Amon-Ra was believed to be the first temple to ever plant a monoculture vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple. The eye on front of the label is the all-seeing eye of Horus or wedjat ("whole one") – a powerful Egyptian symbol of protection. It is represented as a figure with six parts, corresponding to what Egyptians regarded as the six senses; touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought. Ben created Amon-Ra Shiraz to appeal to all these six senses.

Aromas of dark cherry and blackberry notes are offset by hints of black pepper and a well stocked spice rack. Rich and enveloping and balanced on a razor’s edge between power and finesse. Multiple dark fruit notes saturate the palate, enhanced with graceful spice and herb notes. It will age for many years to come. A wine that will develop beautifully with long term cellaring through to 2045."

97/100 Erin Larkin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2021 Vintage)
"The Amon-Ra is a wine that's well known for its graceful aging capacity, and so, in a vintage like 2021 (long, cooler than the horrendously low-yielding and drought-addled 2020 and 2019 prior), the release is eagerly anticipated. The 2021 Amon-Ra Shiraz is complete, in a word. The purple and red berries in the mouth are fresh and supple, the flow of flavor across the tongue feels unbroken and svelte, and the aftertaste is padded by chewy, pliable tannins. This is a real pleasure, and not just now—it will be later, too. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. Drink 2023 – 2041."

97/100 Ray Jordan (2021 Vintage)
"A wine that illustrates how traditional Barossa can be expressed in modern hands. It’s a Shiraz from 50 to 130 year old Ebenezer vines, revealing power and poise. Traditional open fermentation was adopted with hand plunging three times a day. Deep plum and minerally characters merge on the nose. A slightly cedary factor lifts with a dense dark chocolate and spicy plum. Chalky fine tannins perfectly integrated combine to take a concentrated powerful palate to an effortlessly long finish. Drink 2028 – 2048."

96/100 Dave Brookes, James Halliday Wine Companion (2021 Vintage)
"Shiraz sourced from vines between 50 to 130 years of age in the renowned northern Barossa subregion of Ebenezer; 16 months in new French and American oak. A wine of impact and purity. Beautiful ripe black plum, cassis and black cherry fruits with hints of cedar, baking spices, dark chocolate, licorice, nutmeg, espresso, earth and graphite. Power and harmony writ large with cascading tannin, lacy acidity and great depth and concentration … I feel it needs one of those big, old Batman-style 'KAPOW!!' boxes for emphasis. It's a cracker." Drink 2023 – 2043