Ben Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2021

Product Information: Warm and rich example of Barossa Shiraz, that’s elegantly structured with a long finish. It’s well priced too, considering it’s from the Ebenezer vineyard with its 35 to 120-year-old vines and super low yields. How lucky are we? The wine was fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters, with extended maceration to enable good tannin and development. This softens the wine and allowing it be drinkable in its youth. Alluring black cherries, subtle tapenade and dried spice. It is both structured and layered and enjoys a smooth and supple texture. It is mouth-filling and persistent on the finish. Matured for 16 months in a mix of 40% new oak and 60% 2— 3 year old oak hogshead barrels (90% French / 10% American). Bishop is the family name of Colin’s wife’ Judith. The sign of Venus adorns the label, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy. In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – tying together the Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna. Maker: The Glaetzer family has a deep rooted viticultural history in the Barossa Valley, dating back to 1888. After 30 years of winemaking, Colin Glaetzer established the family winery to create limited quantities of super premium Barossa Valley red wines. Today Colin’s son Ben makes unique and elegant wines which are regarded as classics and unmistakably Barossan. All fruit for Glaetzer Wines is taken from a small sub district of the Northern Barossa Valley called Ebenezer which produces exceptional fruit from very old vines (30-130 years). The softness and elegance of Ebenezer fruit coupled with Ben Glaetzer’s winemaking style results in generous wines with great depth of flavour that are also elegant, multilayered and finely balanced. All fruit for Glaetzer Wines is taken from the small sub-region of the northern Barossa Valley, called Ebenezer. The ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district are an important part of Australia’s winemaking heritage and a living link to traditional Barossa viticulture. Exceptional fruit comes from a loyal group of third and fourth generation Barossa grape growers, the backbone of Glaetzer wines. Most plants are trained to a standard single vine, with permanent arm, rod and spur. But the most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year old, non-grafted bush vines which are extremely low yielding. The oldest vines bear only 0.5 to 1 tonne per acre. Younger vines produce 2.5 to 3 tonnes per acre. Most of the vineyards are dry-grown (non-irrigated) but some of the newer vines (propagated from original plantings) have supplementary drip irrigation to combat stress in drought years. The very old vines require minimal attention. Their deep root structure means they are self-sufficient and can adapt to climatic extremes. The climate and soils of the Barossa Valley vary markedly from north to south. The warmer Ebenezer district has low rainfall and relative humidity which results in full, intensely-coloured wines. The softness, elegance and approachability of Ebenezer fruit has become the hallmark of the Glaetzer ‘house style’. Ebenezer has a unique soil profile. The well-drained sandy clay loam over a solid limestone pan is perfect for growing Shiraz. The soil is ‘mean’ and encourages deep roots which helps produce hugely concentrated wines of great character. Vineyard: Good rainfall towards the end of Spring and cooler temperatures over the Summer led to excellent soil moisture and vine health over the growing period. La Nina did not bring rain to the Valley in late Summer or Autumn with rainfall being 40% below average. These mild and dry conditions were excellent for flowering, bud burst and veraison. As such, yields are much higher than the disappointingly small 2020 and quality is of a very high standard. The long “Indian Summer’ gave great ripeness and phenolic concentration. Nose – Ironstone, Spicy Red Fruits, Peppercorn Spicy iron filings, dark plum and spicy red fruits on the nose. Palate – Cedarwood, Creamy Chocolate, Cedarwood Flavours of black cherry, raspberry, olive and black pepper are supported by balancing tannin. Finish – Red Licorice, Woodspice, Vanilla 40% hit new oak into it. Sweet American oak rounds out the finish and palate feel. The quality of this vintage is immediately evident. The fruit was sourced from the Ebenezer subregion and that brings a distinctive iron stone slightly rusty nail character to the beautiful fruit. Spicy iron filings, dark plum and spicy red fruits on the nose. The density of the fruit has enabled Glaetzer to smack 40% new oak into it. A small amount of American rounds out the finish and palate feel. – Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot, 95