Ben Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz 2021

Product Information: Abundance and outstanding-quality, words that resonate like music to a winemaker. The 2021 season was long, cooler and more bountiful than the drought-addled 2020 and 2019. This release has all the bells and whistles allowing for enjoyment near release or in decades time. Aromas of dark cherry and blackberry notes are offset by hints of black pepper and a well stocked spice rack. The palate is rich and enveloping with herbs and spices, balanced on a razor’s edge between power and finesse. Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50-130 years old. Yield 2 tonnes per hectare. For vinification, it is fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times daily. Matured for 16 months in 100% new oak hogshead barrels (95% French and 5% American) and matured on lees to maintain fruit profile and animation. Bottled unfiltered to ensure minimal intervention with the wine’s natural characteristics. 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. 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 – Blackberry, Red Berries, Spice Rack Dark cherry and blackberry notes are offset by hints of black pepper and a well stocked spice rack. Palate – Red/Purple Berries, Roasted Plums, Pliable Tannins The sizeable wave of sweet, super-ripe fruit that it delivers, upfront and ready to be enjoyed. Finish – Clove, Peppercorn, Mint Good flow of flavour across the tongue feels unbroken and svelte, and the aftertaste is padded by chewy, pliable tannins. The Amon-Ra is a wine that’s well know 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