Glaetzer
About Glaetzer
The Glaezter family emigrated from Germany in 1888 and became some of the first viticulturists on record to settle in the Barossa Valley. Colin Glaetzer established Glaezter Wines about a century later focusing on producing premium wines and his son, Ben, runs the winery today.
Barossa is famed for its old vines, and Ben sources fruit from vines so old that they are non-irrigated, reaching their roots down tens (sometimes even hundreds!) of metres to seek out groundwater far below the surface. These vines are naturally very low yielding produce fruit of great concentration. The vines are located in Ebenezer, a sub-region of Northern Barossa within a stone’s throw away from other Barossa heavyweights such as Torbreck and Standish. In fact, Henschke’s famed Hill of Grace vineyard is located just over 12 km away!
Glaetzer Wines
The symbol on the label represents the all-seeing eye of Horus and comprises of 6 parts that represent the 6 senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought), which Ben seeks to engage through the Amon Ra. He certainly succeeded with James Halliday, who found this vintage “full-bodied to the point where it’s difficult to give any guidance for cellaring time”. Equally enthralled, Morgon Dunn of Winepilot noted that “the room fills with the kinetic aromas of dark chocolate, ground coffee, mint and crushed blue flowers – this is before you’ve poured a glass”.
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Wine Advocate (98)
Certainly one of the best vintages of young Amon Ra I've ever tasted, the 2018 Amon Ra Shiraz is a stupendous effort. From old vines in the Ebenezer section of the northern Barossa, it starts off with a whirlwind of mocha, blackberry and dried spices, then actually gets more red-fruited as it sits in the glass. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated without being jammy or overdone, the wine finishes long and savory, framed by dusty tannins and mouthwatering black olives. Winemaker Ben Glaetzer compares 2018 to 2004 (which continues to drink well). Expect the 2018 to drink well young, but easily age through 2035, perhaps longer.د.إ1,610.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2019 Amon Ra Shiraz is 100% Shiraz and 100% from the 2019 vintage, as Ben Glaetzer felt it—unlike many previous vintages—didn't need to be freshened with a small proportion of younger wine. From old vines in the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley, it offers classic notes of blackberries and spice, framed by hints of cedar and vanilla (it's aged in 100% new oak hogsheads, mostly French). It's full-bodied yet crisp, supple but tight and really long. Offering lovely dark fruit, hints of espresso and black olive, it finishes mouthwatering and firm. Give it some time in the cellar and drink it from 2025 – 2040.د.إ1,530.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
I've looked at this wine many times over the years, almost exclusively as an older/cellared wine. The impact it has made is strong, and so it is through this lens that I now view this 2020 Amon Ra Shiraz. This year's Amon-Ra is concentrated, dense and absolutely, utterly saturated with flavor. The fruit that spirals within the bounds of the firm tannins is fleshy and pure, and with the knowledge that the wine sails through the decade with noiseless grace, it is all the more impressive in its infancy now. A brilliant wine—all ductile and proud. Yes.د.إ1,235.00 -
Vinous (93)
Deep, shimmering ruby. Aromas of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cherry-cola and espresso, along with building floral, spice and cola notes. Offers concentrated, spice-tinged dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors that show impressive energy for their heft. Round, well-judged tannins add shape to a very long, smoky finish that repeats the blue fruit and floral notes.د.إ1,005.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
For the 2018 Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Glaetzer blended in 18% Cabernet Sauvignon to give the wine increased fragrance and length. The nose is smoky, slightly herbal and marked by sweet cedar- and vanilla-tinged oak, but it also offers great cassis and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the flavors are kept nicely in check by fine-grained tannins. This wine has it all: terrific intensity, complexity, length and texture.د.إ1,635.00 -
(3x75cl) 2016Matthew Jukes (20+)
2016 The Eye of Ra is a 100% Shiraz, using 100% French oak and all of the fruit comes from Ebenezer. This wine is made from the finest parcel of fruit that Ben has ever seen in his vineyard. Outstanding aromatics lead the way and the palate is nothing short of spellbinding. The finish has epic freshness and the tannins are like nothing I have encountered before from the great Glaetzer portfolio. The Eye of Ra is all about power countered with impeccable restraint and I can still recall all of its flavours several weeks later. It is one of a number of wines that I have seen lately which signal a new and fascinating epoch for Barossa Shiraz. I followed this wine over three hours that evening and it never stopped evolving in the glass. This celestial wine made a huge impression on me and it is hard for me to see how this wine can be bettered and so I am overjoyed to give it a perfect score.د.إ2,827.00
