Product Information:
100% Old vine Shiraz. The Amon-Ra epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full-flavoured, multi-layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced. A mix of power and delicacy. Dark fruit notes abound, counterpoised by elegant spice and herb notes. It is a wine that will develop beautiful with long term cellaring through to 2050. To put it delicately, it's a bloody ripper.
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.
The wine is fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters and 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:
It’s a release that combines some of the greatest growers in Australia, some of the oldest vineyards in the world and a winemaker that is at the top of their game. All of that combined with the near perfect 2022 vintage, it’s sure to go down as an all-time classic. Upon tasting through these wines, they are immense, powerful and intense, yet with real poise and finesse in each and every one of them. Not forgoing any of that classic, beautiful Barossa goodness, but with real drinkability and freshness right from day dot. This delicate balancing act is a testament to the quality that only the best wines from exceptional vintages can achieve. Ben Glaetzer has again shown why he is held in such winemaking esteem, and if it's at all possible, has built on this with the release of the 2022's.
Nose - Blackberry, Black Pepper, Cardamom
There are aromas of blackberry that is offset by hints of black pepper and cardamom.
Palate - Powerful, Concentrated Black Fruits, Black Forest Cake
On the palate it is rich and delightful. Wildly concentrated black fruits and palate heft, yet it displays freshness and form; supple, lithe and possessed of northern subregional power writ large.
Finish - Aromatic Brown Spices, Cherry Liqueur, Resinous Smoke
There’s an imperious tannin structure but the fruit just sucks it all up and charges on. One for the sybaritic indulger of Barossan wine.
I feel that Ben Glaetzer’s Amon-Ra is one of the flag bearers for contemporary Barossan shiraz, certainly when it comes to the more powerful, weighty styles. It has a sense of compression. Wildly concentrated black fruits and palate heft, yet it displays freshness and form; supple, lithe and possessed of northern subregional power writ large. There’s an imperious tannin structure but the fruit just sucks it all up and charges on. One for the sybaritic indulger of Barossan wine. It’s a ripper. - Dave Brooks, Wine Companion, 96 Points.
The Finer Details
Style – Red Wine
Varietal – Shiraz
Country – Australia
Region – Barossa Valley, South Australia
Vintage – 2022
Bottle Size – 750ml
ABV – 15%
