1998 Glaetzer Barossa Shiraz

The more of the 98's that we taste, the better they seem to get. The 1998 Glaetzer has just arrived and offers remarkable depth of flavour and persistence. Whilst it's a generous 14% Alcohol Volume it does not have the very ripe fruit berry and stewed fruit flavour spectrum but instead delivers a much more refined and sophisticated shiraz experience. The fruit is sourced from 80 year old dry grown vines in the North East Barossa area. The soils that produce this wine consist of well drained sandy clay loams over a solid limestone base. Winemaker Colin Glaetzer and son Ben, adopt a minimalist approach to wine making, using a neutral yeast strain in order to allow the fruit to fully express itself. The old vines yield a minuscule 1 to 1.5 tonnes per acre and at this level production costs are high, considering that most commercial vineyards yield up to 6 tonnes per acre.Near opaque, with very deep crimson colour. Superb nose with earthy truffle aromas emerging at first to be followed by aromas of violets, spice and vanilla with just a touch of smoky oak. The palate is totally mouthfilling with an almost cool climate elegance, and demonstrates a rare degree of persistence. Flavours of liquorice allsorts, blue berries, spice and vanilla with an earthy truffle background. Exceptional length and aftertaste. Velvet smooth tannins, hints of blackpepper with an exceptionally long aftertaste of liquorice allsorts, blackcurrant, spice and blackpepper. Cellar 5-8 years.