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2006 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz

Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
$29. 99
Bottle
$359.88 Dozen
Cellar: 3 - 4 Years (2011-2012)
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Cork
Ben Glaetzer has emerged as one of the new generation of 'hot' winemakers producing wines of exceptional flavour and concentration. Together with father Colin, the Glaetzer wines were established in 1995 with fruit sourced from a select group of growers from the Ebenezer district of the Barossa. The Bishop is produced from 60 year old, dry grown vines which yield around 2 tonnes per acre. The vinification takes place in small open vats with regular plunging of the cap. The process is very traditional as the Glaetzers believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. The wine was matured in a combination of older (2-3 years old) French (70%) and American oak (30%) for a period of 14 months. The 2006 vintage like the 2005 benefits enormously from the input of fruit that formerly formed the backbone of the $50 Glaetzer Shiraz.

Another Outstanding Shiraz From The Young Barossa Maestro!

Wine lovers will note the use of Ancient symbols on the wines. The Bishop, being a tribute to the female side of the Glaetzer family, incorporates Venus and Mercury with female symbols – drinking the wine gives one a chance to brush up on some ancient myths and legends. Since our initial tasting, twelve months bottle age has seen this wine blossom. Superb colour – black purple with purple hue. Delightful nose – violet, spice top note followed by freshly crushed blackberry and spice. The palate has excellent weight and mouthfeel – explosive palate flavours of vanilla, blackberry and spice. Fine grained tannins. Perfect balance. Aftertaste of liquorice, blackberry, plum and vanilla.
Cellar 3-4 years (2011-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%

First Tasted, November 2007:
Opaque black crimson colour with black crimson hue. The nose delivers strong varietal aroma, with a top note of liquorice, followed by plum, blackberry, vanilla and spice. The palate is generous, there is plenty of weight and ripe fruit flavours of plum, spice, vanilla and liquorice emerge – delivering a mouthfilling sensation. Spice and vanilla dominate the back palate, followed by a layer of black pepper. Fine grained tannins. Long black pepper aftertaste.
Cellar 4-5 years (2011-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
95

Other Reviews.....
The 2006 Bishop was sourced from 60-year-old vines and aged for 14 months in used French and American oak. Purple/black in color, it has an expressive nose of cedar, smoke, game, bacon, and blueberry. On the palate this medium to full-bodied wine is tightly wound but has all the right stuff. There are tons of ripe fruit and silky tannin, excellent balance and a long finish, but the wine will need 8-10 years to fully display its personality. It will easily last through 2036. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio! The renowned winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, sources all of his fruit for this label from the Ebenezer district in the northern Barossa. Many knowledgeable experts cite this sub-region as the finest in the Valley.
92-94 points
Jay Miller - The Wine Advocate