1996 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz

Opaque crimson mauve colour. The nose displays aromas of rich ripe sweet plums, mint, earth, leather, blackberry, liquorice and vanilla - a nose with considerable power. The palate is totally mouthfilling delivering an explosion of spice and blackpepper flavours that reaches a peak or the backpalate and continue onto an exceptionally long aftertaste. Velvet smooth, fine grained tannins, superb oak integration, with wonderful ripe plum, blackberry and liquorice aftertaste. Cellar 8-10 years.

RETASTED 15/03/1999: The Bishop Shiraz is named after Colin Glaetzer's wife's maiden name. It is a fruit driven style, partially fermented in old oak, so that the wood influence is minimised. The wine is generous and full bodied and usually comes in at around 14% alcohol volume. The grapes for Bishop are sourced from 4 to 5 different Barossa Valley growers with yields of around 3 tonnes per acre. Opaque crimson colour. Superb nose of ripe plums, spice and blackberries. The palate is totally mouthfilling with a Rhone like flavour. Blackberry, earth, truffles, liquorice and blackpepper back palate. Excellent depth and concentration, fine grained tannins, perfect balance and long liquorice, plum and earthy truffle aftertaste. Cellar 5-8 years.