2021 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz

Amon Ra is Ben Glaetzer’s flagship Shiraz named after an Egyptian God who was considered to be the King of all Gods. According to Ben Glaetzer the key to Amon Ra Shiraz is balancing the fruit and tannin extraction rather the maximising it – “the fruit has such expression that we aim to preserve the characteristics of the vineyard rather than dominate them.” Fruit was sourced from a range of vineyards, aged between 50-130 years old, with a strong emphasis on fruit quality, rather than simply selecting parcels of fruit because they were from old vines. The wine was matured for 16 months in 100% new oak of which 5% was American and 95% French. It was bottled unfiltered. Yields from 2021 were much higher than the extremely small 2020 vintage and the long Indian Summer delivered great fruit ripeness and phenolic concentration.
Super dense inky black colour with a very deep dark purple black hue. Overwhelming the olfactory senses are potent aromatics of freshly crushed blackberries, liquorice and dark plum which are complimented by vanillin cedar, mocha, subtle earthy fennel and pepper notes. Saturating the rich, youthfully opulent palate is an assortment of blackberry, dark plum, liquorice and ripe blueberry fruits. Exceptionally powerful yet fresh its framed by a firm yet seamlessly integrated matrix of tannins. Infusions of violets, vanillin oak, earth, spicy mocha and blackpepper elements linger underneath. Outstanding length and breadth with a very long deeply fruited yet structured finish.
Cellar 10-15 years plus.
Alc. 15%

Other Reviews…..
A wine that illustrates how traditional Barossa can be expressed in modern hands. It’s a Shiraz from 50 to 130 year old Ebenezer vines, revealing power and poise. Traditional open fermentation was adopted with hand plunging three times a day. Deep plum and minerally characters merge on the nose. A slightly cedary factor lifts with a dense dark chocolate and spicy plum. Chalky fine tannins perfectly integrated combine to take a concentrated powerful palate to an effortlessly long finish. Drink 2028-2048.
97 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com

Shiraz sourced from vines between 50 to 130 years of age in the renowned northern Barossa subregion of Ebenezer; 16 months in new French and American oak. A wine of impact and purity. Beautiful ripe black plum, cassis and black cherry fruits with hints of cedar, baking spices, dark chocolate, licorice, nutmeg, espresso, earth and graphite. Power and harmony writ large with cascading tannin, lacy acidity and great depth and concentration ... I feel it needs one of those big, old Batman-style 'KAPOW!!' boxes for emphasis. It's a cracker.
96 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion