Glaetzer Amon Ra Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016  £58.30

Glaetzer Amon Ra Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016

Amon-Ra Shiraz is an iconic wine that epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full flavoured, multi-layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced.

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.

The eye on the front of the label is the all-seeing eye of Horus or wedjat ("whole one") - a powerful Egyptian symbol of protection. It is represented as a figure with six parts, corresponding to what Egyptians regarded as the six senses; touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought. Ben created Amon-Ra Shiraz to appeal to all these six senses.

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.

Despite well below average rainfall and warm conditions during the growing season, the vines remained in healthy balance with increased bunch numbers. Heavy rainfall in late January followed by ongoing mild days and cool nights allowed ideal ripening conditions. The fruit then matured with an early harvest. The resultant 2016 wines are outstanding and feature lifted pure red fruit characteristics, savoury tannins, great depth of flavour and sheer colour intensity.

Fermented in 1 and 2-tonne open fermenters, 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 the glass this wine is deep, brooding black. On the nose, there is a distinct essence of black cherry, dark plums and spice. This transfers delightfully onto the palate with a mouth-coating richness with restraint and admirable poise. Multi-layered flavours of dark chocolate and dried spice with bright fruits and great palate length. This is a wine that will develop beautifully with long term cellaring over the decades.

Rating 96

Drink Date 2018 - 2035

Reviewed by Joe Czerwinski

Source The Wine Advocate

"Dramatic, intense and powerful, the 2016 Amon Ra Shiraz recalls 2004 in its youth, crammed with layers of fruit, complex, savoury elements and rich, velvety tannins. It's full-bodied, characterized by notes of grilled meat, espresso, black olive, cassis, vanilla, baking spices and an undercurrent of loamy earth. Yes, it's unapologetically big and bold, the product of a warm, sunny climate and ripe grapes, but it does show a sense of decorum, restraint and elegance on the long finish."