The family settles in Barossa in 1888 but it wasn’t until nearly a century later Colin Glaetzer established Glaetzer Winery. Today his son Ben is the winemaker and driving force behind a tight portfolio of only four wines. Ben’s approach of minimal intervention with the belief that great wines are made in the vineyards have resulted in a range of wines that reflect the best of what Barossa does best displaying more elegance and restrained than most Barossa offerings. In his own words, the families been in Barossa from 1888 and that makes us “almost locals”. All the grapes for all their wines are sourced from some of the best and oldest vines in Barossa’s sub region of Ebenezer.
The ‘Wallace’ Shiraz / Grenache 2017
This Delightful blend of 72% Shiraz and 28% Grenache is sourced from 60-year-old vines. The nose is a blend of bright red fruits from the Grenache and spice and dark fruits from the Shiraz. The palate reveals much more as you take your first sip with dark fruits and black pepper and spices anchoring the flavor profile with red raspberries and red currents, Turkish delight and Vanilla acting as a nice neat bow on the palate. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with great length on the finish. Note, I did decanter it for a couple of hours to give it time to open up and reveal its true nature. Cellar out until 2027 without a concern.
The ‘Bishop’ Shiraz 2016
Named after Colins wife’s maiden name, the grapes are sourced from 30- to 100-year-old vines and reflect the elegance and quality you would expect.
One whiff of this wine and you’ll be convinced, this is going to be good, really good. Enticing layers of dark fruits, blueberries and subtle spices will heighten your expectations. One sip and almost seamless layers of blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries with secondary notes of plum and spices, are delivered on a velvety smooth mouthfeel. The depth, complexity and power are evident balanced by restraint and finesse. Subtly sweetness on the mid palate. Delicious from the first sip to the last. Cellar to 2030 without a concern.
The ‘Anaperenna’ Shiraz / Cabernet 2016 $72.00
This is a lovely big rich wine that is velvety smooth and approachable on the palate. The name is derived from the Roman Goddess of new beginnings and has been in production since its initial release in 2004. In Ben’s (winemaker) own words, he took their best Shiraz and the best Cabernet and blended it suspecting it would become his favorite wine, and it is. The 2016 vintage is a blend of 84% Shiraz and 16% Cabernet and is an absolute delight to drink.
Right off the bat the nose is all blueberries, deep and enticing with just a hint of Cab coming through as a herbal note, almost as an afterthought. The palate is dominated by blueberries and ripe
plums with secondary layers of black berries and black current underpinned by spices and subtle black pepper. Wonderful balance and structure and despite the 15.5% alcohol, which is not at all evident, this wine displays elegance and restraint and, as I said before, an absolute delight to drink. Will cellar out to 2036 without a problem. Choose your red meat carefully, this is a big wine. Enjoy.
Vine to Table 