The Wine Advocate, Issue 143, October 2002

Glaetzer 1999 Shiraz Barossa Red - 90
Glaetzer 1998 Shiraz Barossa Red - 92
Glaetzer 1999 Shiraz The Bishop Barossa Red - 90

This small Barossa winery only deals with old vine, dry farmed vineyards. The average age of the vines for Glaetzer’s flagship Shiraz cuvée is 80 years, and the wine is aged completely in American oak foudres. The Bishop Shiraz, whose vines average 30 years, is aged in larger American and French neutral wood foudres. Rich and complete, with additional depth as well as intensity, the 1999 Shiraz the Bishop exhibits copious aromas of melted licorice intertwined with crème de cassis, leather and creosote. Dense, full-bodied, supple- textured and already delicious, it can be drunk now and over the next 7-8 years.

The two vintages of Shiraz display similar characteristics, the 1999 Shiraz exhibits an opaque purple color as well as copious quantities of melted asphalt intermixed with blackberry liqueur, cassis, smoke, leather and earth. With additional intensity and tannin, it is a wine to drink now and over the next 10-14 years. The most muscular, densest and broadest in the mouth, the 1998 Shiraz possesses copious earth and leather characteristics along with smoky blackberry fruit and truffle-like aromas. Full, dense and formidably concentrated, it will age well for 14-15 years.