Ben Glaetzer - 'Barossa Valley Young Gun'

He's been called a 'flavour-profile nut' even a 'flavour-nazi', but all Ben Glaetzer is trying to do is avoid overripe or jammy fruit characters.  "Wine must be consumable, so I do what I can to make wines that are animated, alive and soft," he says.

Since returning to the Barossa in 1998, after graduation from Roseworthy, Glaetzer has attracted critical acclaim as the young innovator at Barossa Vintners, complementing his experienced father Colin in managing the 10,000 tonne winery near Tanunda.  Together, father and son produce wine for nine wine-maker shareholders, including Glaetzer Wine....

Glaetzer's own label is a logical extension of his father's involvement with the benchmark red E & E Black Pepper Shiraz.  The growers who supplied those grapes remain a source of supply for the Glaetzer's Bishop, Wallace and Glaetzer wines.  Glaetzer also makes the Heartland Wines from a blend of Limestone Coast and Langhorne Creek fruit, including a pioneering 2004 Dolcetto Lagrein blend, and AMON-Ra Shiraz, from low yielding Ebenezer grapes.  AMON-Ra has received high praise from American critic Robert Parker, but Glaetzer's feet remain on terra Barossa.  "There's a huge risk of being classed as a Parker darling," says Glaetzer, "and I'm tired of fielding calls because of Parker points....I want people to drink the wine."