'Parker Points' for Glaetzer 04s

2004 Amon-ra, Barossa Valley
93 Points  
This dense ruby/purple-colored wine exhibits a sweet nose of vanilla, graphite, blackberry, and cassis. Full-bodied and pure, with decent acidity and a moderately tannic, silky finish, it is accessible enough to be drunk now, but will be even better in 1-3 years. It should last for a dozen years or more.

2004 Godolphin Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
 96-98 points
This nearly perfect wine, made from 84% Shiraz (105- to 115-year-old vines) and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon (60- to 90-year-old vines), was cropped at a minuscule .5 to 1 ton of fruit per acre, and spent 15 months in French oak prior to bottling. Its gorgeously sweet, pure nose of crushed rocks, blueberries, cassis, and minerals soars from the glass. Floral-like black and blue fruits, an inky/purple color, and nearly endless depth and persistence on the palate are the stuff of legends. With extraordinary equilibrium, precision, and purity, it represents the apogee of Ben Glaetzer's winemaking talents.

2004 Glaetzer Shiraz, Barossa Valley
 94-96 points     
The finest of this trio is the flagship cuvee, the 2004 Shiraz produced from 80- to 150-year-old dry farmed vineyards in the northern Ebenezer sector of the Barossa. Aged 16 months in French oak and American hogsheads, this larger-than-life, fascinating wine (cropped at .25 to 1 ton of fruit per acre) offers big, sweet, blackberry and cassis characteristics intermixed with notions of smoke, licorice, and pain grille. A wine of amazing extract, richness, and full-bodied power, with great purity as well as balance, this stunning offering should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Filled with personality, it is a tour de force in Barossa Shiraz.

One of the stars in the Epicurean portfolio, the young Ben Glaetzer is establishing a reputation for high quality in South Australia, not only for the wines from his home winery, but also for his brilliant efforts under the Amon Ra and Mitolo labels. These are small volume, artisinal efforts that capture the pure essence of old vine Barossa Shiraz and Grenache. This 2004 was tasted just prior to bottling. Drink 2005-2020

2004 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz, Barossa Valley
 91-94 points          
The 2004 Bishop (100% Shiraz aged 14 months in both hogsheads and small barrels) is fashioned from some of Ben Glaetzer’s “younger” vines (only 40-80 years old). A spicy, peppery, earthy, cherry, blackberry, and licorice-scented bouquet is turbo-charged, soaring from the glass. This full-bodied, savoury, heady, rich wine boasts impressive balance, concentration, and overall mouthfeel.   This 2004 was tasted just prior to bottling.

2004 Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache, Barossa Valley
89-91 points     
The 2004 Wallace (70% Shiraz from 65-year-old vines and 30% Grenache from 90-year-old vines, aged in large French and American oak hogsheads) is a prototypical South Australian offering. Meaty, rich, and full-bodied, with copious amounts of cassis and blackberry fruit as well as spice and pepper, it is a fruit-driven Shiraz to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.   This 2004 was tasted just prior to bottling. Drink 2005-2010   

Parker Point System:
96-100   An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety.  Wines of this calibre are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.
90-95    An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character.  In short, these are terrific wines.
80-89    A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavour as well as character.