Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2003

Rating 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."

"Tasted just before bottling, this fabulous Shiraz, made from a 98- to 110-year-old dry-farmed vineyard in the northern Ebenezer sector of the Barossa, was cropped at .12-1 ton of fruit per acre. Aged 15 months in a combination of American oak hogsheads and French barriques, it is another brilliant effort from young winemaker Ben Glaetzer. Killer stuff, with notes of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, graphite, blackberries, cassis, and smoke, it possesses extraordinary concentration, tremendous purity, a seamless personality, and a magnificent finish that lasts over 60 seconds. Since this cuvée is never filtered, this tasting note should be accurate, if somewhat conservative for the bottled wine"

Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016+