 |
 |
|
Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2006Glaetzer Family The Glaetzer Family has been a part of the Barossa Valley and its viticulture history since 1888. After thirty years of winemaking, Colin Glaetzer established the family winery to create wines he’s passionate about – limited quantities of benchmark Barossa Valley reds. The birth of Glaetzer Wines signalled a new era for Colin’s family which boasts more than it’s fair share of winemakers – Colin, his oenology-trained wife Judith and the couple's three sons, Sam, Ben & Nick. Today, Ben Glaetzer carries on this winemaking tradition at Glaetzer Wines. Ben’s philosophy is that great wines are made in the vineyard - a belief in “terroir” and an understanding of the ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district of the Barossa is evident in his wines. With minimal intervention, Ben makes elegant wines which are regarded as classics and unmistakably Barossa. Name and New Label Bishop is the family/maiden name of Colin’s wife Judith. The Bishops came from Mount Gambier in South Australia and Judith’s mother was the first female mayoress in Australia’s political history. In naming this wine, Colin wanted to pay tribute to his wife and to recognise her contribution to the family company. A powerful symbol dominates the new label for the Bishop Shiraz. Fittingly, the sign of Venus, which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the new Bishop label’s symbol. Wine The backbone of this full-bodied shiraz is the exceptional fruit from the dry-grown vines of the famed Ebenezer vineyards in the Barossa Valley. Aromas of liquorice and mocha intermingle with cassis and leather. Opulent fruit flavours on the palate are beautifully balanced by firm, velvety tannins from maturation in French and American oak. This multi-layered shiraz is drinking superbly now and it will reward cellaring for the next decade. The 2006 is the 8th release of Bishop (we deemed the quality of the 2000 and the 2003 vintages to be unsuitable for release under our label). The 05 and the 06 have benefited enormously from the input of fruit that once provided the backbone for the once revered Glaetzer Shiraz. The 2006 shows a little more tightness than the 2005 and 2004, the tannin being more pronounced in infancy but lending itself to be truly age worthy. The 2006 release will carry the new Bishop label allowing the wine to now sit proudly alongside Anaperenna and Amon Ra.
2006 Vintage Report The lead-up to the 2006 Growing season included one of the driest Autumns on record. Late season opening rains were experienced in October and November with the cool, mild conditions extending until January. A series of heat waves were experienced in late January and early February which meant slow ripening and vegetative growth. Despite the daytime heat, evening temperatures were mild to cool and rainfall was average. Mild climatic conditions continued through February and March and the slightly above average rainfall kept the vines fresh and the fruit ripened slowly and evenly. The stop/start heat/cool of 2005 meant that the wines had intense colour and overt tannin while young; the 2006 wines display slightly less colour and have a refined, almost elegant palate. Similarities can certainly be drawn to the 2004 vintage in terms of approachability and the wines from 2006 have the inherent, balanced structure to enable them to be considered some of the most viable medium to long term cellaring potential that we have so far produced. |
| ||||||||||||
| © Glaetzer Wines | Site Design by JABA |
