Amon-Ra Shiraz is an iconic wine that epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full-flavoured, multi-layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced.
Tasting notes:
Deep purple upon release, but will evolve to a rich, dark garnet red over time in bottle. Dark cherry and blackberry notes are offset by hints of black pepper and a well stocked spice rack. Rich and enveloping and balanced on a razor’s edge between power and finesse. Multiple dark fruit notes saturate the palate, enhanced with graceful spice and herb notes. It will age for many years to come.
Reviews:
97 Points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Amon-Ra is a wine that’s well know for its graceful aging capacity, and so, in a vintage like 2021 (long, cooler than the horrendously low-yielding and drought-addled 2020 and 2019 prior), the release is eagerly anticipated. The 2021 Amon-Ra Shiraz is complete, in a word. The purple and red berries in the mouth are fresh and supple, the flow of flavor across the tongue feels unbroken and svelte, and the aftertaste is padded by chewy, pliable tannins. This is a real pleasure, and not just now – it will be later, too.
97 Points, Wine Pilot, Ray Jordan
A wine that illustrates how traditional Barossa can be expressed in modern hands. It’s a Shiraz from 50 to 130 year old Ebenezer vines, revealing power and poise. Traditional open fermentation was adopted with hand plunging three times a day. Deep plum and minerally characters merge on the nose. A slightly cedary factor lifts with a dense dark chocolate and spicy plum. Chalky find tannins perfectly integrated combine to take a concentrated powerful palate to an effortlessly long finish.
96 Points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
Shiraz sourced from vines between 50 to 130 years of age in the renowned northern Barossa subregion of Ebenezer; 16 months in new French and American oak. A wine of impact and purity. Beautiful ripe black plum, cassis and black cherry fruits with hints of cedar, baking spices, dark chocolate, licorice, nutmeg, espresso, earth and graphite. Power and harmony writ large with cascading tannin, lacy acidity and great depth and concentration … I feel it needs one of those big, old Batman-style ‘KAPOW!!’ boxes for emphasis. It’s a cracker.
93 Points, Vinous
Two thousand and twenty-one is a fascinating vintage of Amon-Ra that will surprise some thanks to its subtle style. Dark cherry, fruit pastilles and raspberry compote aromas are lifted by subtle spice and sweet oak. It’s compact yet fleshy, with fresh acidity and silky tannins while still delivering trademark length and balance. A delicious Barossa but bet enjoyed over the medium term.