2018 Glaetzer Amon Ra Shiraz

Certainly one of the best vintages of young Amon Ra I’ve ever tasted, the 2018 Amon Ra Shiraz is a stupendous effort. From old vines in the Ebenezer section of the northern Barossa, it starts off with a whirlwind of mocha, blackberry and dried spices, then actually gets more red-fruited as it sits in the glass. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated without being jammy or overdone, the wine finishes long and savory, framed by dusty tannins and mouthwatering black olives. Winemaker Ben Glaetzer compares 2018 to 2004 (which continues to drink well). Expect the 2018 to drink well young, but easily age through 2035, perhaps longer. 98 points. Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

From vines 50-130yo in Ebenezer yielding 2t/ha, open-fermented, hand-plunged three times daily, matured for 16 months in new hogsheads (5% American). Full-bodied to the point where it’s difficult to give any guidance for cellaring time. Similarly, what will be the quality of the wine as it steadily develops, the points somewhere in the middle of the range of possibilities. 95 points. James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2021