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96 WA.
"A profound example of Ebenezer fruit and skilled winemaking, the 2017 Amon Ra Shiraz is full-bodied and velvety in texture, picking up more nuances the longer it sits in the glass. Floral and mint notes appear on the nose, along with a mix of raspberries, blackberries and baking spices. There's plenty of new oak, but it's been mostly absorbed into the wine, leaving a drink that's rich and sumptuous. And just when you think it's over, a bit of licorice appears on the long finish to add a pleasant finale. There's not much new to report from owner-winemaker Ben Glaetzer, other than that he continues to make some stunning wines from Barossa Valley fruit, sourced mainly from the Ebenezer district in the north of the GI. Talking about the 2017s, Glaetzer says he fears they may be a bit overlooked between the 2016s and the 2018s, but says, "I really like the savory tannin structure. The wines just need time." He compares the wines to those from 2005 (drinking well at the moment) and 2015 vintages. Frost lowered the yields in many Barossa vineyards, which led to fast-ripening fruit, but there weren't any major heat spikes. Don't forget to keep an eye out for his new 2016 Eye of Ra Shiraz (reviewed last year), which will be released later in 2019." Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate Interim, Jun 2019 |