Ben Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2020

The first Glaetzers settled in the Barossa Valley in 1888 after emigrating from Brandenburg, Germany. The family were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. 

The irrepressible Ben Glaetzer is the driving force behind Glaetzer Wines. Ben graduated in winemaking from Adelaide University in South Australia after working at Barossa Valley Estate during school and university holidays. After travelling extensively throughout many of the worlds wine regions, Ben returned to the Barossa and joined the family company. Ben's ability to blend traditional winemaking techniques with a modern flair is reflected in the style of wines under the Glaetzer label. He makes unique, elegant wines with minimal intervention, which are regarded as classics and unmistakably Barossan. Along with the numerous trophies and awards for his wines, Ben's winemaking honours include being named the Qantas Young Winemaker of the Year in 2004 and Junior Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker in 2005.

Glaetzer Bishop is a true expression of Barossa Shiraz that is elegantly structured with a long finish. Bishop is the family name of Colin's wife' Judith. Fittingly the sign of Venus, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the Bishop label. In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – a nod to Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna. Grown on the Ebenezer vineyard on 35 to 120-year-old vines with a yield of 3 tonnes per hectare. The wine was fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters, with extended maceration to enable good tannin and development. This softened the wine and allowed it to be approached early. It was matured for 16 months in a mix of 40% new oak and 60% 2 to 3-year-old oak hogshead barrels (90% French, 10% American).

The wine is elegantly structured with a long finish, making for another expressive and approachable vintage for Bishop. Flavours of black cherry, raspberry, olive, dried spice and black pepper are supported by balancing tannin. Mouth-filling and persistent to the finish, this is a fine wine. It can cellar for up to 10-15 years.

This 2020 Bishop Shiraz is a saturating and pure example of Barossa Shiraz, from a warm, compacted and low-yielding vintage. The wine in the glass is the very essence of Barossa, with red, earthy tannins, spicy/toasty oak and a fruit profile that spans red, purple and black. Really well done. Delicious. Drink 2022-2032. - Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%