2020 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz

Amon Ra is Ben Glaetzer’s flagship Shiraz named after an Egyptian God who was considered to be the King of all Gods. According to Ben Glaetzer the key to Amon Ra Shiraz is balancing the fruit and tannin extraction rather the maximising it – “the fruit has such expression that we aim to preserve the characteristics of the vineyard rather than dominate them.” Fruit was sourced from a range of vineyards, aged between 50-130 years old, with a strong emphasis on fruit quality, rather than simply selecting parcels of fruit because they were from old vines. The wine was matured for 16 months in 100% new oak of which 5% was American and 95% French. It was bottled unfiltered. According to winemaker Ben Glaetzer, the 2020 growing season offered so much in quality, but so little in quantity, with fruit of great character resulting in wines of extraordinary colour and flavour.
Impenetrable inky black heart with an equally deep youthful dark purple black hue. Intense freshly crushed blackberry, liquorice and dark plum scents are interwoven with vanillin cedar, hints of fennel, subtle dark chocolate and blackpepper. Rich blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits possess a youthful vibrancy with vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper characters lying underneath. Tightly wound with a stern tannin structure and vibrant acidity giving the wine a muscular, compact feel. Powerful yet currently restrained with a long tense conclusion. Requires some patience for it reveal all of its hidden glory.
Cellar 10-15 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
I've looked at this wine many times over the years, almost exclusively as an older/cellared wine. The impact it has made is strong, and so it is through this lens that I now view this 2020 Amon Ra Shiraz. This year's Amon-Ra is concentrated, dense and absolutely, utterly saturated with flavor. The fruit that spirals within the bounds of the firm tannins is fleshy and pure, and with the knowledge that the wine sails through the decade with noiseless grace, it is all the more impressive in its infancy now. A brilliant wine—all ductile and proud. Yes. Drink 2022-2042.
97 points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

Always a picture of pure fruit density and latent power, the latest release of Ben Glaetzer's Amon Ra continues that theme of Barossa concentration. Glossy blackberry, black cherry and satsuma plum fruit flow readily, that compact Ebenezer power on full display. Hints of baking spice, earth, licorice and dark chocolate come into play, along with tightly packed, gypsum-like tannins for support, impressive acid cadence and a persistent and enduring exit. Always impressive. Drink by 2035.
96 Points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion (August 2022)