Glaetzer Wines 2010 Amon-Ra - 97pts

Glaetzer Wines 2010 Amon-Ra (Ebenezer) Barossa Valley - Australia

Availability: BCLDB and private wine stores
Cost: $88
Alcohol: 15.1%
Date Tasted: August 2nd, 2014

Tasting Notes: This intense, impressive specimen begins its journey to your cellar via vineyards in the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa Valley whose dry-grown vines range from 50-130 years of age and are cropped to a measly 1-tonne per hectare. A paltry amount that yields crazy, OMG-concentration on the sublime, rabbit-hole deep nose and the powerful-yet-refined palate.

This wine is chalk-full of tasting note favourites for intense Shiraz like cherry purée, floral, white pepper, cinnamon, orange zest, fig, mocha, blueberry and vanilla. What sets this wine apart from other highly extracted Aussie Shiraz is its inherent ability to minimize the extraction to the consumer, producing an elegant, cellar-worthy icon. Enjoy over the next decade and a half. Drink 2014-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier (with Hugh Carter) ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Glaetzer Wines 2009 Amon-Ra - 97+pts

Glaetzer Wines 2009 Amon-Ra (Ebenezer) Barossa Valley - Australia

Availability: BCLDB and private wine stores
Cost: $84.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 26th, 2011

Tasting Notes: Vines ranging in age from 50-120 years old produce the fruit for this world icon of Australian Shiraz. Such old vines yield minuscule quantities of grapes (about a half-tonne per acre) but the grapes that do grow contain intense concentration. 100% new oak (80% French, 20% American) is used during élevage (15 months) to add structure and complexity, but the key to this wine is the careful selection of the fruit - only the best of the best is used to preserve the elegance and refinement one expects from the Amon-Ra.

To write that this wine is complex is an understatement. The nose starts with ripe cherry, floral, white pepper, cinnamon, orange zest and warm oak aromas and then, given ample time to open-up, later evolves into a rich milk chocolate seductress. The dry palate follows with layers of prominent dark cherry, bright red fruit, leather, tobacco and toasted oak flavours. Near-perfect balance has been achieved by managing extraction creating rounded tannins that confidently support the massive concentration on the palate but never out-shine the fruit characters. The finish is very long with lingering spice and oak notes. Medium-plus acidity will mellow with another two years plus of aging and then the sky's the limit for this amazing wine. Drink 2013-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier (with Hugh Carter) ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Heartland Wines 2008 Shiraz - 89pts

Heartland Wines 2008 Shiraz (South Australia) Autralia


Availability: Widely available in BC and Ontario
Cost: $20-23
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: October 14th, 2010


Tasting Notes: This 100% Shiraz from Ben Glaetzer's Heartland Wines brand is a blend of fruit from two coastal South Australia regions: Langhorne Creek (64%) and Limestone Coast (36%). The Heartland label offers excellent value for well-made and classic Australian wines. The style relies on extraction but the result is never jammy or cooked. This Shiraz is sure to please most folks who enjoy big reds with both juicy and polished characters.


Concentrated eucalyptus, mint, hot rocks, licorice and dark cherry aromas on the nose are followed by dark berry, cherry and pepper-spice flavours on the tart, dry palate. Thick, inky ruby in colour with a moderate, balanced finish. Bold (and very pleasing) in character but lacks the refinement to be truly memorable. Drink 2010-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Heartland 2006 Viognier-Pinot Gris - 89pts

Heartland 2006 Viognier-Pinot Gris (Langhorne Creek) South Australia - Australia

Availability: Widely available

Cost: $24.99

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: November 26th, 2009

Tasting Notes: The Heartland brand is master winemaker Ben Glaetzer's entry level series of wines. This Viognier/Pinot Gris (78%/22%) is the only white wine in the flight and it is very tasty. The nose offers intense youthful aromas of orchard fruits: peaches, apricots, pears all mingling on wet stone with notes of grapefruit.

On the palate this medium-bodied aromatic wine offers flavours of pears, melons, light minerality and medium-plus acidity. A nice long finish completes the experience. - LC

SKU 293282 UPC 833152000129