Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Amon Ra Vertical (2002-2006)
Kevin's House
Tasted February 4, 2012 by Mattshank with 564 views
Introduction
Another mini offline with the usual suspects (Kevin, John G, Gary, and me). Unfortunately Jim could not make it but being the trooper he is he contributed the '05' for our enjoyment (Thanks Jim!). This was an interesting tasting in that it showed the amazing consistancy of Ben Glaetzer winemaking. With that said none of the wines from my perspective really wowed me. They were all solid, shared many similarities, but just did not rock my world at all. Perhaps it's that my palate is more attuned to old world wines, but for the price point I would rather go elsewhere in the world. Still a very enjoyable event and a good perspective of Amon Ra, and it's always good to hang out with the guys.
Flight 1 (5 notes)
Red
2002 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
92 points
1 hour dbl. decant (mag decanter). Nose: Wonderful floral aromas with mint, licorice and mineral. Palate: Soft styled and plush with dark fruits (blueberry most notable). If the acid level was higher this would be 93+ points.
Red
2003 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
93 points
3 hour dbl. decant (w/ a Vinituri both directions). Nose: Big pepper aromas and some stoner mineral. After additional glass aeration a fair amount of mint shows. Palate: Good tannins yet supple in character. Much more of an earthy profile vs. the '02'. Also had a meaty component. This wine kept going in and out in terms of the fruit levels but was an interesting wine even though argueably less new world than a typical Amon Ra.
Red
2004 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
93 points
First bottle of this was corked but Kevin opened another (pop and pour but Vinituried).... Nose: Stone minerals in abundance and after glass air shows scorched earth and a meaty/gamey quality that almost makes it appear Rhone-like. Palate: Dark fruits, spice, cedar and a soft but persistant finish.
Red
2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
92 points
2 1/2 hour dbl. decant. Nose: Tobacco and stone mineral with some pepper hints. After glass air a chocolate component shows up. Palate: Sweet and spicy dark fruits after extended glass air as the high acidity on pop and pour trial waned (fortunately). Good to see this wine come out and play after extended air time but this is still an atypical Amon Ra given the high acidity in relation to the fruit levels. Still enjoyable but if you're going to open one now beat the hell out of it (lots of decanting, and perhaps a crow bar :-).
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2006 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
92 points
3 hour dbl. decant. Nose: Stone minerals and dark fruits. Fairly tight even after a healthy decant. Palate: Stone fruits with good minerality. Others really dug this but I felt it really didn't come out that much as it needs time. Solid wine but give it 2-4 years before thinking about opening, and when you do I think extended decanting would be in order, even then. 93+ point potential easily.