Shiraz
75cl * Vegan * 14.5% ABV * South Australia
Amon-Ra Shiraz is an iconic wine that epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full flavoured, multi layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced. Exceptional old vine fruit up to 130 years old - was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Bottled unfiltered to ensure minimal intervention with the wine’s natural characteristics.
In Egyptian mythology, Amon-Ra is considered to be the king of all gods. The temple of Amon-Ra was believed to be the first temple to ever plant a monoculture vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple.
The eye on front of the label is the all-seeing eye of Horus or wedjat ("whole one") - a powerful Egyptian symbol of protection. It is represented as a figure with six parts, corresponding to what Egyptians regarded as the six senses; touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought.
Deep purple in youth, will evolve to a lovely dark red hue with maturation. Blood plum showing hints of dark cherries and dried garden herbs. Rich and mouthcoating yet with the balance, finesse and elegance that epitomises Amon-Ra. An earthy spice complements the brooding dark fruit flavours.
A wine that will develop beautifully with long term cellaring through to 2045. The Taurus team were lucky enough to taste this with Nick Keukenmeester from Glaetzer and loved the wine's huge intensity and herbaceous character. Nick recommends a five hour decant if you have the patience!
Pair with steak, rare beef (this is a wine that can stand up to the punchiest horseradish sauce), lamb, game and richer vegetarian dishes such as grilled aubergine/ courgettes, chestnut casserole or harissa spiced cauliflower steak. It would also pair with Italian dishes as it has a lovely fresh acidity.
"Complex aromas of blackberry, sweet green tobacco and ink well. Full-bodied, tight and focussed with ultra-fine tannins that run long. Compact and integrated. Classy. Give this three to four years to soften and open. Try after 2025." 95 Points, James Suckling
"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 Date 2022 – 2042." 97 Points, Robert Parker 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." 96 Points. James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion