Top-notch australian shiraz

[ncohafmuta]

Just opened a bottle of 2005 Glaetzer Amon Ra - Barossa Valley Shiraz, unfiltered.

What a bottle, perhaps the finest Shiraz I've had. Aromas were amazing, i literally could have smelled it all day long. Rich, vanillay, dried cherries and blueberries, round and supple.

Taste was tangy, tannic, brilliant structure. Drink one now, cellar another for 10 years and you're good to go. I give it a 97. Paired it with a dark La Rosa today, but would also have been great with The Edge or similar.

-Tony

[TU09]

Just read Parker's review and it certainly sounds wonderful. Bit pricey for this university student though...

In all honesty, I didn't realize that shiraz ventured into this price range. Are there others of a similar calibre that you would recomend? I would like to find a few bottles worth cellaring for a few years and am, largely because of your review, now interested in the better examples of top aussie shiraz.

[ncohafmuta]

Bottlings like Penfold's 'Grange', BVE's Black Pepper Shiraz, Elderton Command, and Mitolo (also amazing and who produces probably the best Cab. Sauv. i've tasted from down-under in their 'Serpico' bottling) have seen this price range for years. Sometimes it's way over the top, sometimes it's justified, you have to choose wisely.

Others that are really good are:
2003/2004 Two Hands 'Bella's Garden', $15 cheaper than the Amon-Ra if i remember correctly
2001/2003 Jacob Creek's Reserve Shiraz, the best bang for buck in the shiraz world if i say so, at $15-20.

In general i've always felt that $25-30 gets you a very nice quality wine from there (at least for my standards), and then splurge the $75-100 on a spectacular one when you can.
And hey, xmas is coming up, if you have a magic tongue drop a few hints, you could be in business

-Tony

[tazziedevil]

Yeah, it is good. Much cheaper here, obviously.

Most wines from the Barossa are good, But the Shiraz are excellent. Hunter Valley wines are good, so are Tasmanian wines. Especially cab sav's. and rieslings.