Ben Glaetzer, Eye Of Ra, Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia, 2016 (750ml)

Wine

Ben Glaetzer, Eye of Ra, Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia, 2016 (750ml)

CI$634.00

Single‑region Ebenezer Shiraz from 100+‑year‑old vines — deep blackberry and spiced plum with wild herbs, cedar and licorice; full‑bodied, rich yet finely structured with a long, mineral‑driven finish.

Country: Australia
Wine Type: Red
Grape Varietals: Syrah
Bottle Size: Full Bottle (750 ml)

Additional Info

Rating:

98 Points Wine Advocate

Highlight:

Bottled but not yet labeled, with a possible release set for mid-2019, Glaetzer's 2016 The Eye of Ra Shiraz boasts classy notes of pencil shavings and dark, plummy fruit. From 85-year-old vines, it's full-bodied, rich and creamy, loaded with vanilla-tinged French oak but balanced by blueberries and blackberries and ending with lasting hints of mocha and licorice. It returns Glaetzer's traditional Barossa winemaking to a new level of quality and elegance without sacrificing power or guts. -Joe Czerwinski, August 2018

Description

Eye of Ra 2016 is Ben Glaetzer’s flagship Shiraz, sourced from four exceptional vineyard parcels in the Ebenezer sub‑district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley, with vines up to 110 years old rooted in deep red‑brown sandy contrast soils. The warm continental climate and marked diurnal shifts in 2016 delivered an outstanding vintage, allowing full flavour development without over‑ripeness.

Each parcel was fermented separately in open‑top fermenters, gently hand‑plunged three times daily at cool temperatures (below 18°C) to maximise colour and aroma while avoiding harsh tannins. After natural malolactic in oak, the wine spent 16 months in 100% new fine‑grained French hogsheads before bottling.

In the glass it shows a deep, inky purple core with a dense garnet rim. The bouquet is intense yet refined: wild herbs, spiced plum and dense blackberry framed by cedar and subtle licorice. The palate is rich and mouth‑coating but precise and architectural, with dark plum, blackcurrant, dried spice and licorice unfolding over vibrant acidity and silky, polished tannins. The finish is long, fresh and mineral‑driven.

Named after the protective “Eye of Ra” from Egyptian mythology, this cuvée reflects both power and elegance and is the first wine Ben Glaetzer has described as “beyond exceptional.”