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I conducted a fairly comprehensive tasting of Ben's wines in early 2006 and here are my views:
Wallace 2004. 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache - Stelvin closure. This is Glaetzer's entry-level wine, but it has good grip with a fair amount of complexity and medium tannins. Nice, spicy tones on the finish. Will drink now, but could cellar for the next 5 years at least. Definitely a good buy for under a tenner. 88pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Bishop 2004. 100% Shiraz displaying deep and unctuous fruit with soft tannins. Hints of liquorice on the nose and a reasonably spicy finish makes this unmistakably Barossa. 89pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Godolphin 2004. 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Shiraz/Cab. has long been considered Australia's best shot, and this is as near as you could possibly get to the perfect blend. The Cabernet fruit comes through hard on the attack, but is soon tempered by earthy tones of the Shiraz, finishing in a harmonious blend of complimentary flavours. Will drink now, but could be savoured for many years to come. 95pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Glaetzer 2004. 100% Shiraz. The flagship Shiraz for many years, this wine has a huge amount of backbone surrounded by layers and layers of elegant black fruit and dark chocolate. Finesse is a byword for this wine and it will also cellar for a minimum of 10 years. Around £27. 95pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Amon Ra 2004. 100% Shiraz. This is the second vintage of what might be described as the Glaetzer Reserve. Made from 110 to 115 year old vines in the Northern Ebeneezer district, this wine, named after the King of the Gods in Egyptian mythology, displays all the concentration one would expect from the tiny yields it took to produce it. Big tannins, big fruit (without remotely being considered jammy), and well balanced, it is destined to become a legend in its own lifetime. Definitely one for the cellar. Around £33. 98pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
HEARTLAND WINES
Wallace 2004. 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache - Stelvin closure. This is Glaetzer's entry-level wine, but it has good grip with a fair amount of complexity and medium tannins. Nice, spicy tones on the finish. Will drink now, but could cellar for the next 5 years at least. Definitely a good buy for under a tenner. 88pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Bishop 2004. 100% Shiraz displaying deep and unctuous fruit with soft tannins. Hints of liquorice on the nose and a reasonably spicy finish makes this unmistakably Barossa. 89pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Godolphin 2004. 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Shiraz/Cab. has long been considered Australia's best shot, and this is as near as you could possibly get to the perfect blend. The Cabernet fruit comes through hard on the attack, but is soon tempered by earthy tones of the Shiraz, finishing in a harmonious blend of complimentary flavours. Will drink now, but could be savoured for many years to come. 95pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Glaetzer 2004. 100% Shiraz. The flagship Shiraz for many years, this wine has a huge amount of backbone surrounded by layers and layers of elegant black fruit and dark chocolate. Finesse is a byword for this wine and it will also cellar for a minimum of 10 years. Around £27. 95pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
Amon Ra 2004. 100% Shiraz. This is the second vintage of what might be described as the Glaetzer Reserve. Made from 110 to 115 year old vines in the Northern Ebeneezer district, this wine, named after the King of the Gods in Egyptian mythology, displays all the concentration one would expect from the tiny yields it took to produce it. Big tannins, big fruit (without remotely being considered jammy), and well balanced, it is destined to become a legend in its own lifetime. Definitely one for the cellar. Around £33. 98pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Jascots; Oddbins; VG Wine Library.)
HEARTLAND WINES
Heartland Stickleback White 2005. 45% Sémillon, 35% Chardonnay, 20% Verdelho - Stelvin closure. An intriguing blend and a good entry level wine at an affordable price. It's quite fruity, but with nice mineral overtones, and refreshingly fresh. 83pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Viognier/Pinot Gris 2005. 78% Viognier 22%Pinot Gris - Stelvin closure. This is reasonable quaffing stuff, but didn't quite work for me. I was expecting more of the peachy, apricoty, Viognier style from this but it didn't seem to come through and it finished being a rather dull wine, but perfectly sound nonetheless. 79pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Stickleback Red 2004. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Shiraz, 7% Grenache - Stelvin closure. This is a nice, soft, easy-drinking, entry level red with good, simply defined upfront fruit. 80pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Shiraz - Stelvin closure. A smooth, rich finish, but with a nice hint of backbone, gives this wine good balance and harmoniously integrated black fruits. 87pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Shiraz 2004. Good weight in the mouth and big chunky fruit here with good Shiraz tarriness. The fruit has been extracted well to give the feeling of overall balance. Very harmonious. 90pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Viognier/Pinot Gris 2005. 78% Viognier 22%Pinot Gris - Stelvin closure. This is reasonable quaffing stuff, but didn't quite work for me. I was expecting more of the peachy, apricoty, Viognier style from this but it didn't seem to come through and it finished being a rather dull wine, but perfectly sound nonetheless. 79pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Stickleback Red 2004. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Shiraz, 7% Grenache - Stelvin closure. This is a nice, soft, easy-drinking, entry level red with good, simply defined upfront fruit. 80pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Shiraz - Stelvin closure. A smooth, rich finish, but with a nice hint of backbone, gives this wine good balance and harmoniously integrated black fruits. 87pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Heartland Shiraz 2004. Good weight in the mouth and big chunky fruit here with good Shiraz tarriness. The fruit has been extracted well to give the feeling of overall balance. Very harmonious. 90pts.
(Available - Great Western Wines; SWIG; Noel Young; Oddbins; VG Wine Library; Playford Ross.)
Useful supplier sites...
Great Western Wines www.greatwesternwine.co.uk
SWIG www.swig.co.uk
Noel Young www.nywines.co.uk
Jascots www.jascots.co.uk
Great Western Wines www.greatwesternwine.co.uk
SWIG www.swig.co.uk
Noel Young www.nywines.co.uk
Jascots www.jascots.co.uk