Ben Glaetzer • Anaperenna 2017

Über das Weingut Glaetzer

The first Glaetzers settled in the Barossa Valley in 1888 after emigrating from Brandenburg, Germany. The family left Germany on board the Nord-Deutscher Lloyd steamer “Habsburg” and took seven weeks to reach their final destination of Port Adelaide. From here they settled in a country town called Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley where they started their new life in Australia. The family were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley.

Over a century later, winemaking patriarch Colin Glaetzer established Glaetzer Wines, a boutique family owned winery producing premium Barossa Valley wines. Today Colin’s son Ben carries on the wine making traditions at Glaetzer Wines. Indeed it was the birth of Glaetzer Wines that signalled a new era for Colin’s family which boasts more than its fair share of winemakers.

All fruit for Glaetzer Wines is taken from the small sub-region of the northern Barossa Valley, called Ebenezer.

The ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district are an important part of Australia’s winemaking heritage and a living link to traditional Barossa viticulture. Exceptional fruit from a loyal group of third and fourth generation Barossa grape growers is the backbone of Glaetzer wines. The viticulture used is standard single wine, with permanent arm, rod and spur. The most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year old, non-grafted bush vines which are extremely low yielding. The oldest vines bear only 0.5 to 1 tonne per acre. Younger vines produce 2.5 to 3 tonnes per acre. Most of the vineyards are non-irrigated but some of the newer vines (propagated from original plantings) have supplementary drip irrigation to combat stress in drought years. The very old vines require minimal attention. Their deep root structure means they are self-sufficient and can adapt to climatic extremes.

Über den Wein Anaperenna 2017

Glaetzer Anaperenna is a seamless fusion of the two varieties Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Voluptuous, opulent and yet refined, with a very long and satisfying finish.

The name Anaperenna has been inspired by Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the New Year. Anna Perenna symbolises the year's cycle and her name translates as 'enduring year'. Romans honoured Anna Perenna with a festival held on the first full moon of the Roman calendar. On March 15th they would ask Anna to grant them longevity, and a healthy year for each glass of wine they drank on that day.

The symbol on the label is the Egyptian Ankh (pronounced: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.

Herausragende 97 Parker-Punkte im Wine Advocate 6/2019 sind der Lohn von Joe Czerwinski:

97/100 Punkte

Der Wein wurde wie folgt im Wortlaut bewertet:

I love what Glaetzer's inclusion of Cabernet brings to the 2017 Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it additional fragrance and length. Lifted aromas of mint, raspberries and dark chocolate mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety but never heavy, framed by supple tannins that turn silky on the long, long finish. Showing great focus, energy and intensity, expect it to still be going strong in a decade.

There's not much new to report from owner-winemaker Ben Glaetzer, other than that he continues to make some stunning wines from Barossa Valley fruit, sourced mainly from the Ebenezer district in the north of the GI. Talking about the 2017s, Glaetzer says he fears they may be a bit overlooked between the 2016s and the 2018s, but says, "I really like the savory tannin structure. The wines just need time." He compares the wines to those from 2005 (drinking well at the moment) and 2015 vintages. Frost lowered the yields in many Barossa vineyards, which led to fast-ripening fruit, but there weren't any major heat spikes. Don't forget to keep an eye out for his new 2016 Eye of Ra Shiraz (reviewed last year), which will be released later in 2019.

Drink Date: 2020 - 2035