It is a great thing to have so many terrific vintage options from the Barossa in 2014! We are really spoilt for choice and Ben Glaetzer's Bishop Shiraz is an example of a wine for now and to also cellar. Structured from start to finish it has maximised excellent fruit from the vintage to open with a blast of dark fruits and terrific notes of black pepper and oak awaiting your tonsil time. The wine itself allows a long dense palate washing with generosity of blackberry leather and cassis. A wine that spells trouble when you take it out - As those in the know will grab it first and there will be precious little left for you unless your quick. Very well priced at this level and what a bang for your buck! Buy some and then buys some more for the cellar and review in 18 months!
Cheers.
2013 review:
Totally opaque black purple colour with deep dark purple black hue. Ripe blackberry and licorice scents are overlaid by some toasty oak, vanillin confectionery and black pepper. Ripe, rich and densely concentrated the palate boasts an opulent yet relatively youthful flavour profile of ripe dark plum, blackberry and liquorice overlaid by some toasty vanillin oak with some black pepper on the back palate.
Watch winemaker Ben Glaetzer review the 2014 vintage Bishop Shiraz below:
92 Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "This is a very good release of this wine. It ramps up the flavours but nothing’s flabby, it’s all well toned and shaped, the blackberry and asphalt flavours rolling deliberately though the palate, the finish then satisfying. Robust red, done well."
Past Vintages
2013: 95 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion "From the Ebenezer district of the Barossa Valley, and made in the inimitable plush and velvety style of Ben Glaetzer, dripping with black fruits, oak and soft, ripe tannins; retains remarkable equilibrium in the face of the cornucopia of flavours, and no heat from the alcohol."
GOLD - Selections Mondiales Des Vins International Wine Championship 2015
From the Winery
A blend of fruit from 35 year old vies and 120 year old vines is the key to Bishop. The fruit from younger vines is fresh and vibrant, whilst shiraz from the oldest blocks in the Ebenezer vineyard gives structure and enhances the palate profile. The exceptional fruit for Bishop creates aromas of spice and lifter red and dark fruits with a refined opulence on the palate. Great drinking now but this wine will also benefit from 10-12 years careful cellaring.
The growing season started with huge promise with early spring rains replenishing soil moisture levels followed by healthy fruitful canes and strong initial canopy development. There was a significant setback at the start of October when a major overnight frost settles on our primary fruit source area causing significant frost damage and fruit loss.
A second challenge was a week of extremely hot temperature in late January – thankfully good vineyard management practices and mid February rainfall allowed the vines to respond to the heat conditions and assisted the alter slower and steadier ripening of the fruit. The fruit that was coaxed through until picking in March has resulted in spectacular wines albeit in short supply. The 2014 wines have incredible flavour intensity, depth and personality with lifted purity and floral character on the nose.
Don't Pay: $35.00
WBW Rating: 94/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Barossa Valley, SA
Winemaker: Ben Glaetzer
Drink now until: 2025
Alc/Vol: 15 %
