Glaetzer Amon Ra Shiraz 2012

Glaetzer Amon Ra Shiraz 2012 is a full-bodied, unfiltered Barossa Valley Shiraz bottled at 15.2% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 97 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, the 2012 vintage stands among the most celebrated releases in Amon Ra's history, drawing fruit from old vines aged between 50 and 130 years in the prized Ebenezer sub-district.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.2%  |  Origin: Barossa Valley, South Australia  |  Vintage: 2012  |  Producer: Glaetzer Wines

Production & Heritage

Glaetzer Wines is the project of winemaker Ben Glaetzer, whose family roots in the Barossa Valley stretch back to the 1880s. The 2012 Amon Ra is made from 100% Shiraz sourced from a selection of low-yielding vineyards in the Ebenezer sub-district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley, with yields restricted to approximately one tonne per hectare. The wine was matured for 14 months in 100% new oak — 95% French and 5% American — and bottled unfiltered to preserve maximum texture and fruit expression. Parcel selection focused on fruit quality rather than simply choosing vineyards for their old-vine status, though the contributing vines ranged from 50 to 130 years old.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep purple-black in the glass, the nose opens with intense blackcurrant cordial and blackberry compote before unfolding layers of licorice, clove and allspice. Underneath, darker aromas of espresso, salami and chocolate box add savory complexity.

Taste: The palate enters with a wave of ripe blackberry and cassis, immediately rich and full-bodied. Mid-palate, satsuma plum and dark chocolate take hold alongside vanillin oak and baking spice, supported by a dense, almost syrupy texture. Tannins are fine-grained and silky, giving structure without aggression despite the wine's considerable power.

Finish: Long and persistent, with licorice, dark plum and a subtle saline quality that keeps the palate engaged. Traces of espresso and pepper linger well after the last sip, leaving a warming impression of concentrated Barossa fruit.

How to Drink Amon Ra 2012

At over a decade of bottle age, this wine is best served slightly below room temperature — around 16–18°C — in a large-bowled glass that allows its dense aromatics to open fully. A 30-minute decant helps integrate the oak and coax out its secondary development. Given its weight and intensity, Amon Ra 2012 is primarily a wine for dedicated sipping alongside a meal rather than a cocktail ingredient.

Best For

• Pairing with a slow-smoked brisket or grilled lamb shoulder dinner
• Gifting a serious Barossa Valley wine collector
• Opening for a milestone anniversary or birthday celebration
• Adding a benchmark Australian Shiraz to a cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Amon Ra 2012 taste like? Amon Ra 2012 delivers concentrated blackberry, cassis and licorice wrapped in dark chocolate and vanillin oak, with silky tannins and a long, savory finish. It is a powerful, full-bodied Shiraz with considerable depth and richness.

How does Amon Ra compare to Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz? Both are ultra-premium, single-varietal Barossa and McLaren Vale Shiraz wines scoring consistently in the 95–100 point range from major critics. Astralis is classified in Langtons' top 'Exceptional' tier alongside Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, while Amon Ra occupies a slightly more accessible price tier yet delivers comparable intensity and old-vine concentration.

Is Amon Ra 2012 good for cellaring? Yes — the combination of dense fruit concentration, fine tannin structure and 14 months of new French oak gives the 2012 vintage strong aging potential, and critics have noted its capacity to develop over many years in a temperature-controlled cellar.

Where is Amon Ra made? Amon Ra is produced by Glaetzer Wines in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The fruit is specifically sourced from old-vine vineyards in the Ebenezer sub-district at the northern end of the valley.

What foods pair well with Amon Ra 2012? Slow-braised beef cheeks complement its dark fruit richness; chargrilled lamb cutlets with rosemary echo its spice and pepper notes; aged cheddar or Comté cheese match its weight and savory undertones; dark chocolate torte mirrors its cocoa and licorice character; and smoked kangaroo or venison charcuterie stands up to its intensity.

What sizes does Amon Ra come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for the 2012 vintage.

Is Amon Ra 2012 worth the price? Amon Ra positions as an ultra-premium Barossa Shiraz, and the 2012 vintage's 97-point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, along with a Gold from James Halliday and 93 points from Wine Spectator, places it among the strongest value propositions in the top tier of Australian Shiraz.

Why Amon Ra 2012?

The 2012 vintage represents one of the highest-rated releases in the Amon Ra lineage, earning 97 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Its fruit comes exclusively from vines up to 130 years old, harvested at yields of just one tonne per hectare — a fraction of what most commercial Barossa vineyards produce. Bottled unfiltered after 14 months in predominantly new French oak, it preserves a raw intensity and textural depth that many modern Barossa Shirazes filter away. For collectors and serious Shiraz drinkers, the 2012 Amon Ra is a benchmark expression of what the Ebenezer sub-district's oldest vines can deliver in an outstanding vintage.