Ben Glaetzer Bishop 2006
A powerful and fully mature Barossa Valley Shiraz with layers of dark fruit, mocha, spice, leather, and savoury tertiary complexity. Rich, velvety, and deeply expressive, showing the depth and ageing potential of Ben Glaetzer’s classic Barossa style.
Ben Glaetzer “Bishop” 2006 is a mature Barossa Valley Shiraz from acclaimed Australian winemaker Ben Glaetzer, whose wines helped redefine modern premium Barossa by combining concentration and richness with greater balance and refinement. “Bishop” is one of the estate’s most recognisable Shiraz bottlings, crafted to showcase the generosity and depth of old-vine Barossa fruit while maintaining freshness and structure.
A mature Australian Shiraz with nearly two decades of bottle age is increasingly rare to find in strong condition. This is an excellent opportunity to experience how premium Barossa Shiraz evolves when given sufficient cellar time.
Australia
Barossa Valley
Shiraz
750ml
14.50%
2006Produced entirely from Shiraz, the wine reflects the classic strengths of the Barossa Valley: intense dark fruit, spice, warmth, and velvety texture. However, Glaetzer’s approach avoids excessive heaviness or over-extraction, allowing the wine to evolve gracefully over time rather than simply emphasising sheer power.
The 2006 vintage has now reached a mature and highly expressive stage. The youthful blackberry and plum richness has softened into layered tertiary complexity, revealing notes of leather, tobacco, mocha, dried herbs, cedar, and earthy spice. The oak influence has integrated fully, contributing texture and savoury depth rather than overt sweetness.
Compared with younger Barossa Shiraz styles, mature Bishop becomes noticeably more Rhône-like in profile, with pepper, smoked spice, and savoury complexity beginning to complement the wine’s remaining fruit core. The tannins have softened substantially, giving the wine a smooth, broad, and luxurious texture while still retaining enough freshness to keep it balanced.
A dry, full-bodied Barossa Shiraz with mature dark fruit, savoury spice, and velvety texture. Age has transformed the wine from a powerful fruit-driven style into something more layered, earthy, and complex.
The richness and warmth of Barossa remain very much present, but the maturity now brings softer tannins, integrated oak, and evolved savoury character rather than youthful intensity. The result is a wine that feels broad and luxurious while still maintaining balance and structure.
In simple terms: a mature Barossa Shiraz — rich, smooth, and deeply savoury, combining dark fruit power with beautifully evolved complexity.
- Appearance: Deep garnet with mature brick-red evolution at the rim.
- Nose: Dried dark fruit, mocha, leather, tobacco, spice, and cedar.
- Palate: Mature blackberry and plum fruit with savoury spice and evolved Barossa richness.
- Texture: Full-bodied with velvety tannins and integrated oak.
- Finish: Long, warming, spicy, and savoury.
- Overall Impression: A beautifully mature Barossa Shiraz that showcases both the ageing potential of premium Australian wine and Ben Glaetzer’s talent for combining richness with balance and refinement.
- Slow-Braised Beef – Excellent with rich, deeply flavoured meat dishes.
- Barbecued Ribeye – The wine’s richness and spice suit grilled beef beautifully.
- Roast Lamb – Particularly strong with rosemary and garlic.
- Venison or Game – Savoury tertiary complexity works exceptionally well here.
- Aged Hard Cheeses – Excellent with mature Cheddar, Gouda, or Comté.
- Serve at 16–18°C.
- Decant gently for approximately 1 hour to allow the aromatics to fully evolve and to remove sediment.
- Use a large Shiraz, Rhône, or Bordeaux-style glass.
- Drink now while fully mature and highly expressive.
5 The Market Place
Derrylin
Enniskillen BT92 9AN
United Kingdom
