Shiraz Cabernet Anaperenna, Glaetzer 2022

The 2022 Anaperenna Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon is so attractive on the nose, with red berries and roses, abundant, glossy fruits and an attractive balance of spice to go with it. These Glaetzer wines are full-bodied yet sleek, and while this is certainly ripe, it is in no way dull or overdone because of that. It has notes of raspberry, dark chocolate, cherry (ripe in its way) and licorice. There are layers of jubes/pastilles, plump fruit, earth and plenty of ductile tannin, and oak is tucked away in there too—all things writ large yet svelte. 15% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

A balanced, fruity, textural and well-composed blend of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon with cassis, dark cherries, warm spices and dried flowers on the nose, following through to a full body with fine, firm tannins and a lovely kick of peppercorn to the fleshy berries. Chalky, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Dark, inky, impenetrable and opaque in the glass. Lifted aromas of dark plum, mulberry, iodine, anise, bramble, sweet spice and a cool menthol kick. Powerful, full-bodied, concentrated and plush in flavour. Full bore, with dark fruits, sweet spice, sweet oak, soy and a fleshy, tangy drive of blackberry and satsuma plum. Long, grippy, textured and snappy on the finish.

A deeply coloured cabernet sauvignon, one possessed of opulent black-fruited heft and a slightly broody disposition. Ben Glaetzer’s wines are no wallflowers. There is no expectation of pontificating on space or filigree. You just stare at the glass, google-eyed at its latent power and opulence. Not a herbaceous bone in this wine’s torso. Just thick black fruits, licorice, earth, graphite, fine, sandy tannins and a smooth, hydraulically consistent flow of rich fruit far into the distance.