On a day that turned out to be my own father’s last day on this planet, I sat in one of the most unique wine tastings in Tasmania’s vinous history. A vertical of a Shiraz that had won one of Australia’s most prestigious trophies: the 2011 The Jimmy Watson Trophy at Royal Melbourne Wine Show with the 2010 release.
The fact that a Shiraz had won the honour certainly wasn’t controversial. The fact that a Glaetzer had won it wasn’t exactly strange news either.
No, the fact that it was the Shiraz was from Tasmania by the next generation’s Nick Glaetzer and named in honour of his own father, Colin: Mon Père = My Father, that really ruffled the feathers.
While I had no idea of what would happen in the next 24 hours, I sat next to Colin (Nick’s father) during this tasting. His age most likely similar to my own fathers. While my father had also enjoyed an agricultural upbringing on the land and loved working with his hands, his health had failed in the last few years while Colin is still strong and able. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation which reminded me of mannerisms and sayings of my own father.
Retrospection of wines happened then. Retrospection and introspection has followed since.

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2018

Current release. Red currant, leather, chalk, meat, dried flowers, clove studs and baking spice, Dark fruit, stringy lithe whole bunch tannin. Dusty dark chocolate wraps the silky medium body that is focused with concentration, white pepper and a juicy finish.
RRP: $65
Alc: 13.5%
Rating 93/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2017

Meaty reduction blue fruits and white pepper and distinct smokiness. Pomegranate fruit and firm tannin. Closed for the moment with a fine echo of a flavour tail. Tight, cool and spiced.
Rating: 93/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2016

All Meadowbank (Upper Derwent) fruit. Lifted and floral. Bright, with waxy complexity, capsicum, leather and chalk. Cool and elegant. White pepper with firm, lithe tannin and silky run of fruit.
Rating: 95/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2015

2/3 Meadowbank 1/3 Glen Ayr (Coal River). Reductive and meaty, smoky run. Prosciutto. The Coal River fruit very distinct with earthy, crisp green leaf and velvety, mouth coating tannins. Dry and firm body. Layered through the finish.
Rating: 91/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2014

50/50 between Derwent and Coal River. Highly lifted and floral. Intense and bright. Red currant, almost boysenberry fruit with roasting coffee bean aromas, cigar smoke and candy apple hints. Supple and smooth, plenty of firm tannin. Lingering roast walnut and an almost carbonic lift. Super primary with many years left.
Rating: 94/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2013

Unique, with the majority of fruit coming from the Tamar Valley, with the rest Meadowbank and Glen Ayr. Savoury and suave, plenty of white pepper spices, with cigar and baked clove. Powerful firm tannins. Black fruit smears, while acidity is sneaky and still present.
Rating: 91/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2012
Fruit from Pooley and Glen Ayr in the Coal River valley. Blackberry and kirsch, rose heart and petals. Calm, assured, supple tannin, beautiful flow and persistents. A hint of coffee essence maturity and still with elegant tannins.
Rating: 96/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2011

Cool and dark, hessian and black olive with elements of breseola, dark chocolate. Intense and closed, tannins are firm and wide, almost a mint freshness and dampish dark fruit. Peppery and clove spice to finish and a steely tang.
Rating: 91/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2010
The trophy winner. Glen Ayr, Meadowbank and Pooley fruit, with the last fruit coming in on the 16th May. Cola, blackberry, white pepper spice, roast coffee bean aroma. Seems so calm and composed. There’s familiar echoes of roast walnuts and pomegranate through the concentrated palate, that is still medium bodied with tight finish.
Rating: 96/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2009

Fruit from Marion’s in the Tamar, with Glen Ayr and Pooley in the Coal River Valley. Showing age. Olive tapenade, blackberry, steel and smoky leather. A little flat, with hard tannins that are now well integrated. Cola and pepper spice through the tail. Finishes a little short. Time to drink up.
Rating: 90/100

Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers, Mon Père, Shiraz, Tasmania 2008

Beautiful colour. Still primary dark and red fruit with a fresh and supple palate. Medium bodied and alive with tight knit tannins that are still integrating. Long finish.
Rating: 94/100

I attended the tasting as a guest of Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers