Worth pre-ordering 2006 Glaetzer?

Hi,

My local wine shop does a variety of pre-release offers on various wines with a view of saving you a bit of money. My eye was attracted to the latest offer - an early order of 2006 Glaetzer wines, since 2006 is allegedly a pretty good vintage in the Barossa valley, and they also look like wines that won't need to be kept for years and years.

I was a little surprised when I investigated the price though. They're offering six bottles of "bishop" Shiraz for £95. The surprise was that at Oddbins you can buy six bottles of the 2004 for £97, which rather makes a mockery of the idea of a pre-release "offer".

So what's going on here? Are they staking a higher price on the 2006 or might I just as well pop down to Oddbins and buy a case of 2004 from there?

I think Ben Glaetzer is a very good winemaker and I have tasted a few of the regular shiraz in the past. Most could have used some time IMO. However that `94 Bishop is a big wine with good age potential. Know nothing about the `06 but the Oz experts will be here shortly!!
Think the Oddbins deal looks good from this side of the pond!

Ben Glaetzer is one of the best - there is little to no doubt about that - he recently won a winemaking award in Australia and pipped some very handy competitors at the post.

In my opinion your better off to get the 04 - even if these wines drink well young 06 would be very raw. Depending on what you want to do with it I would stay with the 04. If your plan is to throw them in a long term cellar, then perhaps save the 2 pound - but I wouldn't have thought there would be much vintage variation between these wines, both years were hot and dry (I think)