Barossa winemakers Rob Gibson and Ben Glaetzer currently share equal first for the top-rated wines on the world’s most downloaded wine review app, Vivino.
Gibson ‘Bin 60’ Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz and Glaetzer ‘Eye of Ra’ Shiraz have surpassed 17 million wines to make the top spot on the app. With more than 67 million users globally, Vivino enables consumers to scan wine labels on their phone, providing instant access to tasting or food pairing information, as well as the ability to post their own review. Users are also able to purchase wine directly from the app.
Both Barossa wines are currently rated 4.8 out of five stars, a rating also shared with a Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottling by French vintner Pierre Usseglio, of which just one barrel is made.
The 2008 Gibson ‘Bin 60′ Cabernet Shiraz is also in high demand, with less than 100 bottles available from the winery’s cellar door for $385 each. Gibson originally crafted the wine as a legacy bottling for his 60th birthday, and it is now in a peak drinking window after 16 years of maturation. Gibson will soon commence his 51st vintage.
“To be honest, we weren’t even aware of it until a long-term collector of ours pointed it out. I guess what is special, is that our down-to-earthiness can match it with the best of 245,000 other wineries of the world on Vivino,” he said.
Glaetzer’s second release of ‘Eye of Ra’ Shiraz in 2018 focuses on Shiraz grapes from the Ebenezer district in Northern Barossa, and sells for $650 per bottle, with a limit of three bottles per customer.
“It took over 30 years of learning, hard work and discovering the potential of the vines before the Eye of Ra became possible. I always knew it would be hard work, but well worth the effort. I’m glad that other wine lovers agree,” Glaetzer said.
Two other Australian wines have place in Vivino’s top 10, Penfold’s Grange and Torbreck The Laird.