Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz 2010

The late Jim Barry was a pioneer of Australian table wine, graduating with the 17th diploma in winemaking in Australia. He went on to become the first qualified winemaker to work in the Clare Valley of South Australia and with his wife, Nancy, built a successful wine business, which has produced trophy-winning wines since its establishment in 1959. Today, the custodian of Jim Barry Wines is their second son Peter, who joined the family winery in 1977 and now works along side his own sons, Tom and Sam. The Barry family name is synonymous with the Clare wine region. The Barry family believe that great wine is made in the vineyard and as such, are committed to owning their own vineyards. This control allows them to develop outstanding fruit quality and flavour which are then retained during winemaking. Over the last 60 years the family has worked to establish a mosaic of sites – 17 vineyards covering 320 hectares in the Clare Valley and two vineyards covering 35 hectares in the Coonawarra. Each unique in soil profile, climate, aspect and elevation. The name of ‘Armagh’ was bestowed by the original Irish settlers who arrived in 1849 and named the lush, rolling hills after their homeland. In 1968 the vineyard was planted by Jim Barry and yields less than two tonnes per acre. The soil is sandy gravel and receives an average rainfall of 600mm per year. The vineyard lies on a north-west facing slope which acts as a natural sun trap, ensuring the fruit is always fully ripened when picked. This wine has an immensely concentrated, inky, claret colour. It demonstrates vanilla and spice notes from quality oak. This is complemented with elements of aniseed and rich dark fruits including blackberry and cherry. The palate is brooding with latent power, which is balanced by the vibrant fruit and fine grained tannins in the mouth. The length of flavour and power in this wine, whilst still showing finesse and restraint, is what sets it at the zenith of red winemaking at Jim Barry Wines. Drink now to 2040. There’s a transient, flinty and meaty edge here with bags of spice and bold, ripe plums and blackberries on offer. Tar, licorice and violets, too. Very complex, youthful aromas and a sheer palate that has a very sleek, fresh and long feel. Concise, contained and concentrated. Bold plums are locked in a silky, layered and smooth finish. Power with elegance here. – James Suckling, 99 Points. Deep garnet with a touch of purple, the 2010 Shiraz The Armagh offers a beautiful black fruit core, yielding notes of crushed blackberries and blueberries, with an undercurrent of coffee and spice box, plus touches of earth and raw meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has concentrated, very youthful fruit that reveals many layers in the long, long finish. – Wine Advocate, 99 Points. The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Shiraz Country – Australia Region – Clare Valley, South Australia Vintage – 2010 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14%