Jim Barry Wines Shiraz The Armagh, Clare Valley

Complex and intense notes of rich, dark fruit, spice and dark chocolate are enveloped by a velvety palate. A wine of great power, length and poise.

Producer Note

Certain names resonate strongly within Australian wine history and Jim Barry is one of them. It was Jim Barry’s drive that helped shape South Australia’s Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world class Riesling and cemented it as one of Australia’s premier wine regions. Jim was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with a degree in oenology from the prestigious Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Founded in 1959, Jim Barry Wines is still family owned, with three generations of Roseworthy graduates. Jim’s son Peter became managing director in 1985 and today Peter’s children Tom, Sam and Olivia are the winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador respectively. Voted ‘Winery of the Year’ by Matthew Jukes they produce highly acclaimed and award-winning wines.

Vintage

The 2013 vintage was characterised by very dry conditions throughout the growing and ripening seasons. Fortunately, the vines had good sub-surface moisture levels to draw on from plentiful winter rains and the fruit produced was in excellent condition.

Vineyard

The iconic 'Armagh' vineyard was named by the original Irish settlers who arrived in 1849 and called the lush, rolling hills after their homeland. In 1968, the vineyard was purchased by Jim Barry who planted it with Shiraz. Today these low yielding vines produce less than 27 hectolitres per hectare. The soil is sandy gravel and receives an average rainfall of 600 millimetres per year. The vineyard lies on a northwest facing slope which acts as a natural sun trap, ensuring the fruit is always fully ripened at harvest time. The Clare Valley climate is continental with a high diurnal temperature difference, producing Shiraz with evenly ripened tannins and flavour.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand-harvested and meticulously sorted before being de-stemmed and crushed. Vinification took place in small two tonne open top fermenters with heading down boards, which submerge the cap while gently extracting colour, flavour and tannins. Pump-overs were conducted twice a day with a rack and return once per day. Fermentation lasted eight days, before being racked to oak barrels where the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 16 months in 60% French and 40% American oak hogsheads, of which 85% were new.

Tasting Note

Complex and intense aromas of rich dark fruit, sweet spice, dark chocolate and dried herbs lead to a palate of concentrated dark fruit flavours. Fine tannins envelope the abundance of fruit. This is a wine of great power, length and poise.

Serving Suggestion

Slow roasted lamb or aged Comté.

Grape

Shiraz 100%