- Region
- Clare Valley
- Producer
- Jim Barry Wines
- Vintage
- 2018
- Grape varieties
- 100% Syrah / Shiraz
- Bottle size
- 75 cl
- Ratings
- 98 points Robert Parker
- 99 points James Suckling
- Alcohol
- 13.6%
- Special characteristic
- Contains sulphites
Selective harvest followed by a cold maceration ('cold soak'). Fermentation in open-top fermenters. Gentle pressing then maturation for 18 months in French oak barrels (75% new, 25% second use).
The flagship wine at Jim Barry – if not of the whole of Clare Valley. The Armagh is an extremely complex wine with intense fruit notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, plum and orange blossom. Its roasted characters are ultra-fine and on point. The palate is highly concentrated and dense – both the alcohol (13.6% abv) and the silky tannins are perfectly integrated, giving this iconic Shiraz exceptional balance. A wine of stunning intensity and incredible precision and purity. The finish is extremely long, epitomising why this red is among the best in Australia and the southern Hemisphere.
From Shiraz vines planted over 50 years ago in Clare Valley's eastern reaches around 365 metres above sea level. The topsoil consists of a 30 cm layer of sandy clay. There is a pebbly alluvial layer underneath, then a red, yellow and brown mottled clay subsoil starting at a depth of 45 cm.