2009 Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz, Clare Valley

Deep red/purple colour; the aromas are dried herby and savoury, with some dried fruit nuances. Cranberry jelly, too. The palate is very drying and firm, bold and ripe, with pervasive tannins - nicely ripe, smooth tannins, but also with a touch of firmness. 07 OCT 2015 Drink 2015–2040

The vineyard was planted in ?68, a drought year requiring each vine to be hand watered by the family from drums on the back of a tractor, an investment in blood, sweat and tears that has been handsomely repaid. Elegance is not a word usually associated with wines having the dimension of Armagh, but it applies here, yet without betraying the birthright of a wine with exceptional depth to its fusion of dark berries, spices and toasty oak, the latter in the manner of Grange, obvious yet integrated and balanced.

96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au