2019 Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz, Clare Valley

Wild roses, smoked meats, perfumed strawberries and green peppercorns, I love the nose on this wine. Broad and imposing straight away, layered and deep the tannins make the first mark, really filling the mouth with a chalky, velvety plushness that is massy and so wide. The tannins do most of the talking but once they subside and melt into the cheeks, the spiced red berry fruit, liquorice, flint/slate, tobacco, clove, dark chocolate cinnamon and leather come through - this is full of complexity, muscle and power yet carries so much aromatic interest. Clearly still young and not as generous or easy going as the 2018 at this point last year but this is built to last and has something so utterly charming and inviting about it. Totally moreish and delightful. I adore this wine but put it away and come back to it in a few years

98 points Georgina Hindle decanter.com Aug 2023

The vineyard that the fruit for this iconic Australian wine is sourced from was planted in 1968, giving us the benefit of over 50 years of vine age— a very good thing when we consider fruit tannin and concentration. In addition to the vineyard placement] and vine age, Clare Valley benefits from a wide-ranging array of elevation (190 meters to 610 meters) with high diurnal range. All of this means ripe wines, tense wines, and powerful wines, which just about sums up Clare Valley. So, to this wine: The 2019 The Armagh Shiraz is complex, layered and spiced, with a multitude of hung deli meats and small goods packed in alongside the purple fruits and exotic spice. The wine is supple, for all the power, and unfurls over a long finish to show the muscle and might of this iconic wine. In a vertical of four vintages (2016, 2017, 2018 and this 2019), this has the second-highest alcohol of the lot, at 14.1%, showing that concentration and density doesn't have to come at the expense of finesse. I love this

97 points Erin Larkin robertparker.com Sept 2022

Individual blocks from within the Armagh vineyard (planted 1968). This is a big, savoury, meaty shiraz with layers and layers of concentrated purple fruits, hung deli meat, salted licorice, heirloom tomatoes, amaro herbs, freshly grated nutmeg, bay leaf and clove. The magical thing about this wine is actually not the flavours themselves (although impressive), but the way they spool out over the palate and through the extremely long, seemingly interminable finish. It is unfailingly consistent, the tannins fine and omnipresent. The whole package densely and patiently unfurls in the mouth. The wine is a masterpiece. Forever awaits.

97 points Erin Larkin winecompanion.com.au

Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz from Clare Valley is one of Australia’s most revered single-vineyard wines, a true benchmark for cool-climate Shiraz with immense ageing potential. First produced in 1985, it comes from a low-yielding block planted in 1968 by Jim Barry himself on a north-west facing slope in the Armagh sub-district. The dry-grown vines produce small, intensely concentrated berries, and the vineyard’s gravelly, fertile loam over clay helps create the wine’s signature combination of power, depth, and elegance.

Deep crimson in the glass, the bouquet bursts with blackberry, mulberry, and ripe plum layered with cocoa, cedar, anise, and peppercorn, all framed by fine French oak. The palate is opulent yet refined, carrying waves of dark fruit, espresso, and earthy spice, supported by a backbone of ripe tannins and vibrant acidity. Its length is extraordinary, finishing with savoury complexity and the kind of structure that allows it to develop gracefully for decades.

This is a collector’s wine, one that can be enjoyed now after decanting but truly rewards patience. Cellaring for 20 years or more will reveal nuances of leather, cigar box, and truffle. In its youth, it pairs superbly with chargrilled ribeye, venison, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, or rich mushroom and lentil ragout. For mature bottles, think roast duck with juniper or braised beef cheeks.