2024 Jim Barry Assyrtiko, Clare Valley

An appealing white wine of gentle savouriness, brightness of fruit alongside that, floral lift and saline minerality. Yes thanks. It feels quite racy in texture but there's oatmeal and ginger biscuit qualities under tart lime and green apple fruitiness. The perfume is loaded with citrus blossom florals, sea spray, lime and ginger. A racy finish lends ultimate freshness. A very good vibe here.

93 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

Jim Barry Assyrtiko from the Clare Valley is a groundbreaking white wine, the first of its kind in Australia and a vivid example of how Mediterranean varieties can flourish in new-world terroir. The Barry family took a bold leap in 2008 by importing cuttings from Santorini, believing that the Clare Valley’s high elevation, limestone soils and dry conditions would suit Assyrtiko’s natural resilience and acidity. That intuition has paid off brilliantly.

Winemaker Tom Barry crafts this wine with a focus on precision and purity. Grown at the family’s Lodge Hill vineyard, the fruit is handpicked and gently pressed, fermented in stainless steel to lock in freshness, and left on lees to build subtle texture without losing vibrancy.

The result is an Assyrtiko with Clare Valley character but unmistakable Greek soul. Aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit pith, wet stone and sea spray leap from the glass. On the palate, it’s tightly wound, zippy and bone dry, with bright acidity and a flinty, saline edge that echoes its island origins. There’s a chalky structure and a sense of tension that makes it both refreshing and intellectually engaging.

It’s a natural partner for seafood—think grilled octopus, pipis with garlic and lemon, or crispy skin barramundi—but also shines with herbed cheeses or Mediterranean-style vegetarian dishes. While delicious young, it has the structure and acid spine to evolve beautifully over the next 6 to 8 years.