2018, The Armagh Shiraz
Jim Barry

SOME NAMES RESONATE STRONGLY WITHIN THE HALLS OF AUSTRALIAN WINE HISTORY. JIM BARRY IS ONE SUCH NAME. 

In 1964, Jim Barry purchased 70 acres of land two kilometres northwest of Clare in South Australia. He planted a little eight-acre patch of Shiraz vines in the winter of 1968. In 1985, at a time when everyone else in Australia was betting on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, he decided to make a great Australian Shiraz, with the vision to make a wine that defined Clare. The Armagh Shiraz was born.

From the first vintage in 1985, The Armagh has achieved remarkable success and is regarded as one of Australia’s highest quality wines, attaining the maximum possible rating of ‘Exceptional’ in Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine.

To learn more about Jim Barry, The Armagh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMM9SR3AwDQ

2018 vintage

The 2018 vintage reflected a near perfect growing season for the Armagh vineyard. After a very dry and warmer than normal winter, the rains finally came just before budburst, with healthy falls in August and September to kick off the growing season. Temperatures continued 1.5oC above average during Spring, encouraging good canopy development. As soon as flowering was completed the rains returned, with 90mm in late November and early December, setting the vines up perfectly for the ripening season January and February were warm and dry, which eliminated any disease pressure and promoted the production of loose bunches of small intensely flavoured berries typical of the Armagh vineyard.

Tasting notes

“The 2018 growing season mirrored 2016 with warm (but not hot) days and cool nights. The 2018 Armagh is very athletic with a concentrated core of blue and purple fruit, whilst maintaining perfect tension between fruit, acid and tannin. Maybe the best I have made to date.” 
TOM BARRY—Third Generation Family Winemaker

- 100 pts by Decanter - "What a gorgious wine!" Georgie Hindle

Alc : 13.6%
Blend :
• 100% - Syrah