Jim Barry - The Armagh Shiraz 2017
Jim Barry Wines is located in the Clare Valley, in Australia. Jim Barry himself was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with the 17th Degree in Oenology from the famous Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Working for 22 years as winemaker at the Clarevale Co-operative, Jim Barry became a pioneer of Australian table wine. He then went on to establish Taylors Wines in 1969 for the Taylor family. His winery was established after purchasing their first vineyards in 1959, the Barrys continued to buy plots throughout the Clare Valley, and today have three vineyards in the region: Armagh, Florita and Lodge Hill. His sons (Peter, Mark and John) were involved in the company’s rise and Peter Barry became managing director in 1985. Today Peter’s children (Tom, Sam and Olivia) work for Jim Barry Wines as winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador.
The Armagh Shiraz has achieved extraordinary success and is regarded as one of Australia’s highest quality wines. The vineyard was named after the adjoining hamlet of Armagh, established by Irish settlers in 1849 and named after the lush rolling hills of their homeland. Jim Barry planted the 3.3-hectare vineyard in 1968 with Shiraz grapes. The vineyard is planted on its own roots on grey sandy abrasive topsoil over clay subsoil and receives an average rainfall of 600 millimetres per year. Such is The Armagh vineyards suitability that minimal intervention is needed to maintain yields below 4 tonnes per hectare, which produce rich and concentrated fruit of the rare quality required to produce wines with ageing potential.
Grape variety: 100% Shiraz