Family Article
Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh
Last edited on 6/18/2022 by LindsayM
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JIM BARRY
The Armagh Shiraz
Clare Valley, South Australia
THE STORY
Named after the Clare Valley settlement founded by Irish settlers in 1848, The Armagh Shiraz comprises opulent and muscular shiraz fruit that explodes with aroma and flavour.
While stylistically different, the original winemaking philosophy of The Armagh Shiraz was in part inspired by neighbouring vineyard Wendouree. The Jim Barry wine sits somewhere between the vigorous, elegantly structured muscular style of Wendouree and the chocolatey richness of Penfolds Grange.
This beautifully concentrated shiraz is sourced from a low-yielding vineyard that was planted in the Clare Valley in 1968, on a north-west-facing sandy gravel slope. Elevated at 400 metres, the position ensures maximum sun exposure, resulting in fully ripe fruit.
THE WINEMAKING
The vines are hand harvested with several passes to ensure an optimum flavour profile is reached. Crushing and fermentation in small stainless steel tanks with heading down boards is followed by ageing in French (70%) and American oak hogsheads for 15 months.
THE WINE
The plush fruit and supple richness are hallmarks of The Armagh style. With oak hidden behind curtains of deep, intense fruit and extraordinarily fine, structured tannins, The Armagh Shiraz is highly prized for consistency and ageing potential.
TOP VINTAGES
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989. Not made in 2011, 2003 and 1986.
Bottled under screwcap since the 2010 vintage.
THE ARMAGH VINEYARD
The 28 hectare grazing property, two kilometres northwest of the Clare township, was acquired by Jim and Nancy Barry in 1964. The land, bisected by the Armagh Creek, lies on a combination of alluvial flats, rare in the Clare Valley, and gentle northwest facing slopes. Its history is also connected to the settlement of Irish settlers, including James Burton Gleeson, who was the prominent landholder in the region. The Armagh Vineyard was named after the nearby Armagh hamlet, which was established in 1849. The elevated (397 metres) Armagh Vineyard, with low fertility soils, drainage and northwest aspect, is a distinguished South Australian vineyard site. The soils are derived primarily from 800-million-year-old sandstone formations. Typically, the soils are light brown sandy/ gravel topsoils over a pebbly alluvial layer and mottled day sub-soils. The original vineyard rows are contour-planted to mitigate erosion. The Armagh Vineyard was initially planted with cabernet sauvignon and malbec, followed by 3.3 hectares of shiraz vines in 1968, with The Armagh only sourced from these 1968 plantings. The material was all based on heirloom pre-phylloxera vine stock material. The Armagh Shiraz crops at under two tons/ acre (under 40 hectolitres/ hectare). The small berries, skin-to-juice ratio and intensely flavourful bunches result in wines of luxuriant density and firmness.
The Armagh Shiraz
Clare Valley, South Australia
THE STORY
Named after the Clare Valley settlement founded by Irish settlers in 1848, The Armagh Shiraz comprises opulent and muscular shiraz fruit that explodes with aroma and flavour.
While stylistically different, the original winemaking philosophy of The Armagh Shiraz was in part inspired by neighbouring vineyard Wendouree. The Jim Barry wine sits somewhere between the vigorous, elegantly structured muscular style of Wendouree and the chocolatey richness of Penfolds Grange.
This beautifully concentrated shiraz is sourced from a low-yielding vineyard that was planted in the Clare Valley in 1968, on a north-west-facing sandy gravel slope. Elevated at 400 metres, the position ensures maximum sun exposure, resulting in fully ripe fruit.
THE WINEMAKING
The vines are hand harvested with several passes to ensure an optimum flavour profile is reached. Crushing and fermentation in small stainless steel tanks with heading down boards is followed by ageing in French (70%) and American oak hogsheads for 15 months.
THE WINE
The plush fruit and supple richness are hallmarks of The Armagh style. With oak hidden behind curtains of deep, intense fruit and extraordinarily fine, structured tannins, The Armagh Shiraz is highly prized for consistency and ageing potential.
TOP VINTAGES
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989. Not made in 2011, 2003 and 1986.
Bottled under screwcap since the 2010 vintage.
THE ARMAGH VINEYARD
The 28 hectare grazing property, two kilometres northwest of the Clare township, was acquired by Jim and Nancy Barry in 1964. The land, bisected by the Armagh Creek, lies on a combination of alluvial flats, rare in the Clare Valley, and gentle northwest facing slopes. Its history is also connected to the settlement of Irish settlers, including James Burton Gleeson, who was the prominent landholder in the region. The Armagh Vineyard was named after the nearby Armagh hamlet, which was established in 1849. The elevated (397 metres) Armagh Vineyard, with low fertility soils, drainage and northwest aspect, is a distinguished South Australian vineyard site. The soils are derived primarily from 800-million-year-old sandstone formations. Typically, the soils are light brown sandy/ gravel topsoils over a pebbly alluvial layer and mottled day sub-soils. The original vineyard rows are contour-planted to mitigate erosion. The Armagh Vineyard was initially planted with cabernet sauvignon and malbec, followed by 3.3 hectares of shiraz vines in 1968, with The Armagh only sourced from these 1968 plantings. The material was all based on heirloom pre-phylloxera vine stock material. The Armagh Shiraz crops at under two tons/ acre (under 40 hectolitres/ hectare). The small berries, skin-to-juice ratio and intensely flavourful bunches result in wines of luxuriant density and firmness.