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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.8 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 31 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by chatters on 12/7/2022: First Wednesday Wine Club (Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield): "Served Blind.
A little dried flowers, leather, black plums, a touch of fruit cake and sweet spice. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, talc textured tannins persists long, black hued fruit; a little black cherry joins the plums here. Nice.
Australian Shiraz from South Australia - Barossa or Clare Valley and 10-15 years old" (583 views) | | | Tasted by rgawlowski on 12/6/2020 & rated 94 points: Excellent; soft tannins, at its peak, dark and clear, dark, ripe fruit, a bit minty, long finish, great balance. (1024 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 11/11/2020 & rated 94 points: A Casual Back Porch Get-Together (Los Olivos, CA): Spot-on for both the vintage and the region, with a power black fruit profile accented by roasted herbs and some mintiness. Gentle tannins, fully resolved. Good length. (1170 views) | | | Tasted by Patrick - winereviewer.com.au on 8/9/2014 & rated 94 points: The vintage was heralded as one of the best of the 20th Century, and it is a great experience to come back to this vintage 16 years on. The 98 McRae wood is fully mature in terms of colour with a dark to brick red in the glass, the nose has characteristic mint and plum that is synonymous with the Clare Valley, as well as smokey leather.
The palate is medium bodied and seamless, age has been kind with fully integrated dark fruits, tannins are supple and supported by toasty vanillin oak. The wine finishes with dark fruits and what is best described as choc mint slice.
An excellent bottle, from a great vintage.
Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2014-2018) (3138 views) | | | Tasted by theonlylittledog on 1/22/2014 & rated 90 points: Blackcurrants. Good streak of acidity keeping it fresh and lively. Slight minty toothpaste background taste. I doubt that it will improve but will continue to drink well for a few years yet (3747 views) | | | Tasted by Katiedid on 12/24/2011 & rated 89 points: Good pepper and smoky undertones. Loses it on the finish. But still nice. (5037 views) | | | Tasted by JRo on 10/10/2011 & rated 90 points: Very expressive nose - leather, jam, and some wood smoke. Smooth as silk. Wouldn't wait much longer (4671 views) | | | Tasted by Bromie on 4/3/2011 & rated 90 points: Classy and mature with good but not exceptional length. Not a blockbuster. Not sure it will get any better - drink up (4836 views) | | | Tasted by wineshaman on 2/21/2009 & rated 92 points: Decanted for 30 min, museum release 1/1/07. Wow, lots of red fruit, with a touch of lead pencil, in a blind tasting would have guess this to be a right bank bordeaux. Red fruits dominate the palate , with vanilla and floral spice notes, long finish 45+ seconds. Great balance, not your classic huge Aussie shiraz. (3864 views) | | | Tasted by peterseville on 2/5/2009: Superb (1134 views) | | | Tasted by m251runner on 5/26/2008 & rated 92 points: Jim Barry has been making wine for more than 50 years and is a bit of legend in Australia -- especially in the Clare Valley, South Australia. The winery is famous for the "Armagh" Shiraz, which is often rated as one of the top wines in Australia, and commands very high prices. The winery prides itself on making 100% estate grown wines, and the fact that it is family owned and run. Jim Barry passed away in October of 2004 at the age of 79, and the business is now run by his children.
This wine, the 1998 The McRae Wood Shiraz is a museum release -- the winery intentionally held back the '98, '99, and '00 releases to illustrate the advantages of aging wine that is this well made.
Wow -- what a treat this wine is! Let this wine decant for about 30 minutes and simply feel the difference appear and hit you with each taste. It is a deep dark purple in the glass and provides plenty of dark cherry, licorice and mint on the nose. The aging certainly offers a softer, and more complex wine as it is rich and concentrated on the palate with ripe cherry, licorice, vanilla, cranberry, and a reasonably long finish -- impressive sediment on the last glass, too. This wine simply tastes more old world and elegant, yet retains some of the red fruit punch. It is interesting to compare this Shiraz to a young Mollydooker Shiraz -- all good and great juice. (3706 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 4/21/2008 & rated 91 points: Deep purple in colour this wine shows jammy fruit, vanilla and oak on the nose. The palate shows rich cherry, tobacco and toasty wood. (2982 views) | | | Tasted by Maestro on 2/15/2008 & rated 86 points: Brown/ruby wine with a beautiful nose displaying berries, smoke, toasted vanilla, and peppers. A medium-to-full-body effort, with notes of raisings, red fruit, and liqueur on the palate. Long finish with tones of berries and vanilla. The only issue is a certain amount of volatile acidity. Drink now. (1276 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 12/30/2007 & rated 91 points: Deep purple in colour this wine shows well integrated fruit and oak on the nose and palate. (3097 views) | | | Tasted by beachnic on 12/26/2007 & rated 92 points: Not quite as impressive as the first (Nose wasn't as explosive as last time but still very good) time but a little less acidic which was better for drinking. Still very nice. 92-93pts. (2990 views) | | | Tasted by beachnic on 10/27/2007 & rated 93 points: WOW what a nose!. Probably one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to sniff. This is an exceptional Shiraz of great character. It's not as dense as alot of the young high end Shirazes but packs alot of aromas and flavor into a bottle. It has high acidity which might be it's biggest flaw but I feel lucky to have found this wine. (3038 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 10/26/2007 & rated 92 points: Just as good as the last few bottles. Nicely mature Aussie Shiraz. Well integrated fruit and oak. Mouth filling and delicious! (3134 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 9/3/2007 & rated 92 points: Just as good as the last two bottles. Nicely mature Aussie Shiraz. Well integrated fruit and oak. Mouth filling and delicious! (3153 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 8/8/2007 & rated 92 points: Deep red in colour this Shiraz shows the telltale signs of maturity. The nose was a little closed to begin with, but opened up to show red and black fruits, spice and a little cedar wood. The palate was smooth and elegant with ripe tannins. Oak, tobacco and red fruit sitting subtly in the background complete the picture. I still need to try the Armagh! (3214 views) | | | Tasted by jamieirving on 7/15/2007 & rated 93 points: In 1998 Jim Barry held back some McRae Wood Shiraz from the ‘98 vintage to show the aging potential of Clare Shiraz. This Shiraz has been re-released as part of this project.
The fruit for this wine came from a vineyard some 350 metres above sea level, planted in 1964. Aged for 12 months in French and American oak, it has a modest 13.5% alcohol.
Deep brick red in colour this Shiraz has blackcurrant, leather, spice and just a hint of mint on the nose. The palate is smooth and mouth filling with soft, rich tannins, ripe berry fruit and oak all working in harmony. The finish is complex and long.
A very elegant wine, which I believe achieves Jim Barry goals. I’m going to get some more… and try the Armagh! (3285 views) | | | Tasted by Johann Von Mastiff on 4/30/2007 & rated 90 points: Drinking very right now. Like a combination of chocolate and cranberry. A good deal of american oak and some underlying cherry and rassberry flavors. Good finish and concentration. (3198 views) | | | Tasted by CamWheeler on 7/14/2006 & rated 91 points: Primary aromas of blackberry but there is earth and spice coming through as well. Great depth and really good length on the palate. Impressive showing. (791 views) | | | Tasted by mrboomi on 6/9/2006 & rated 80 points: Dissapointing. Slightly corked unfortunately. Still, some choc mint but lacking in any structure. Drink em' if ya got em'. (3580 views) | | | Tasted by SadEdjo on 10/12/2002: elegant fruit plum, anise & strawberry bomb & spice. nice structure. (975 views) | | | Tasted by graemeg on 11/10/2001: Retailer Tasting (Sydney): Vivid purple colour. Inky peppery nose precedes a spicy palate, slightly bitter, with mostly good balance across the palate, but a rather short finish. Some under-ripe fruit here perhaps? Not of interest. (1475 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, September/October 2007, IWC Issue #134
(Jim Barry Wines Shiraz The McRae Wood Museum Release Clare Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2001
(Jim Barry McRae Wood Shiraz (Clare Valley)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 2001, IWC Issue #97
(Jim Barry Wines Shiraz McCrae Wood Clare Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (9/16/2000)
(Jim Barry Wines The McRae Wood Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Winedoctor and Halliday Wine Companion. (manage subscription channels) |
| Jim Barry Producer Website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)1998 Jim Barry Shiraz The McRae WoodQuoting the winery: "The wine is deep red brick in colour. The nose displays subtle oak with plums, blackberry and a hint of mint.
The palate is soft, with ripe berry fruits, supple tannins, licorice and well balanced oak.
Some time ago a decision was made to hold back a portion of three great vintages of the McRae Wood - 1998, 1999 and 2000 - to illustrate the advantage of ageing red wines of this calibre.
The 1998 vintage was exceptional. Perfect, dry growing conditions ensured low to average yields with excellent fruit and colour intensity."Jim Barry Shiraz The McRae WoodIn 1964 Jim Barry, and his wife Nancy, purchased 70 acres of prime farm land from their friend and neighbour, Duncan McRae Wood. On this special site they planted their first Shiraz vineyard.
The McRae Wood Shiraz is made from grapes declassified from The Armagh and blended with fruit from special parcels from the family’s other Clare Valley vineyards.
Rich and intense, it was considered a modern and innovative style of wine, when it was first released in 1992.
Made using the ‘Jim Barry’ method and as such can be enjoyed upon release, but would equally benefit from cellaring to allow the wine to show some mature characteristics that come with age.Shiraz Varietal article (Wikipedia) | Varietal character (Appellation America)Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia)Mount Lofty Ranges Mount Lofty Ranges (wikipedia)Clare Valley Clare Valley (South Australian Tourism Comission) |
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