1989 The Armagh Shiraz

The 1989 Shiraz The Armagh is sealed under cork. It leads with cocoa nib, licorice bullets, layers of mulberry and star anise on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is super soft, fine, mineral and spiced. It's not heavy or big but ethereal and soft. The length of fruit through the finish is unwavering and littered with raspberry and red berries. Pretty pretty. There is still a core of fruit here, but it’s very ready to drink now. How much further, just a ways down the road. It has 14.5% alcohol and matured for 13 months in 100% new American oak barriques (225 liters).

Very complex, mature shiraz nose with notes of soot and a slew of spices. Excellent ripeness and a wonderfully silky texture on the concentrated and enveloping, yet finely nuanced palate. Very long, velvety finish. Drink or hold.

This was a better vintage in Clare Valley than in the Barossa, but still we are very much in tertiary territory here. Tawny around the edges, with soy, tar, fennel on the nose, and sweet blackberry fruit setting the tone. There is less grip through the palate than on the younger vintages, but this is a fascinating wine that comes alive in the glass, with salted caramel, flaky pie crust, blackcurrant, mandarin and marzipan becoming dominant as it unrolls. Soft sweet, delicious, builds in intensity, very much on its drinking plateau but no rush to drink up. 100% new American oak. Mark Barry winemaker at the time.