2009 The Armagh Shiraz
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Shiraz The Armagh is sealed under cork and leads with a meat/pastrami, pink peppercorn character. It’s almost old school—there’s so much tannin and so much fruit, but it’s so good. Awesome. It is dense and palate staining, really excellent, with notes of chocolate, clove bud and cocoa nib—all the good things. It has 14.8% alcohol and was matured for 18 months in 50% French and 50% American oak barriques (225 liters).
Critic scores
Average Score
Josh Raynolds
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
More reviews and scores
At 13 years old the texture has become creamy, with smoked caramel and clear oak impact even now, although well integrated and welcoming. Whispers of apricot, stone fruit and fragrant rosebud gives lift to the rich creme de cassis puree, tar, liquorice, blackberry jam that makes this such a voluptous wine, almost pushing into the overripe territory. Ready to go, plenty to enjoy. 100% new oak, a mix of both American and French oak.
Dark purple. A hugely aromatic, complex bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, cola, candied licorice, mocha and incense, with a smoky mineral quality adding vivacity and focus. Stains the palate with rich blueberry and cherry liqueur flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Hints of candied flowers, fruitcake and dark chocolate gain strength in the glass and carry through an extremely long, smooth, subtly tannic finish. In a decadent but shockingly lively style, with the sheer mass of assertive fruit to make it accessible on the younger side with some decanter time but also the concentration to reward long-term cellaring.
This unashamedly big but balanced 2009 Shiraz The Armagh is full-throttle from the get-go, with brawny blackberry, black olive and mulberry fruits laced with ironstone and red earth. The 100% new French and American oak is perfectly at home here. A big upfront hit of flavor follows before mellowing into chocolate- and licorice-accented richness. The 2009 is close to peak but sure to hold for some time to come.
About the producer
Jim Barry is one of Australia’s legendary wine estates. Based in the Clare Valley, Barry was the region’s first qualified winemaker and pioneer of the valley, which has since become a benchmark region for Riesling, as well as being home to some of the world's finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.