Jim Barry's flagship is the famous Armagh Shiraz. The 2005 Shiraz "Armagh" was sourced from a vineyard planted in 1964 on its own roots. It spent 18 months in French and American oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. It has an alluring bouquet of cedar Asian spices pepper boysenberry plum and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied yet elegant Shiraz with a velvety texture and impeccable balance. It offers up gobs of ripe fruit flavors serious depth and concentration and a very long finish. It will continue evolving with an additional 6-8 years of cellaring and drink well through 2035.

Rich ripe and beautifully focused on its boysenberry pomegranate and rhubarb flavors which persist through the long expressive finish. The firm tannins get a bit of a grip on the finish. Needs cellaring to soften. Best from 2011 through 2020. 87 cases imported.

The 2005 Shiraz The Armagh is a finer expression, offering good power and delicacy with berry and dark cherry tones that are a little shy against a backdrop of sweet oak. Fresh and vibrant with jubey/fruit pastille flavors, it lacks the characteristic weight and impact of the best vintages. -- Angus Hughson