Jim Barry Wines

Jim Barry Wines is Clare Valley's most important red wine estate — founded in 1959 by Jim Barry, one of South Australia's first trained oenologists. The estate's crown jewel is The Armagh: a single-vineyard Shiraz from 30+ year old dry-grown vines on Clare's distinctive red Cambrian clay over limestone — a wine first produced in 1985 that has become one of Australia's most collectible icons. Unlike Barossa Shiraz's lush generosity, The Armagh is austere, structured, and mineral in youth — developing extraordinary iron-mineral and dark berry complexity over 20-30 years. Clare Valley Shiraz at its most profound.

Jim Barry The Armagh is considered by James Halliday, Wine Advocate (Neal Martin), and Decanter to be one of Australia's three or four greatest Shiraz wines — alongside Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace. The wine consistently scores 95-100 in top vintages and demonstrates that Clare Valley can produce structured, age-worthy Shiraz of a completely different style from Barossa's approachable generosity. The estate holds 5 Red Stars (Wine Companion).