2009 Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz Museum Release

Rich, opulent and silky smooth with a long, luxurious conclusion.

Impenetrable pitch black heart with a deep, very dark red black tinged hue. Wafting through the nostrils with great intensity are heady scents of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry which are complexed by notions of toasty vanillin oak, hints of choc mint, earth, leather and pepper.
Rich, opulent and silky smooth in it’s flow, the palate features plush dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits which meld into a spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel, dark chocolate, mint and leather background. Beautifully shaped, it has cashmere like tannins and ample power. Long, luxurious conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.8%

Other Reviews….
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). Drink 2023-2037.
96 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

The vineyard was planted in 1968, a drought year requiring each vine to be hand watered by the family from drums on the back of a tractor, an investment in blood, sweat and tears that has been handsomely repaid. Elegance is not a word usually associated with wines having the dimension of Armagh, but it applies here, yet without betraying the birthright of a wine with exceptional depth to its fusion of dark berries, spices and toasty oak, the latter in the manner of Grange, obvious yet integrated and balanced. Drink by 2049.
96 Points
James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

A rich, ripe and intense vintage with very deep, plush and seamless blackberries, delivered in such rich, concentrated mode with a smooth, glossy tannin texture. The shape is round and plush and delivers such bold, ripe dark berries and red plums on the finish. Seamless. Lots to come. Drink or hold.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com