Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz 2018

A meaty, savoury, spiced nose, something so welcoming about it, warm and friendly with a touch of perfume, dark chocolate, cinnamon and pink peppercorn to the blackcurrant, damsons and plums. Rich, ample and generous, yet delivered with such supple and velvety-soft tannins. This has an elegance to it, a cool sophistication in terms of the profile – neat and tidy, quite linear right now, brimming with energy, not yet fully expansive or loose, but quietly controlled and calm. It’s confident though with invigorating acidity and I love the focus, detail and the purity of fruit. Sweet red fruits – strawberries, raspberries and red cherries with a slight balsamic, pomegranate edge that is so delicious. Juicy, crunchy, succulent and ripe but with an effortless edge to it. Supremely drinkable and likeable – what a gorgeous wine! A quality vintage and excellent winemaking skill on show. Ageing 18 months in French oak. Drinking window: 2025-2045. Score – 100. (Georgina Hindle, decanter.com, Dec. 30, 2022)