• Just released and available NOW in LCBO stores in the Vintages section

  
Jim Barry ‘The Lodge Hill’ Shiraz 2013

Clare Valley, South Australia $24.95 (998476) 14.0% alcohol

Legions of red wine-lovers anxiously await each release of this well-priced, Aussie Shiraz from cooler-climate Clare Valley—this won’t disappoint. It opens with aromas of red and black berry fruit, licorice, spice and grilled herbs. A balanced-on-a-pin, medium-plus bodied wash of ripe mulberry and black currant is joined by racy red currant on the palate along with peppery spice. It finishes dry and mouth-watering good. Good to go now, a two-hour aeration/decant amplifies its many attributes. (Vic Harradine)

Just released and available NOW online via the LCBO website

  
Jim Barry Wines ‘The Lodge Hill’ Riesling 2016
Clare Valley $25.00 (262469) 12.0% alcohol
Fruit for this was sourced from the eastern ranges of Clare from one of the highest vineyards in the Valley at 480 metres. Subtle aromas of lemon citrus and piquant spice introduce a tight line of lime, salinity and lemon pie filling racing across the palate and infusing the lip-smacking, bone-dry finish. An absolutely stunning Riesling that will really shine with pan-seared fish or grilled calamari. (Vic Harradine)

Released previously and available NOW with limited distribution in Vintages

  
Jim Barry ‘The Cover Drive’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 

Coonawarra/Clare Valley $24.95 (677476) 13.5% alcohol

Cover Drive is cricket terminology and the Barry family are cricket-mad. Spice-driven aromas of cherry and dark berry fruit herald a solid line of pomegranate acidity balanced by ripe mulberry fruit on the palate, persisting through the lip-smacking aftertaste. Good to go now after a two-hour aeration/decant and on to 2026 with grilled gourmet sausages. (Vic Harradine)

Classics Catalogue release date: October 5, 2017

  
Jim Barry ‘The Armagh’ 2012
Clare Valley $429.95 (424077) 13.7% alcohol
Deep-ruby hued, it sports an involved nose of grilled herbs, floral notes, licorice and currants decorated by gamy notes and eucalyptus. It coats the palate with a mouth-filling, teeth-staining array of ripe, juicy red and black berry fruit and mulberry jam framed with delightful tang and underpinned by firm, ripe tannin. There’s solid structure, persistent purity of fruit and deft balance with a monumentally long finish. Cellar until at least 2018, there’s a lot of life here. (Vic Harradine)

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Vintages release dates: TBD

  
Jim Barry Wines ‘The Lodge Hill’ Shiraz 2014
Clare Valley $24.95 (998476) 14.0% alcohol
Fruit was sourced from the Lodge Hill Block standing within view of the Cellar Door tasting room. Sexy, perfumed aromas of ripe, juicy red and black currant and peppery notes precede a generous mouthful of ripe mulberry and black cherry fruit framed with excellent tang and underpinned by a soft tannin structure. This is creamy smooth with deft balance and a lengthy finish. (Vic Harradine)

  
Jim Barry Wines ‘The Cover Drive’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Clare Valley/Coonawarra $24.95 (677476) 14.0% alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from an abandoned cricket pitch near Penola in the Coonawarra wine region is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barry estate in the Clare Valley producing this approachable red with plenty of crowd appeal. Floral notes, peppery spice and dark fruit aromas deliver replays on the palate—currant and black cherry interwoven with fresh cracked pepper and excellent tang. This is balanced and complex with good structure and a lingering finish. Pour with grilled rib-eye steak. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2016 Riesling was divine poured young. After tasting the 2010 alongside the ‘16, I’m confident predicting it’s also a prime candidate for short-term cellaring as it’ll broaden its perspective developing honeyed, apricot and marmalade characters over the next four to six years.

  
Pikes Wines ‘Traditionale’ Riesling 2016
Clare Valley, South Australia $23.95 11.5% alcohol
This is the 32nd vintage released of Pikes flagship Riesling. Floral aromas, peach and notes of minerality introduce a gorgeously textured flow of tang—lemon zest and white grapefruit—interwoven with lime-drizzled papaya. It’s clean, crisp and refreshing with a lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour with steamed mussels, grilled calamari rings or soft white cheese. (Vic Harradine)

  
Pikes Wines ‘Hills & Valleys’ Riesling 2016
Clare Valley, South Australia $24.95 11.50% alcohol
A quiet nose of floral and citrus notes provide segue to a delicious flow of lemon pie filling and Key lime yoghurt bathing the palate with good mouthfeel adorned with plenty of lip-smacking tang to go along with the slight off-dry character. This is balanced on a pin with a lingering, crisp and clean finish. Just plain delicious sipped on its own, it also pours well with pan-seared/grilled seafood or roast chicken, veal or pork. (Vic Harradine)

  
Pikes Wines ‘The Dog Walk’ Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2014
Clare Valley, South Australia $21.00 14.5% alcohol
This fairly even-split, red blend bounds from the glass with lifted aromas of mocha, savoury herbs and juicy, dark berry fruit. It glides over the palate with grace, balance and elegance along with tang-forward fruit—black raspberry and juicy black cherry—interlaced with hints of eucalyptus and bittersweet dark chocolate. It’s well balanced with persistent purity of fruit and drinking well now along with good bones for short-term cellaring. (Vic Harradine)

  
Pikes Wines ‘Eastside’ Shiraz 2014
Clare Valley, South Australia $26.00 14.0% alcohol
Floral aromas decorated by red and black currant pave the way for this rich, ripe, ready and raring-to-go Shiraz. It coats the palate with a creamy-smooth river of ripe, spice-flecked mulberry fruit and black plum. There’s good structure, depth and complexity throughout. It’s medium bodied with a dry, balanced finish—each sip’s as good or better that the previous—showcasing the long ‘hang time’ in cool-climate Clare. (Vic Harradine)