Description
Jim Barry The McRae Wood shiraz
James Halliday
Standard vinification made irrelevant by the luscious, juicy red and black fruits that continue to seduce the palate right through to the finish and aftertaste. One of the best vintages to date. Read Less
Rating: 96
This wine displays lovely red and purple tones in the glass. Dark plums, spice and purple florals on the nose. The palate enters with black plum, black cherries with brambles and compote detailed with spice and elegance. A wine of refrained structure and integrated tannin, dark spice and black berries to finish.
The origins of ‘The McRae Wood’ are closely linked to the family’s flagship Shiraz, ‘The Armagh’. Following its creation in 1985 and subsequent success, the winery was unable to meet demand for ‘The Armagh’. Unwilling to compromise on quality to meet this need, Peter and his brothers decided to create a new wine in 1992, utilising fruit that was downgraded from the Armagh vineyard as well as superior parcels from the family’s other vineyards around the Clare Valley.
“We had some wonderful material that wasn’t quite up to standard for ‘The Armagh’, but was certainly something special,” said Peter.
‘The McRae Wood’, has always exhibited the same richness and intensity as ‘The Armagh’ and was considered quite a modern, innovative style in 1992. It quickly found a home in some of the world’s most prestigious Michelin-Star restaurants, including ‘The Fat Duck’ and has achieved international success, including the trophy for the ‘Best International Shiraz’ at the 2006 International Wine Challenge in London. Today, the wine represents the concentration and elegance of Clare Valley Shiraz.
The name ‘McRae Wood’ comes from the gentleman land owner, Duncan McRae Wood, who sold Jim Barry 70 acres of land in the Armagh Valley in 1964.
