Jim Barry 'The Lodge Hill' Shiraz 2020/21, Clare Valley

Jim Barry

This wine is a deep red with a magenta hue in the glass. Vibrant aromatics of lifted florals, soft licorice, blackberries and spice. The palate is dominated by dark and bramble fruits with a hint of warming oak. A seamless flow with well integrated tannin. Juicy dark flavours persist through the finish with sweet spice and a savoury edge to close.The first time Jim Barry walked on the soils of Lodge Hill in 1977, he knew it was a special site. It now produces two of Jim Barry's most famous wines - The Lodge Hill Riesling and The Lodge Hill Shiraz. At 480 metres, the Lodge Hill vineyard, situated on the eastern ranges of the township of Clare, is one of the highest points in the valley. Jim's original intention was to devote the entire Lodge Hill vineyard to premium Riesling. However, while he was pottering around with his trusty shovel, digging here and there, he discovered a very different soil profile on the small north-facing slope. Warmer than the rest of the property, Jim decided it was the perfect place to plant Shiraz. So in essence, there are two vineyards within the one. The Shiraz vineyard's soil consists of about 40-50 centimetres of rich, chocolaty loam over rock, consisting of almost vertical sheets. The cracks between the sheets have been filled with soil, providing passage for the vine roots and free drainage - the ideal environment for low-yielding Shiraz vines.