Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz – Big on Flavor

Shiraz the way it should be, the Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz.

100% Estate grown Shiraz from the tiny Clare Valley region in South Australia, which accounts for less than 1.5% of the total wine production of the country.

Sample submitted for review. The Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz has an SRP of $22 and is available around $16. Imported by Negociants USA.

From the bottle:

The Lodge Hill vineyard is one of the highest in the Clare Valley at 480m. The altitude ensure cool nights and warm days, producing grapes with great flavour and elegance.

The Lodge Hill vineyard on the Clare Valley’s eastern ranges has soils of rich, chocolaty loam over vertical sheets of ancient slate. The cracks between the slate have filled with soil, providing passage for the vine roots and free drainage – ideal for low-yielding Shiraz vines. This wine shows a big aromatic lift of pepper, black plum, rosemary and cumin. The palate is full of bright, fresh fruit, with masses of mulberry, blackberry and morello cherries, complemented by milk chocolate-like undertones. Enjoy with good food, good friends and good conversation.

14.5% Alcohol

The 2012 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz begins with a beautiful aroma full of blackberry, plum, lavender, licorice and lots of spice notes. Taking a sip of the wine shows it to be smooth, medium-bodied and really delicious with plenty of ripe, juicy fruit. The flavors are similar to the nose but the licorice ramps it up a notch while you also get a lot of added cola and pepper notes. It ends dry and a bit dusty with lingering sweet fruit, spice, licorice, pepper and more. The wine is just as good on day 2.