Jim Barry The Armagh Clare Valley The Armagh 2006

Needs a good swirling of the glass to open up, still pretty reductive even at 16 years old. It has striking texture and weight, with the raspberry and black cherry fruit shot through with mandarin peel, five spice and fennel, all offering essential freshness against the richer chocolate and liqourice depths. An icon vintage at the property, still muscular and with punch, and although it is ready to drink with a good few hours in a carafe, it has further to go. 100% new oak, a mix of both French and American, bottled unfiltered and unfined.