Jim Barry, 2008 The Lodge Hil Clare Valley Shiraz.

The Lodge Hill Shiraz vineyard, on the Clare Valley’s eastern ranges, has soils of rich, chocolaty loam over almost vertical sheets of rock. The cracks between the rock have filled with soil, providing passage for the vine roots and free drainage - the ideal environment for low-yielding Shiraz vines.

Vintage 2008 was one of the earliest, fastest and most hectic in recent memory. Harvesting started 2-3 weeks earlier than the historical average. The weather gods looked kindly upon us during the harvest as in Clare we experienced some of the coolest night time temperatures (9°C) ever recorded during that part of February.

This wine has deep, dark red/black hues, lifted aromas of mulberry, raspberry, coffee and kirsch. The bramble, chocolate, methol and rosemary flavours that fill the mouth are present in abundance, with delicate, sensual and ripe tannins playing a structural role. This wine is ideally suited to good food, good friends and good conversation.