Tasting Notes
Vinous 98+
The world-class 2018 Shiraz The Armagh has the potentially perfect mix of raw power, style and structure. It radiates fruit pastille, cassis, clove, violet and granitic aromas, with toasty oak providing a solid canvas. Tight, focused and beautifully composed, there is exceptional underlying energy to the waves of flavor. A strong seam of drying tannins supports the sustained, savory finish. Just brilliant.
Anticipated maturity: 2030-2060
Wine Advocate 98
I thought that the 2014 had completely stolen my heart, but then there was this 2018 The Armagh Shiraz, bottled under Stelvin. This saw no American oak, as 2017 was the first year of 100% French. This is the first year with puncheons (no hogsheads) as well. It is so good, sensational, with a perfect fruit profile and orange oil character. It is fresh, beguiling, supple, intense, elegant, refined and full all the good and important things in confluence here. It has 13.6% and matured for 18 months in 75% new and 25% one-year-old French oak hogsheads (300 liters) and puncheons (500liters). This is a superstar. The drinking window may be conservative closure and winemaking could put this at 40 years with ease. And beyond.
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2048
JancisRobinson.com 17.5
Single vineyard planted 1968 by Jim Barry. Ungrafted. The area where the Armagh vineyard is found contains the region s oldest rock from the Rhynie sandstone formation dating back 800 million years. The Armagh vineyard is characterised by a light brown sandy clay topsoil with a pebbly alluvial layer overlaying a mottled clay subsoil. North-west facing. Less that 1.5 t/acre. Organically farmed but not certified. Elevation of 367.5 m. Destemmed, micro-batch stainless-steel fermenters with header plates for primary fermentation. Malo and 15 months in barrel – new and used French oak.Vibrant cherry red. Open, floral, just a touch of oak spice and fruit spice along with fruit sweetness. Wonderfully fragrant on the palate, too, silky texture. Intense, lithe, finely balanced. Notable but integrated freshness. (JH)
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2032
Jane Anson 98
Third year for The Armagh on the Place de Bordeaux, and it’s an exceptional vintage, packed full of fragrant aromatics and plump, seductive, spiced and nuanced black cherry and damson fruit. Grilled sandalwood oak, firm tannins, plenty of black chocolate shavings, mandarin peel, the stone fruits edge of fully ripe Shiraz (almost as if it has been vinified with Viognier), tempered by sage and freshly cut rosemary herbs. This grabs you and stretches out through the palate. From a superb vineyard planted in 1968 by Jim Barry, with low yields of around 27hl/h (equivalent to less than two tonnes per acre), this is exceptional, with decades ahead of it. I suggest waiting a few years before opening, but the tannins are polished enough that you don’t have to if you are prepared to give it a good long carafe. Made by Peter and Tom Barry. Sandy-gravel soils. 75% new oak, mainly 300l with a few 500l, unfined and unfiltered. Tom Barry winemaker.
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040
Decanter 100
A meaty, savoury, spiced nose, something so welcoming about it, warm and friendly with a touch of perfume, dark chocolate, cinnamon and pink peppercorn to the blackcurrant, damsons and plums. Rich, ample and generous, yet delivered with such supple and velvety-soft tannins. This has an elegance to it, a cool sophistication in terms of the profile – neat and tidy, quite linear right now, brimming with energy, not yet fully expansive or loose, but quietly controlled and calm. It’s confident though with invigorating acidity and I love the focus, detail and the purity of fruit. Sweet red fruits – strawberries, raspberries and red cherries with a slight balsamic, pomegranate edge that is so delicious. Juicy, crunchy, succulent and ripe but with an effortless edge to it. Supremely drinkable and likeable – what a gorgeous wine! A quality vintage and excellent winemaking skill on show. Ageing 18 months in French oak.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
