Jim Barry Assyrtiko

A fresh, lively Assyrtiko showing great flavour concentration of pear and grapefruit with a steely mineral streak running through its creamy core. 

Clare Valley, South Australia.

Contains sulphates, milk. 

2018

12.5%

75cl

MORE INFORMATION

Producer

Certain names resonate strongly within Australian wine history and Jim Barry is one of them. It was Jim Barry’s drive that helped shape South Australia’s Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world class Riesling and cemented it as one of Australia’s premier wine regions. Jim was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with a degree in oenology from the prestigious Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Founded in 1959, Jim Barry Wines is still family owned, with three generations of Roseworthy graduates. Jim’s son Peter became managing director in 1985 and today Peter’s children Tom, Sam and Olivia are the winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador respectively. Voted ‘2020 Winery of the Year’ at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards they produce highly acclaimed and award-winning wines.

Vintage 

2018 was characterised by a particularly dry growing season, with less than 15 centimetres of rain falling between October to March. However, two thirds of this rain fell at critical points in November and December which promoted growth and enabled the fruit to develop evenly. As a result there was very low disease pressure and the fruit was in excellent condition.

Viticulture 

The Assyrtiko vines are from clones that Peter originally imported from Gaia’s vineyard, Santorini. They were first planted in 2012 in the Lodge Hill vineyard, on the eastern ranges of Clare where the soils are brown loam overlaying a layer of clay and slate bedrock. Subsequently, blocks have been planted at the Florita vineyard in Watervale in the western ranges of the Clare Valley on terra rossa soils. The Lodge Hill block produces wines which are tight and have excellent persistence of flavour, while the vines planted on terra rossa soils are more generous and fuller flavoured. All the vines in the Assyrtiko blocks are planted in shallow soils over the bedrock which makes them struggle just a little, producing intensely flavoured wines. The vines are single cordon trained to promote even canopy growth and provide optimal shade.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand-harvested and meticulously sorted. The fruit was chilled to 6°C before being destemmed and pressed. After cold settling, the juice was racked with a portion of the light “fluffy” lees. Cool fermentation took place with selected yeasts at temperatures of 14 to 16°C and lasted two to three weeks. A small parcel underwent cool fermentation in aged French barrels, enhancing the texture.

Taste 

Lifted citrus blossom and lemon aromatics are accompanied by notes of honeydew melon and spice. This Assyrtiko shows great flavour concentration and a full texture, with a flinty streak of minerality. Lively and crisp with an endless finish.