The 2005 The McRae Wood Shiraz spent 15 months in American oak. It is opaque purple-colored with an enticing bouquet of cedar, spice box, bacon, and blueberry. Layered, with excellent depth, it has plenty of spicy, savory fruit, excellent balance, and a lengthy finish. Give it several years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2011 to 2020. Jim Barry’s flagship wine is The Armagh Shiraz. The 2006 was not available for tasting; instead, the 2005 was shown again and it is every bit as good as the 96 point rating I gave it in Issue 173. Importer: Negociants USA, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-0993

Supple, generous and appealing for a strong peppermint quality to the red cherry and raspberry fruit. Aims for sleek texture, but the tannins get a bit raw on the finish. Needs time to settle in. Best from 2010 through 2017. 200 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / Clare Valley Select to Add