TN: Jim Barry Lodge Hill Clare Valley Shiraz 2002

[KMP]

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Clare Valley Shiraz 2002 $13.99USD

What a great little wine, especially for the price! Cherry red with a pink edge. Very open with attractive berry and mixed spice notes. Slightly below medium weight. But nice soft tannins make for a very supple wine that finishes clean and crisp. Flavors carry through on retronasal for a prolonged finish. Not a wine for the ages but one that is drinking well now and will do for several more years at least. 2,2,4.2,10.2=18.4

After 24 hours the wine had become more port-like and was showing signs of early oxidation, but then its not meant to be Grange just bloody good value! 15.5% alcohol. Tasted August 23-24.

We had this with chilli soup (well Mexico is next door) and BBQ'ed sausages with fresh garden salad and it went down a treat. Wasn't so well matched with the chocolate raspberry tort icecream, but no shiraz is perfect.

Mike

[Paul T]

I tried this recently at a Samuel and Smith tasting..it was good not great...compared to the Seppelts Vic Shiraz 2002 it is completely outclassed..i was unimpressed with all the J Barry offerings..

Cheers

Paul

[KMP]

I tried this recently at a Samuel and Smith tasting..it was good not great...compared to the Seppelts Vic Shiraz 2002 it is completely outclassed..i was unimpressed with all the J Barry offerings..

Cheers

Paul

Paul: I'm not sure that we get the Seppelts Shiraz over here. A quick online search failed to turn it up. So I have to go with your judgement. (Although the notes on the Seppelt on Gavin's site could easily apply to the Jim Barry.) The bottom line for me is that I've spent more than quite a few $$$ on the supposedly renowned 2002 vintage, and while I've tasted some excellent wines, the Jim Barry has been by far the best value so far. I still have several dozen different wines to go through, and hopefully more '02s will arrive, but I doubt that I'll see many below $15!

Mike

[KMP]

Nice to see a such a pleasant wine being appreciated for its quality.

Mike

[corcoran]

Seppelts are typically very different in style (cool climate, red fruits). To me, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

[Paul T]

High alc wines will stand out out at big tastings..thus the wine at the London show..i still say it's good not great..and for my cheapskate palate there are much better wines..and yes the cool climate wines are different to the warmer areas..i was comparing more on price.

Cheers

Paul

[KMP]

Brian and Paul:

Hi guys! By noting the success of the Lodge Hill I wasn't trying to continue the discussion of its comparison with the Seppelts Victorian Shiraz. I've not tasted the Seppelts and I don't know if it was part of the line up in the International Wine Challenge. Hopefully I'll get to taste it some day! However having tasted the Lodge Hill I am pleased that it has achieved some success as it is excellent quality for the price.

As regards the alcohol in the Jim Barry, my impression is that it is very well integrated and unobtrusive, and part of what makes the wine so well balanced. Its among the highest in alcohol of the 02's that I have tasted and yet the alcohol is much less evident than in other wines.

Mike

[simm]

Seppelts are typically very different in style (cool climate, red fruits). To me, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

I was just about to say the same thing.

[Bob]

Seppelts are typically very different in style (cool climate, red fruits). To me, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

I think it is valid to compare two wines of the same varietal and the same price level, regardless of differences in style. Actually, from the viewpoint of a consumer with a low level of wine sense, I think this is the most useful type of comparison.

[Skuz]

I tried this recently at a Samuel and Smith tasting..it was good not great...compared to the Seppelts Vic Shiraz 2002 it is completely outclassed..i was unimpressed with all the J Barry offerings..

Cheers

Paul

Would like to know which seppelts you are refering to? The chalamber or st peters?

I had a bottle of jim barry last night and both sepplets chalamber and st peters shiraz 2 weeks ago I i thought the jim barry was absolutely magneficent compared to the sepplets. St peters was good wine but for twice the price and chalamber was one that could do with a few more years.

[Paul T]

I was referring to the regular Vic reserve shiraz..the Chalambar and St Peters are better still. It's all personal taste but the 15.5% alc in the lodge hill stands out to me..i prefer more restrained wines.Whatever rocks your boat!The Lodge Hill didn't rock mine.

Cheers

Paul

[bobsi]

I actually enjoyed more after 24 hours. I was unimpressed at first.

Dont know how long it will see.