2005 Jim Barry, PB Shiraz / Cabernet, Clare Valley, South Australia (£32.99, Noel Young tel. 01223 566744, SH Jones tel. 01295 672296, Planet of the Grapes tel. 020 7405 4912, Hermitage Cellars tel. 01243 431002, Abbey Wines tel. 01896 823224). This is the first wine that I have written in MoneyWeek which isn’t available for sale yet (excluding en primeur wines, of course). PB is ‘on the water’ – a glorious expression meaning it’s in the back of a canoe being paddled from Port Adelaide to our shores. You can, however, order this phenomenal creation from the prescient and exemplary merchants above whose anticipation levels are no doubt matched by my own! ’05 PB arrives in six weeks time and it is one of Australia’s greatest red wines. The ’06, which arrives later on this year, is in my 100 Best Australian Wines list, too! Made by Peter Barry (PB!) from about 70% Benbournie (their iconic Cabernet) and 30% McRae Wood Shiraz (the ’05 was actually in this column on 14th May 2010!) this is a mighty, leviathan of a cult wine with towering tannins and indomitable fruit character. It is the essence of Clare – heroic, impactful, memorable and a ridiculous bargain bearing in mind its imperial quality. Both the 2005 and 2006 scored 19/20 in my notes – you must collect this wine.
