Jim Barry Spring Farm Block 73 Shiraz 2021

Jim Barry Spring Farm Block 73 Shiraz 2021
$200, 13.9% alcohol, screwcap, Clare Valley

The unusual thing about this wine is its tannin. It’s not just tannic, it’s an unusual kind of tannin, almost earthen, certainly dry, a bit smoky, almost sooty. This tannin stands out, though it is inlaid with boysenberry and blueberry fruit flavours, and peppermint, and cocoa, and a twiggy aspect, and a nut-shell note. Indeed it’s distinctive all around. It’s also worth pointing out that this wine is not a blockbuster; it’s a powerful wine, but it’s a quiet kind of power. I personally wouldn’t be dropping $200 on this wine but single block wines, by definition, should be distinctive, and it definitely nails that brief, and then some, in a context of sheer quality. 95 points.