Wine Review: Australia's First Assyrtiko from Jim Barry

Impressed by a crisp local white variety that goes by the name of Assyrtiko (Assert–eko), they began the process of organising cuttings to propagate and plant in their beloved Clare Valley, doing just that in 2012.

So here we have it – Australia’s first Assyrtiko, 6.87 hectares planted at the Barry Lodge Hill vineyard; some vines grown in the traditional basket–like ‘kouloura’ style, others on more familiar trellising. What you can expect is an energetic, crisp dry white wine that will win many fans over the coming years.

Pale straw in the glass with green flashes, the predominant fruit aromas and flavours are apple and pear with notes of citrus and stone fruits.

There are hints of marzipan, white flowers, crushed stone, almond paste and a light hint of herbs but, the over–riding characters on the finish are a fine, bright, stony acid line and a beautiful dry, textural saline finish that is so sapid it gets the old saliva glands twanging and bodes well for the wine’s agility in the food/wine matching stakes.

Lovely. A foreign affair done right.

JIM BARRY 2016 Clare Valley Assyrtiko

jimbarry.com