Over three generations the Barry name has been famous throughout the wine world and synonymous with the Clare Valley. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the Barry family celebrated the 60th anniversary of its winery in 2020, the year it also scooped the title of Halliday’s ‘Winery of the Year’. Jim Barry bought his first vineyard here in 1959, and even helped the Taylor family open their winery a decade later. Son Peter took over Jim Barry in 1985, and today brothers Tom and Sam, with sister Olivia, have raised the bar even higher. Enjoy a new Jim Barry exclusive, an absolutely delicious Single Vineyard Grenache. The grape has become the hottest thing in wine in recent years, with a new generation of winemakers create fresh, super approachable modern styles. When Grenache – rare in the Clare Valley – came up in discussion, buyer Ben Cohn, an ardent devotee of the grape, was stoked. The wine was crafted using fruit from the family’s limestone-rich McKay’s vineyard in Watervale – and sings with fresh red fruit and elegant, sandy tannins. It boasts fresh raspberry & spice on nose & palate with bluefruits, plum & orange rind hints. Great length too. Serve it slightly chilled, and it makes a great match with Thai Pork Belly. It’s exquisite. We share it at a special launch price (especially exciting for UNLIMITED members).

Look forward to strawberries, spices, herbs, bay leaves, and cassis on the nose – with a lovely vibrant intensity of red fruits on the palate. "Callie Jemmeson believes that winemaking doesn’t have to have barriers: what it does need is quality, focus and a destination. With a strong emphasis on vineyard selection and a gentle approach to their small-batch winemaking," Halliday.

The Kaesler family were Silesian immigrants who settled in the Barossa Valley back in 1845, setting out the current vineyards in 1893. Though the family sold up in 1968 the estate is still in tact and bears the family name. Reid Bosward is the winemaker of this fine Shiraz, given 94pts by Dave Brooks in The Halliday Wine Companion. “Another cracker from the excellent 2021 vintage, more along the blueberry and boysenberry fruit line in this wine with abundant spice and hints of dark chocolate, licorice, Christmas cake, roasting meats and violets. Tight, fine sandy tannins lend ample support and the wine trails off nicely with a real meaty, dark-fruited edge.”

The 2018 Shiraz is full of brambles and blue/black fruits with a spicy lift. Layers of brooding dark fruits, spice and savoury characters are framed in fine oak. The sinewy tannin profile pulls the wine through to a long and moreish finish.

Allinda is a tiny Yarra Valley estate, and you won't find their wines in too many places, because the quantities are so small. But when you do find them, make sure you stock up, because they are really wonderful. This sumptuous Syrah really impresses with medium to full bodied intense ripe flavour and natural acidity. Ripeness of fruit in the warmish 2016 February has lifted the flavour profile into the mulberry and plum zone so expect less white pepper than other Yarra Valley Syrahs. Allinda has kept it simple with healthy soils, healthy vines, some of the better old school practices, a dash of modern technique and a whole lotta good old winemaking sense. High-quality boutique wine with stacks of Gold wins!