2017 The Armagh

Intense purple colour with violet hue and black core. The oak is still a bit upfront but will probably melt down with some age. Displaying a rather opulent yet slightly closed nose with ripe fruit, blackcurrants and blackberries, mulberries and elderberries, elegant toasting aromas and hints of cold smoke. On the palate rich yet elegant with complex approach, dark berries and black stone fruit, distinct toasting flavour backed by ripe tannins and mild acidity. A wonderful wine with lingering fruit and toasting aroma in the finish, excellent length and promising potential.

Largely standard vinification with individual blocks ex the Armagh Vineyard, 10 days on skins, some blocks given 3 weeks post-ferment maceration. Elegance isn't the aim of The Armagh, but the '17 vintage has made it easy. Richly flavoured with dark fruits, savoury tannins balance and lengthen the palate.

Very good colour, deep and plenty of purple in the hue, the bouquet dried herbs, thyme and sage, licorice and a hint of eucalypt 'forest floor'. The wine is full-bodied, concentated and fleshy with sumptuous mouth-feel and fruit-sweetness at its heart. A hint of raisin, in a perfectly acceptable way, not overripe or 'dead fruit'. A statuesque shiraz that is beginning to drink very well but has many more years up its sleeve.

This is a cooler vintage for Armagh and has vibrant blueberries, violets and floral spices with a redder-fruit spectrum leading the nose. The palate has a lithe, juicy feel and the oak sits in a gently creamy layer of redder plum and berry flavors. An elegant, athletic Armagh and one that trades on acidity and more medium-weight tannin structure. Try from 2025. Screw cap.

Deep crimson. Lifted dark chocolate, liquorice, dark plum aromas with vanilla, hint notes. Superbly concentrated wine with intense dark chocolate, blackberry, liquorice fruits, fine chocolaty, slightly leafy tannins and underlying espresso vanilla notes and integrated fresh linear acidity. Finishes claret-firm with blackberry-chinotto notes. Very good density and torque. 18 months in French oak. Screwcap. 13.8% alc Drink 2026-2042

Hints of mint or menthol mark the nose of the 2017 The Armagh Shiraz. There's a pinch of crushed green peppercorns, buffered by ripe raspberries and cherries. Like the 2016, it's more red-fruited, but it doesn't have quite the depth or richness of that vintage. At this level, it's splitting hairs, as the wine is still excellent, with ample weight and concentration, supple tannins and a lingering, spice-tinged finish.