2018 Jim Barry Clarevale Cabernet Malbec

97 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Blackcurrant, aniseed and camphor, dried roses, tobacco, cedar. It’s medium-bodied, a whole heap of energy here, plenty of ferrous tannin, a whole lot of gummy chew and dried rose, redcurrant, raspberry, blonde tobacco savoury input, a bright orange tang to acidity lending freshness and a crisp feel, with a robust finish of superb length. Here we have it. It’s superb and feels like essence of Clare Valley. Kind of like Wendouree, albeit a little more pricey. Still, hats off. This is super cool and next level. Yes

97 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Clarevale J.B. Barry Cabernet Malbec is here today on the bench beside the 2018, and it is a nice thing to be able to compare the pair, so to speak. While the 2021 has the benefit of youth on its side, it isn't just the vibrancy of it that makes me think this will be a superior wine in time. It has levity and grace in equal measure, and the oak regime—whatever the specifics of that are—appears to have been kinder and more sensitive to the fruit than the 2018. This is a bigger blend by a factor of two and half times, and it does feature a small amount of new oak. What we have here is a wine of clarity, finesse and abundant red fruits. These are buffered and complemented by shaved fennel, star anise, blood, rust, garden roses and petrichor. It is leafy and detailed and, really, an excellent wine. This is highly recommended for now and for the future.

96 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

Clarevale enters the fray alongside Armagh as top of the tree wine for Jim Barry Wines. Poised, elegant, refined. Superlatives galore. So fragrant, so svelte, such wonderful, beautiful texture. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, clove and eucalyptus with anise and all spice chiming in. The palate similarly flavoured with ribbons of ultrafine, granite-mineral tannin, slightly ferrous, teasing the wine out to its impossibly long and fine finish. Magnificent wine.