2024 Jim Barry - Assyrtiko Clare Valley (750ml)

Jim Barry Wines was founded in 1959 and has spent more than six decades helping shape the identity of the Clare Valley and Australian fine wine more broadly. The family's connection to this particular grape traces back to 2006, when second-generation winemaker Peter Barry tasted Assyrtiko while on holiday on the Greek island of Santorini and was struck by its crisp acidity, reminiscent of the Rieslings his family had long been known for. Intrigued, he imported cuttings through quarantine and planted them at the family's Lodge Hill Vineyard in 2012, making Jim Barry the first producer to grow Assyrtiko in Australia.

The grapes are hand-picked from Lodge Hill's terra rossa soils in Watervale, a limestone-rich subregion of Clare Valley that shares surprising similarities with Assyrtiko's volcanic homeland in its capacity to preserve bright acidity. The fruit is cool-fermented in stainless steel to keep the wine tight, clean, and mineral-driven, prioritizing structure and texture over overt fruitiness, staying true to the variety's traditional character even in this new setting.

The wine shows a pale straw color with aromas of lemon zest, white flowers, and sea spray. On the palate it's medium-bodied with bright acidity, layered with green apple and a distinct salinity that carries through to a long, savory finish. It's a natural match for grilled octopus, briny oysters, or fresh feta and olives.