Been a while since we’ve had some good ol’ fashioned Aussie treasures to trumpet but Jim Barry’s Jane Ferrari’s visit last Friday gave us a chance to sink our noses into two truly wonderful values from the Clare Valley.  This venerable producer purchased these old vines in the coolest eastern side of the valley back in 1977 and have been producing these under-the-radar gems ever since.  The Riesling is classic Clare- from vines at 480 meters, it’s a beautiful spot; absolutely perfect for this late-ripening, difficult to master variety.  Gorgeous Riesling peach pit and spice aromatics, bone dry and scintillatingly bright and exciting, this reminded more than one taster of the Grossets’ Watervale or Polish Hill Rieslings from nearby, just at under half the price!  Drink now in the backyard all by itself or pair it with all sorts of fare.  I bet if you lost a few bottles for a few years in the back of the cellar, it wouldn’t be a crime either.  Such a good wine and the tasters last Friday all voted with their pocketbooks too!  But wait!  Isn’t Jim Barry better-known for their wonderful Shirazes and Cabs?  Oh, yeah!  The Barrys planted Shiraz in the same range of vineyards as the Riesling and have produced one of the best cooler climate versions of Clare Shiraz we’ve tasted in a while!  Dark and earthy with a gorgeous mélange of black raspberry, mulberry, potpourri, melted tar and mineral on the nose, it’s not too big but not at all light either.  It’s juuuuuust right!  Lovers of Aussie Shiraz will find an awful lot to relate to here as will those whose jam is more the Northern Rhone Valley.  Best of all?  The price!  Seriously.  This drinks with a lot of the Aussie Big Boys at a fraction of the price.  Both are very highly recommended.  Not only by Jane…….