Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon by Jim Barry
On the southern boundary of Coonawarra is the old Penola cricket ground, which first saw a ball bowled in anger and the flashing cover drives of the local champions of 1950. The cricket ground was retired in 1996. The following year, Jim Barry was fortunate to purchase the 30-acre property which he then planted with Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Cabernet comes from that property.
Certain names resonate strongly within Australian wine history and Jim Barry is one of them. It was Jim Barry’s drive that helped shape South Australia’s Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world class Riesling and cemented it as one of Australia’s premier wine regions. Jim was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with a degree in oenology from the prestigious Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Founded in 1959, Jim Barry Wines is still family owned, with three generations of Roseworthy graduates. Jim’s son Peter became managing director in 1985 and today Peter’s children Tom, Sam and Olivia are the winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador respectively. Voted ‘2020 Winery of the Year’ at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards they produce highly acclaimed and award-winning wines.
The Clare Valley is a series of undulating hills within the higher ranges of the grape growing area. Vine aspect and row orientation is as critical as soil type in terms of the suitability of a vineyard site for a particular variety. Shiraz is suited to upper slopes with northerly or western aspects. The vines are trained on a single cordon with a rod and spur to promote even canopy growth along the cordon, which allows for shading and avoids the crowding of fruit, in order to reduce disease. The Clare Valley has a high diurnal temperature difference. The cool nights allow the vines to recover from the heat of the day and produce Shiraz with even ripening of tannins and flavour.
The grapes were sorted, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in stainless steel fermenters with heading down boards, which submerged the skins in the fermenting must and moderated the temperature of the ‘cap’ while gently extracting colour, flavour and tannin. Pump-overs were conducted twice a day with a rack and return occurring each day, early in the ferment. Fermentation lasted for between 7 to 10 days before being pressed. Malolactic conversion occurred in tank before the wine was racked to French oak where it spent 12 months maturing.
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Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon
£15.49 a bottle
9 in stock
It was Jim Barry’s drive and community spirit that helped shape South Australia’s Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world class Riesling and cemented its place as one of Australia’s premier wine regions.
Jim Barry Wines has a strong lineage. Jim himself was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with the 17th Degree in Oenology from the famous Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Working for 22 years as winemaker at the Clarevale Co-operative, Jim Barry became a pioneer of Australian table wine. He then went on to establish Taylors Wines in 1969 for the Taylor family.
Vineyards were first established in the mid 1800s. Some of the early winery names, Wendouree, Knappstein and Quelltaler are still in the region. Nowadays there is a mix of very large companies and a significant number of boutique wineries. The climate is regarded as warm, but there are variations due to altitude. The main wine styles: White – Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay; Red – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Probably the world’s most famous red grape variety. Originated from Bordeaux and has been present in Australia since 1832.
Wherever it has been planted the resulting wine has developed its own identity yet it is always recognisable. Although it will vary in intensity the aroma will always be dominated by berry characteristics in the classic wines and the tannins will be firm or textured and soften with age. Cabernet Sauvignon is high in acid and tannin and remains fresh for many years. It can be earthy and display strong blackcurrant flavours. The naturally high tannin and inherent complexity mean all Cabernet Sauvignons will improve with age.
Coonawarra, with its prized ‘terra rossa’ soils, Margaret River, Mount Barker (Great Southern) and Yarra Valley regions are considered the premium Cabernet Sauvignon areas in Australia.
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