James Haliday Rating: «««

Tasting Notes for Current Vintage

In 1959, when young James Irvine was buying grapes in the Eden Valley for the famous "Siegersdorf" Riesling brand he was developing for Hardy's, he dreamt of one day being able to plant his own vineyard up there high in the ranges above the Barossa Valley.

Some 20 years later, that dream became a reality when, as is his wont, he took a chance and bought the Springhill property and established his first plantings. Today, Jim Irvine, his wife and business partner Marjorie and their winemaker daughter Joanne live and work from an idyllic setting surrounded by vines, pasture and gum trees, and the Irvine range of wines are garnering an international reputation for excellence

After many years of making wines for other people and of keeping what is for this industry an unusually low profile, it's with his own wines that Jim Irvine is making his biggest mark,especially with Merlot. The grape is something of a rarity elsewhere in the Barossa and in Australia as a whole, but Jim has made Merlot and it's conversion to a great super premium deluxe wine style his passion.

The 10th vintage of the flagship, Irvine Grand Merlot, has just been released to much acclaim and stocks, as they always do, are bound to sell out swiftly. In addition, there's a Merlot and a Merlot Cabernet blend under the Eden Crest label, and a revered Merlot Brut sparkling.

These and all the Irvine wines are grown and made with love and understanding by Jim, with input from Joanne as the all important next generation, while Majorie designs the labels and packaging - it's a real family affair and it's how Jim likes it.