Offers sumptuous power and richness, plum, blackberry, dark chocolate and earth on the bouquet and layered palate alike, a touch of red cherry perfectly ripened, with the oak in the back seat where it should be. The palate is rich and luscious, with layer-upon-layer of berry fruit and tannins to sustain it for the long haul. Limited restaurant availability.

95 points, Wine Companion (October 2015)

Opaque ruby to the rim. Knockout superripe nose combines roasted blackberry, violet, licorice, maple syrup and peat; developed an almost port-like kirsch note with aeration. Thick, pliant and superconcentrated, but with a sappy impression of extract giving the amazingly generous dark berry, violet and spice flavors great clarity and three-dimensional texture. Tannins are big but thoroughly ripe, and the wine fruit, spice and meat flavors really explode on the finish. A great expression of shiraz.

95 points, Vinous (July 2001)

Deep and quite youthful colour, still with a faint tinge of purple. Dark berry aromas, fresh and bright, fruit-driven; the palate is nicely balanced, fleshy and intense, with masses of smooth tannins, and a long, long carry. Deep, rich, vibrant, lovely acidity, which is a bit penetrating. Mature, savoury. Powering on.

93 points, The Real Review (October 2015)

Ripe, rich, dense wall of perfume, black berries, dark fruit, spice. Choc, leather, dried fruit notes. Slippery and rich in the palate, long, juicy, slightly minty, definitely spicy, bombastic and sweet fruited, almost candied. Curious place, but many will love.

93 points, The Wine Front (Feburary 2016)

Dense, tight and generous with its toasty, spicy blackberry and cherry flavors. Focused, vivid and long, with a bite of acidity to keep things feeling fresh. This stands up straight and seems ready to march on for decades.

93 points, Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator (2008)

The blockbuster 1998 Shiraz The Armagh exhibits a murky plum/garnet/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of black fruits, earth, pepper, and spice. It reveals more tannin than the 1999 or 2000, in addition to all the concentration, force, and viscosity of the 1999. The 1998 possesses a more rugged finish, but it is, overall, a wine of greater depth and dimension. While not as velvety-textured as either of its younger siblings, it is loaded with potential. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016.

92 points, Wine Advocate (October 2002)

Trademark mint and leather with gamey notes beneath. In nice form and it’s certainly well endowed in the mid palate department. Indeed it’s so big and plush through the middle that the finish seems to trail off. Would have been a monster in its day. A touch warm on the finish. And, I suspect, just starting to dry out.

90 points, The Wine Front (September 2008)