Clarendon Hills
Astralis Syrah
Clarendon, Fleurieu, South Australia, Australia
A bit more red fruit driven and floral than the others, very fruit forward but not unbalanced
A bit more red fruit driven and floral than the others, very fruit forward but not unbalanced
Jul 11th, 2023
Pure and powerful but completely resolved. There’s a core of iron tinged red meat and dark blue fruit but hints of black tea, white pepper and spice. As much Burg as Côté-Rotie at this point, completely ready to go.
Pure and powerful but completely resolved. There’s a core of iron tinged red meat and dark blue fruit but hints of black tea, white pepper and spice. As much Burg as Côté-Rotie at this point, completely ready to go.
Jun 26th, 2022
Dense dark crimson, almost black in colour - opaque. Lots to unfurl on the nose with initial aromas of Tar, Black pepper, plum, black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and a herbal nuance. Densely packed and full bodied. Obviously the product of old vines. The vineyard was planted over a hundred years ago in 1920. One of those unique wines that has the ability to be full bodied and elegant at the same time. Never heavy, you could drink this all night. Still has latent energy at 16 years of age. An aristocratic Shiraz in company with the world’s finest. Jay Miller had an erudite comment when he said that the only competition for this wine comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. I would be patriotic in addition to Chris Ringland, and include Peter Gago and Fraser McKinlay. Roman Bratasiuk is the winemaker of Astralis- which is made from a 4 hectare paddock in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale.
Dense dark crimson, almost black in colour - opaque. Lots to unfurl on the nose with initial aromas of Tar, Black pepper, plum, black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and a herbal nuance. Densely packed and full bodied. Obviously the product of old vines. The vineyard was planted over a hundred years ago in 1920. One of those unique wines that has the ability to be full bodied and elegant at the same time. Never heavy, you could drink this all night. Still has latent energy at 16 years of age. An aristocratic Shiraz in company with the world’s finest. Jay Miller had an erudite comment when he said that the only competition for this wine comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. I would be patriotic in addition to Chris Ringland, and include Peter Gago and Fraser McKinlay. Roman Bratasiuk is the winemaker of Astralis- which is made from a 4 hectare paddock in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale.
Jun 23rd, 2021
This tasting goes out to @Bob McDonald - show that flag some respect...
Visually, bricking has begun, but the nose is still lively and youthful. Black cherries and raspberries transition to notes of tobacco, leather and thyme. Palate is consistent, but that signature sweetness is still there, along with a hint of sandalwood. This still has broad shoulders, but it’s much more balanced and fine-tuned with bottle age.
Aussie first-growth in my book.
This tasting goes out to @Bob McDonald - show that flag some respect...
Visually, bricking has begun, but the nose is still lively and youthful. Black cherries and raspberries transition to notes of tobacco, leather and thyme. Palate is consistent, but that signature sweetness is still there, along with a hint of sandalwood. This still has broad shoulders, but it’s much more balanced and fine-tuned with bottle age.
Aussie first-growth in my book.
Going down slope for this bottle, tasted like 90s
Going down slope for this bottle, tasted like 90s
May 31st, 2020
Just a few pics of the wines from last night’s monthly 4th Friday. Too many bottles to try!
Big boy! Massive wine still. Dense and chewy. Wafts from the glass with blackberry jam, fig, nutmeg, and peppercorn covered dates. Powerhouse on the palate. Sweet oak (but not too much), blueberry and blackberry cobbler, espresso beans, and a gripping finish. Hold, but this is solid with a decant. Still improving.
Just a few pics of the wines from last night’s monthly 4th Friday. Too many bottles to try!
Big boy! Massive wine still. Dense and chewy. Wafts from the glass with blackberry jam, fig, nutmeg, and peppercorn covered dates. Powerhouse on the palate. Sweet oak (but not too much), blueberry and blackberry cobbler, espresso beans, and a gripping finish. Hold, but this is solid with a decant. Still improving.
Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!
I’ve had a few Clarendon wines but never their Astralis. Time has been kind and has shed the baby fat off of this wine. It’s still ripe (slight hint of VA) with baked mixed berry pie, fig and Andes chocolate mint aromatics but it didn’t hit you in the face. Dense, but the 3-4hr slow ox softened the profile. The palate showed cherry liqueur and blackberry jam with notes of bay leaf and cinnamon. Only the faintest hints of herbal/savory notes showed on the finish.
Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!
I’ve had a few Clarendon wines but never their Astralis. Time has been kind and has shed the baby fat off of this wine. It’s still ripe (slight hint of VA) with baked mixed berry pie, fig and Andes chocolate mint aromatics but it didn’t hit you in the face. Dense, but the 3-4hr slow ox softened the profile. The palate showed cherry liqueur and blackberry jam with notes of bay leaf and cinnamon. Only the faintest hints of herbal/savory notes showed on the finish.
A wonderful experience. Dense and tannins still present. Dark cherry. Figs. Just a complete package worth investigating.
A wonderful experience. Dense and tannins still present. Dark cherry. Figs. Just a complete package worth investigating.
Aug 5th, 2019
Very pleasantly surprised. Still wonderful balance of tannin, fruit & acidity. Telling that this was an Aussie Syrah (and not Shiraz). Can’t think of anything to detract (except that I had to share with two others).
Very pleasantly surprised. Still wonderful balance of tannin, fruit & acidity. Telling that this was an Aussie Syrah (and not Shiraz). Can’t think of anything to detract (except that I had to share with two others).
Nov 11th, 2018