Wine Advisor
Clarendon Hills, Astralis Shiraz 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Clarendon Hills’ flagship Syrah is the 800-case cuvee of 2004 Syrah Astralis Vineyard. One of Australia’s most prodigious offerings, Astralis is a 20-30-year wine (some of the early vintages, such as 1996, are still babies in their evolutionary progression). Produced from 75-year-old Syrah vines, it coats the mouth with a viscous texture, but never comes across as heavy or over the top. An opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary nose of graphite, roasted meat, new saddle leather, truffles, violets, and blackberries. Full-bodied with superb purity, great definition, and a refreshing, zesty acidity that buttresses its enormous weight and richness, it is a tour de force in winemaking from Roman Bratasiuk. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2030+ Importer: Commonwealth Wine & Spirits Inc., Mansfield, MA; tel. (508) 328-6764
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of Australia’s most prodigious Syrahs, Clarendon Hills’ 2004 Syrah Astralis is fashioned from vines planted in 1920, and spends time in 100% new French oak from the cooper, Cadus. It boasts off the charts intensity as well as an opaque purple color, and notes of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, roasted coffee beans, pepper, smoke, and a hint of sweet toasty oak. This full-bodied, rich, intense, backward Syrah needs 2-3+ hours in the decanter if one is going to approach it at this point in its life. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. Importer: Wine Brokers Unlimited, tel. (866) 416-9463
About the Producer
Clarendon Hills is located in the famous McLaren Vale wine region, 40 kilometers south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. The vineyards at Clarendon Hills cover 200 acres (81 hectares) and are planted to Grenache, Merlot, Shiraz and Carbernet Sauvignon. The average age of the vines is 75 years for Grenache, 25 years for Merlot, 75 years for Shiraz and 60 years for Cabernet Sauvignon. In terms of vineyard management, the winery's owners practice minimal human intervention and respect the characteristics of the vineyard, the grapes and the vintage. The grapes are pruned by hand during the growing process and picked by hand when ripe. For winemaking, the grapes are picked and fermented naturally in open stainless steel vats for 14 to 21 days. Although most wineries in South Australia use American oak barrels to age their wines, the owner, Roman Bretesque, who is a fan of French wines, prefers to use French wines as a reference and only uses French oak barrels for the aging phase of his wines, which lasts for 18 months. The wines are then not clarified or filtered, in order to preserve the character of the vintage and the vineyard. Although Clarendon Hills also produces some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is the Grenache and Syrah wines from this single vineyard that are among the world's finest. These wines combine the elegance of French wines with the intensity of Australian wines, with a ripe, full-bodied palate and exceptional aging potential. Recent outstanding vintages include the 2003, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1996 and 1992.
