2013 Clarendon Hills 'Astralis' Syrah

Clarendon Hills ‘Astralis’ Syrah
Astralis is the flagship Syrah from Clarendon Hills, sourced exclusively from a single dry-grown, low-yielding vineyard of old bush vines in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. First released in 1994, it is produced using traditional winemaking techniques—hand harvesting, whole-berry fermentation, and maturation in French oak—to preserve site expression.

97 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Volatile spring, leading to a lower-yielding vintage. This has very complex aromas of exotic spices with graphite and dark plums, as well as black tea, iodine, white pepper and some redder plum, too. The palate has a striking level of concentration of rich red plums and blackberries. Super-fine, long tannins hold so long. Powerful. Very youthful. Drink over the next decade or more.

96 Points, James Halliday, The Wine Companion
Dark and inky red, this monumentally proportioned wine has all the hallmarks of a classic Astralis, the bouquet with an endless array of detail. The palate is plush and expansive with layer-upon-layer of inky fruit and powerful tannins. Needless to say, exceptionally long and powerful.`

95 Points - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Full-bodied, creamy and rich, the 2013 Astralis Syrah lacks a bit of precision on the nose, but the palate delivers stunning layers of lush blueberry fruit, made savory by the addition of coffee grounds and black olives. Long and plush on the finish, it's a tremendous effort for the vintage.