2010 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 750ml

The lyrical and beautiful Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah is a highly complex and well concentrated wine with dark liquorice, blackberry, mocha aromas and touches of chamomile, earthy, bitumen, herb garden notes. It is a changing kaleidoscope of aromas and flavours with dry, slinky tannins, plenty of fruit richness and underlying savoury oak. With age the wine develops paneforte, dark chocolate, cedar, spicy aromas and superb chocolaty textures. The wine is generally more muscular than standard McLaren Vale Shirazes with a compelling buoyancy, energy and flavour length. Vinification takes place in variable capacity, open stainless steel fermenters and is then matured in new 'Burgundian' pièces for 18 months. Critic tasting note: (2010 vintage) "Good yields, warm days and cool nights with even ripening. This has a complex nose with dried meat, wet earth, black truffle and black tea, together with ripe dark plums and blackberries. Sweet spices and hints of leather, too. The palate has a plush, supple and concentrated feel with good freshness of blueberry flavor. Cocoa and dark chocolate here, as well as rich dark plums. Hints of espresso to close. Complex and composed. Drink now." - James Suckling Drinking Window: 2014-2045