Clarendon Hills 2025 Marsanne Roussanne and 2024 Syrah Collection Release Pack

Frangipani, Nashi Pear, red apple and honeydew melon with notes of ginger, nutmeg, mace and white pepper set amongst chamomile, honey and bees wax. With air notes of pineapple, banana and banana skin, oatmeal, macadamia, white tea and a touch of peach and apricot emerge. The nose has a full helping of character in whats best described as a full bodied white with many fruit layers and vivid spice details and balancing natural acidity. The palate staining harmonic resonance of flavour across the finish is impressive also. There’s controlled intensity on display and amazing depth of flavour but also brilliant counter control of acid and structure. The decadence on the nose from the Marsanne is counterweighted by the bright acidity from the Roussanne. By utilising Roussanne’s savoury character to polish everything it takes off some of the richness out of Marsanne’s fruit intensity to feel more nimble, lighter and acrobatic. The 51% Marsanne to 49% Roussanne ratio yields a compelling wine.

Planted in the rocky high reaches of cool climate Clarendon, McLaren Vale the winemaker designed Domaine Clarendon Syrah vineyard utilises single stake vines, reminiscent of northern Rhone vineyards to express the ancient Clarendon terroir with flair and grace. Consistent tasting notes of graphite, iodine, roast meat, black cardamom, chocolate and black olive with blueberry and red plum fruits on a layered silken palate. This now 20 year old  vineyard has  profound pedigree and offers a solid introduction to the Clarendon Hills Syrah collection. Taste the rocks and listen to their ancient story.
The Domaine Clarendon Syrah vineyard was designed and planted by Roman Bratasiuk in 2003. Our flagship, Astralis Syrah vineyard cuttings were propagated across this select Clarendon site that spans an 1100 metre width and has an 80 metre altitude drop. The site was propagated with single stake vines, a first for McLaren Vale. The  36 acre vineyard features a major eastern facade that descends in to the ancient Onkaparinga Gorge and sits atop of some of the oldest geology in all of McLaren Vale dated 700-1600 million years of age. The Clarendon location overlooks all of Blewitt Springs and the greater McLaren Vale and St Vincent Gulf vista. A simply magical location that is the embodiment of an enduring dream of Roman Bratasiuk’s to design and create a world class vineyard and further his 37  year pursuit of capturing ultimate terroir expressions across the local sub-districts of Blewitt Springs and Clarendon regions in McLaren Vale.
Single stake, non cordon trellised, 7 foot tall bush vines reflect the ancient terroir of Clarendon sub-region with astonishing constitution. The site is McLaren Vale’s highest altitude vineyard and is located in the coolest part of McLaren Vale on its North Eastern border with the cool climate Adelaide Hills wine region. The site demonstrates a definitive sense of place and exhibits a cool climate Syrah character laced with natural acidity and Asian spices.

Located in the South Western edge of the famous Blewitt Springs sands, the site reveals a mid weight expression. Offering lifted floral notes that mix with bacon fat, leather and roast meats; the satsuma plum backbone and silken texture offers a youthful approachability and a lengthy opportunity in the cellar to pursue those truffled, earthy characters wine aficionados seek. The 2024 offers unbridled approachability with an already silken smooth palate and layer upon layer of earthy notes, black olive tapenade and salami. Experience youthful, exquisitely crafted Blewitt Springs Syrah with medium weight and high approachability..

Hailing from the prestigious Sandown property located in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale where the sister wine, Sandown Cabernet Sauvignon originates. The old Sandown Syrah patch was planted in the mid 1930’s and yields a microscopic few bunches per vine or around 300 dozen every year. The western facing patch and features significant ironstone and quartz sub-terrainial content. The wine is intensely perfumed and very individual. Earth, sandalwood and signature incense like spices throughout the fruit and makes for a highly exotic expression of Blewitt Springs Syrah. Cola, sarsaparilla, incense, blackcurrant, blueberry, black olive, fine Italian leather and roasted meat are all on display with recessed power woven throughout this highly perfumed and multi-layered, seamless example. Seamless in its majesty and highlights a weightless power. Magic.

The 2024 vintage brings about a 30 year Anniversary of our flagship Syrah. Created by Clarendon Hills founder Roman Bratasiuk, it was his discovery of how exceptional old vine dry grown Blewitt Springs Shiraz and grenache can be and he was compelled to elevate his Shiraz offering after capturing it as Clarendon Hills only Shiraz expression in the years 1990 to 1993. By the year 1994 has been harvested and the wines were sleeping through their second winter just before bottling Roman had a moment of celestial inspiration and decided ASTRALIS would best frame his visionary ultimate expression of Blewitt Springs terroir. The 2024 vintage release reflects 30 years of refinement and relentless pragmatism. In 1994 the fruit was fermented with 100% stalks and had 100% new oak. Todays approach is slightly refined with 100% destemmed and 20% new oak, 80% seasoned high end French Oak.

The Astralis Syrah vineyard has been captured by legendary winemaker Roman Bratasiuk over the last 35 years and this is a magical release. Roman has pushed his belief that this is one of the greatest single vineyards in the world to the n’th degree and has cultured a McLaren Vale icon across the last 3 decades. Hand picked and wild yeast fermented the wine is matured in the highest quality French Oak for 18 months before being bottled at the winery by the very same team that made it. Majesty, elegance and seamless power are some of the most enduring comments on the Astralis, whose name comes from a reference to the night sky. Astralis is defined as a celestial body and or pertaining to the stars. Prestigious Australian wine company Langtons ranks Astralis as a classified wine.  The wine has received numerous high praise with 2 recent perfect 100 point scores and also 14 other vintages that are near perfectly scored with a 98 or 99 point score. Astralis has featured in exclusive books such as 'The 1000 Greatest Wines of All Time' written by 11 European MW's. Robert Parker famously wrote a hard cover book, 'The Worlds Greatest Wine Estates' and Astralis features prominently within the Clarendon Hills section. Astralis is poured in Emirates First Class wine service and also features in countless Michelin starred restaurants around the world.