Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2021 Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Syrah
$150.00 / bottle
The Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Syrah vineyard is classified by Clarendon Hills as a Grand Cru site and possesses phenomenal power and a wealth of complexity. The Onkaparinga Syrah produces one of the most prolific Syrah expressions in the Clarendon Hills cellar every vintage. The vineyard used to be considered a Penfolds Grange constituent site in the 1980’s and the pedigree is clearly evident. Deeply layered and recessed, laying in wait for future generations is a story of ancient Blewitt Springs terroir. The site sits atop of the famous Blewitt Springs deep sandy soils and is located in rocky ironstone, shale and quartz pebbles and when coupled with very old, dry grown, pre-phylloxera Syrah vines, they forge an expression of first class Australian terroir that rivals the best in the world.
Specifications
RegionRegion
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale: 10 kms N/E of McLaren Vale. 250 metres above sea level. High altitiude Blewitt Springs site above the sands. Terroir composed of decomposed ironstone, quartz, shale and schist. Circa 750 million year old geology sprawls across the vineyard location.
Conditions
After three dry and warm-to-hot vintages in a row, 2021 was a bit of a relief for local winemakers. Heavy rain in the early growing season gave healthy levels of balanced fruit, with the total crush up 28% from the lows of 2020. After a hot start to the season, the weather cooled in December, avoiding any significant heat spikes. The cooler ripening weather and elevated yields show in the elegance and generous fruit in the wines.
Winemaking
Low yielding, dry grown vines from the Blewitt Springs region in McLaren Vale were hand-picked and followed by a 60% whole berry, wild yeast fermentation. All pressings were returned to barrel and eventually bottled onsite without fining or filtration after 18 months in French Oak.
Maturation
18 months, within a hierarchy of 1-5 year old tightly grained French Oak. Bottled at the winery with no fining or filtration.
Grape Variety
100% Syrah, single vine, old vines
Closure
DIAM
Production
5400 bottles
Winemaker
Roman Bratasiuk
"The aromas that mark this brilliant wine, the most northern Rhône-like of the suite, are strong and consistent, denoted by the aura of a great terroir. Sumptuous notes of porcini mushrooms, smoked meats of all types, bouillon, star anise and a verdant kick for lift. Long, plush and forceful. While this is stylized and in synch with the riper expressions of 2021, it boasts an extra dimension and greater detail. Drink or hold."
96/100
Clarendon Hills 2021 Onkaparinga Syrah February 2024
- James Suckling, Ned Goodwin MW
"The 2021 Onkaparinga Syrah is aromatically framed by malty/sandalwood/caramel(?) oak, suggesting that a decant prior to drinking is necessary. The fruit that sits behind it is purple and succulent, filling the mouth with flavor, wall to wall. Clove, star anise, blueberry coulis, salted licorice, roast beef crust, deli meats, molasses and crushed black pepper. There are some pink peppercorns, perhaps. There is black olive and dark bitter chocolate there, too. It has gritty tannins, in the best way. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam."
Clarendon Hills 2021 Onkaparinga Syrah
95/100
- Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
