Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2021 Clarendon Hills Sandown Syrah
$100.00 / bottle
Hailing from the prestigious Sandown property located in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale where the sister wine, Sandown Cabernet Sauvignon originates. The Sandown Syrah is a new addition in 2022 to the Clarendon Hills portfolio. The Syrah patch was planted in the mid 1940’s and yields a microscopic 250-300 dozen per annum. The Sandown Syrah patch is west facing and features significant ironstone content. The site yields a signature incense like spice throughout the fruit and makes for a highly exotic expression of Blewitt Springs Syrah. Cola, sarsaparilla, incense, blackcurrant, blueberry, black olive, Italian leather, Sandalwood and roasted meat are all on display with recessed power woven throughout this highly perfumed and multi-layered, seamless example.
Specifications
RegionRegion
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. A sprawling hillside region 10 kms North East of McLaren Vale town centre famous for its added comparative elevation and abundant hillside aspects whose rich ironstone and deep sand deposits forge individual and highly fragrant wines. Sandown Syrahis a single vineyard wine from a patch of old gnarly old vines that are dry grown and low yielding. This patch was planted in the 1930’s. This site has a Western aspect and is located at 230 metres above sea level and represents Blewitt Springs loamy, deep sand, free draining soils with pebbled ironstone, quartz and shale content.
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
" A wine that I may prefer in this vintage over the remarkable and overall superior quality of the '22s from this producer. Synergistic aromas of sarsaparilla, pickled orange zest, tapenade and dried roses. Notes of boysenberries and cream that carry over to the long, effortless finish. This will age well, but is already juicy enough to drink with an open mind and food on the table. A superb effort. Drink or hold."
95/100
- James Suckling, Ned Goodwin MW
"Of the three Syrahs tasted alongside each other today, the 2021 Sandown Syrah has the clearest display of fruit purity. The tannins are earthy and savory and even a little gritty (which only adds to the charm for this taster), and they counterbalance the purple fruit. It is elegant and fine—if a wine this big can be called that—with a squid-ink disposition, salted licorice, a hint of pistachio and rosewater, petrichor, wet slate, graphite and black tea. This is a wholly terrestrial wine here, like kicked autumn leaves, vineyard dirt and hot granite. It is angled, beguiling and complex. The acid through the finish has a sweet orange character to it—I want to say blood orange, but it's not quite right. Mandarin zest, perhaps. This is the most complex and restrained of the Shiraz in 2021. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam."
Clarendon Hills 2021 Sandown Syrah
95/100
- Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
