Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2008

The Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2008 is a phoenix that rose from the atrocities of the 2008 heat wave vintage. Most wines in 2008 were marred by the devastating 20-day-long heat wave where minimum temperatures didn’t go below 38 ˚ C and maximum temperatures elevated above 42 ˚ C. Enter the low yield ancient Astralis vineyard and this was picked at the very beginning of the heat wave and was spared the heat’s devastating consequence. The result is legendary. Weighing in with 99 points from Wine Advocate, this wine is truly a hedonist’s delight. Earthy forest floor, autumnal underbrush and autumnal notes flow through this multi-layer and decadent example. While representative of a hot year,  the majestic Astralis vineyard is brimming with perfectly weighted and integrated acidity that continues to keep this wine fresh and alive. At 15 years of age the Astralis cuvee appears extremely ‘old world’ in its disposition and you would be hard to pick this as Australian. Layer with earth, chocolate, flowers, coco powder, black olive, black tea, mahogany, leather boots and caramel macaron-like silky palate. This a mature example that will continue to develop and should see a plateau of development in another 15 years that will extend for another 20 years. Lots of life ahead for this already stunning cellar mature example. Members only.