Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2023
$350.00 / bottle
The Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2023 release offers both collectors and connoisseurs alike an opportunity to witness a legend in the making. 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 13 other vintages that are near perfectly scored with a 98 or 99 point score.
Specifications
RegionRegion
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale is a sprawling hillside region 12 kms North East of McLaren Vale town centre. Famous for its deep sands and many flowing hillsides, Blewitt Springs is home to some of the oldest Old Vine Grenache plantations in the world. The Romas Grenache Vineyard was planted circa 1920. The region enjoys added comparative elevation to its surrounding McLaren Vale districts and its abundantly flowing hillside aspects have a deeper hidden secret to their prominence: a mineral rich subterranean, highly decayed layer of ironstone and quartz that impart a myriad of nuanced mineral notes to the wines produced. The 6 km proximity to the Great Southern Ocean and St Vincents Gulf also imparts a gift of Chardonnay like acidity to the reds which impart an infinite freshness to the wine style.
Conditions
The 2023 vintage was the third La Niña growing cycle in a row of vintages since 2021. The markedly cool and late ripening seasons of La Niña, of the 3 last vintages, 2023 would turn out to the latest overall picked and best overall vintage of the trio. The relentlessly wet winter of 2022 continued in to a wet and warm and unusually humid spring time encouraging optimal canopies and fruit set. However very mild summer ensued and the vineyards did not record a 40 degree Celsius day for the Summer, which was unique. The mild Summer delayed the onset of veraison as a result. Autumn soon arrived and so did perfect sunny 21 degree weather every day coupled with very cool nights. Eventual full maturity came approximately 3-4 weeks later than the already late 2022 vintage. The result: amazingly exquisite fruit with preserved acidity and remarkable floral aromas. Some of the most exceptional fruit that we have picked in recent years. Throughout the entire production process from grapes approaching full ripeness, at the crusher, in the tank, in the press, out of the barrel and in to our glasses the 2023 wines have demonstrated another very special layer. The floral component and perfectly portrayed fruit core gives these wines a an uncanny precociousness to them.
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. Approximately 30% brand new oak. 20% 1 year old and 50% seasoned 2-5 year old barriques.
Grape Variety
100% Old Vine Syrah, vines planted in 1920
Closure
DIAM
Production
4000 bottles
Winemaker
Roman Bratasiuk
This is often a powerfully compressed wine, gruff even, but here it follows the theme of the '23s. Some may miss the gravitas. Not me. This is the best Astralis I have tasted. From 1920s vines that feel like they have drawn up the essence of site – mineral inflected, rugged yet also expansive and expressive. Fleet of foot, too. Dark berries and cherries, struck iron and tea leaves, bitter chocolate, anise; this is like no Astralis prior, though malty oak undercurrents still flow, and it will be interesting to see the direction going forward. If you’re chasing heft, this is not the wine, but, if you care about expression of place and graceful detail, it’s a stunner.
97/100
Astralis Syrah 2023
- Wine Companion, Marcus Ellis, June 2025
Such a refined and balanced release of this famed wine with some early-drinking approachability. Aromas of blood plums, licorice, blackberry compote, iodine and fresh herbs. The palate is full-bodied with firmly framed tannins and a tactile, mouthwatering mouthfeel, showing blueberries, graphite, black olives and peppercorns. Excellent. Drink or hold.
97/100
Astralis Syrah 2023
- James Suckling, Ryan Montgomery, June 2025
The 2023 Astralis Syrah is silky and detailed, fine and spicy. The depth of flavor on offer here is all the more remarkable at the modest 13.5% alcohol. This is restraint in action, yet it doesn't come at the expense of length of flavor nor of intensity. While some may criticize its "foot off the gas" approach to ripeness in this cool vintage, I would counter with, "only in the context of this producer," and I commend the wine. It is lacking nothing besides several points of alcohol; it is fresh, black as the ace of spades, spicy and long. There are notes of sumac, peppercorns, anise, hung deli meat, dried mint, blackberry, pomegranate and tapenade. Ripper. The (balanced) oak is showing at this young age, but it is in good harmony with the fruit and will ameliorate given time. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam.
97/100
Astralis Syrah 2023
- Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin, June 2025
