Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2024
$350.00 / bottle
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.
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
Wet and humid growing conditions in 2023 persisted throughout the year and continued in to the Spring time and Summer that preceded the 2024 harvest. The warm and wet conditions encouraged the Old Vine Grenache vineyards to shoot many buds and all Grenache sites were 25% heavier than usual. Slightly heavy crops were relatively behind ripening schedule in Summer but the clearing of the wet conditions in 2024 mid January lead to fantastic ripening period across late January to March. Large healthy bush vine canopies pulled the fruit in to line and their voluminous sizes protected the large berry bunches from the hot Summer heat. Hand harvesting occurred in mid March after a prolonged ripening period from veraison. The arriving fruit was exquisite with deep flavours and bountiful volumes. A rare combination of great yield and also exceptional quality. The 2024 growing season suited Grenache and the quality is evident in the collection of delicious 2024 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. 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
6000 bottles
Winemaker
Roman Bratasiuk
"Here we are with the top end wine from Clarendon Hills, now closed with long DIAM cork, signalling a shift to a more contemporary approach, perhaps. “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. Today’s approach is slightly refined with 100% destemmed and 20% new oak, 30% 2 year old and 50% 3-5 year old high end French oak.” I think this is sourced from 1920s plantings in Blewitt Springs.
Black fruit, raspberry, grilled meat, cocoa, lavender and dried herbs, a fair bit of spice, nutmeg in particular. It smells rich and ripe then pulls more refined in the mouth offering a ‘mineral’ thread of acidity, dark cherry, black olive and nori savoury stuff, with tight ferrous fine-grained tannin and a nutty finish of excellent length. Outstanding."
96/100
Astralis Syrah 2024
- Wine Front.com.au, Gary Walsh
