By Clarendon Hills
2009 Astralis Syrah

Technical Details
Varietal Content: 100% Syrah

Vineyard Notes
Clarendon Hills is a small family-run winery based in Clarendon, South Australia. Founded by biochemist Roman Bratasiuk in 1990, the story of Clarendon Hills is one of passion, dedication, and commitment to exceptional wine. Though never trained as a winemaker, Roman combined his scientific knowledge and artistic expression in the winery to create the single varietal wine portfolio of Clarendon Hills. Striving for pure vineyard and varietal expression, Clarendon Hills is dedicated to complex wines that rival the best in the world.

Winemaker Notes
The grapes for Astralis were selected from low-yielding, dry-grown, pre-phylloxera vines planted in 1920. Planted in loamy, clay soils, we handpicked the grapes over several passes to ensure optimal ripeness of the fruit. We used some whole berries in fermentation, which occurred in open-top tanks using wild yeast strains and varied maceration periods. All pressings returned to the barrel for 18 months of aging in 100% new, tight-grained French oak barrels. The wine was not fined or filtered before bottling.

Tasting Notes
The pride of our portfolio, Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah has a deep black-purple crimson color that alludes to its aromas of boysenberry, forest floor, Asian spice, and flavors of ripe blackberry. An overall full-bodied wine, the Astralis is softened by silky tannins and a mouth-engulfing structure that sails on seamlessly to a long, lingering finish.
[Information provided by Gallo]

2009 Clarendon Hills Astralis (Shiraz)
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Rating: 97
Producer: Clarendon Hills
Color: Red
Type: Table
Sweetness: Dry
Variety: Syrah
Drink Date: 2014 - 2027
Issue Date: 26th Feb 2014
Source: 211, The Wine Advocate
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Astralis presents a very fruity, floral nose with lifted notes of blueberries. The palate is concentrated with a slight prune character and has very crisp acidity. At this stage the phenolics are showing a little chewy before finishing long. Drink it now to 2027+.

Clarendon Hills Astralis
Rating: 96
Drink By: 2040
Date Tasted: 28 Mar 2012
Winery: Clarendon Hills
Winery Region: Mclaren Vale
Variety: Syrah
Vintage: 2009
James Halliday - Published on 17 Jul 2012
Ever controversial, because of its self-endowed classification of '1er Grand Cru'. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Blewitt Springs area, with [...] Shiraz vines, open-fermented with partial whole berry and whole bunch inclusion; ultimately spending 18 months in 100% new French oak. Deep but bright purple-crimson; strong overtones of bitter chocolate and licorice to the foundation of black fruits on the bouquet keep steering the same course on the massive, full-bodied palate; the tannins are very obvious, but soft and ripe, leaving the wine with excellent balance.

CLARENDON HILLS SYRAH MCLAREN VALE ASTRALIS 2009
Score: 94
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Vintage: 2009
Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021
Volatile spring weather and an uneven fruit set with a warm, early summer. The nose has aromas of forest wood, earthy notes and dry spices with blueberries and blackberries on offer. The palate has a thread of black tea-like flavor with essence-like concentration of dark plum. The tannins are slightly raised. Drink over the next five years.

CLARENDON HILLS Syrah Clarendon Astralis 2009
Score: 94
Release Price: $225
Country: Australia
Region: Australia
Issue: Aug 31, 2015
Dense and focused, with pickle and dill overtones layered around a rich core of black plum, licorice and white chocolate flavors, lingering expressively against nubby tannins. Has presence and persistence. Best from 2018 through 2025. -HS