By Clarendon Hills
2011 Astralis Syrah

Wine Details
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Alcohol: 14.50%

About the Winery
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.

About the Wine
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 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.

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 percent new, tight-grained French oak barrels. The wine was not fined or filtered prior to bottling.
[Information provided by Gallo]

2011 Clarendon Hills Astralis (Shiraz)
Producer: Clarendon Hills
From: Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Color: Red
Type: Table
Sweetness: Dry
Variety: Syrah
Rating: 96+
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: 26th Feb 2014
Source: 211, The Wine Advocate
Drink Date: 2015-2030
The deep garnet-purple 2011 Astralis offers a nose redolent of Christmas pudding, allspice, mocha and anise along with a lovely core of prunes, black cherry preserves and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant, effortless fruit, with a medium level of finely grained tannins, just enough acidity, and a long and multi-layered finish. Drink it 2015 to 2030+.
(At the time of tasting, these 2011 single vineyard wines from Clarendon Hills have not yet been released.)

Clarendon Hills Astralis
Winery: Clarendon Hills
Winery Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Shiraz
Vintage: 2011
Halliday Rating: 96 - Gold
Date when tasted: 13 Jan 2014
Alcohol: 14.50%
Drink By: 2041
Closure: Cork
Reviewed by: David Bicknell
Published: August 2019
Has the deepest colour of the eight '11 Clarendon Hills shirazs, and also the most powerful palate; the black fruits coat the mouth, yet, strangely, the tannins are fine - although in no way deficient, the length of the palate is awesome.

CLARENDON HILLS SYRAH MCLAREN VALE ASTRALIS 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2021
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Vintage: 2011
Score: 93
A cool, wet and late vintage, influenced by a La Nina weather pattern. This has red-plum aromas, together with a dry, woody edge with leafy notes, mahogany and dry-roasted spices. The palate is elegant and supple with earthy red fruit, such as plums and cherries. Nice definition and freshness. Drink over the next six years.