2002 Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Bottle (750ml)

Robert Parker | 99 Points

"The 2002 Syrah Astralis Vineyard rivals the greatest wines Roman Bratasiuk has made in his 15-year career. This compelling, black/blue-hued offering from 75-year-old Syrah vines tastes like blood of the vine. An extraordinary perfume of flowers, creme de cassis, blackberries, roasted meat, new saddle leather, and earth is followed by a wine with sweet tannin, sensational concentration, full body, an unctuous texture, and a full-throttle, tannic finish. Yet it reveals unbelievable elegance and finesse. Too many Euro-centric elitists argue that Australian wines are too rich and over the top, but all of these offerings have been made by someone with great talent and vision who takes the extraordinary ripeness and purity of fruit available from these old vine vineyards and crafts them into wines that are quite European in style ... just richer and denser. The 2002 Astralis is a tour de force."

Before “single vineyard” meant anything in Australia, Roman Bratasiuk was already doing it.

He founded Clarendon Hills in 1990, taught himself winemaking, and changed the game by pioneering single-vineyard wines and Australia’s first 100% Grenache from Blewitt Springs.

That same year, he discovered Astralis which became one of the greatest Syrah sites on earth.

From 75+ year old, dry-farmed vines in McLaren Vale, planted in deep sandy soils over ironstone, this is Syrah on another level.

This is Old World in style but delivers a richer, denser, more full throttle drinking experience!