Lot 185
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 1998 (1) 98 WA
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 2001 (1) 92 WS 99 WA
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 2004 (1) 97 WS 98 WA
Lot 185 Details
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 1998 (1)McLaren Vale.
A sensational wine, the 1998 Syrah Astralis is a candidate for perfection. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a big, complex, sweet perfume of charcoal, spring flowers, blackberry liqueur, roasted meats, and damp, forest floor-like notes. Enormously endowed, with good acid, backstrapping tannin levels, fabulous concentration, and a layered mouthfeel, it is beginning to throw off some of its closed, impenetrable personality. A long-termer, it needs another 5-7 years to fully open, and should last for 2-3 decades thereafter. 98 WA
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 2001 (1)
McLaren Vale.
The 2001 Syrah Astralis Vineyard may be just as compelling as the 2002. Tighter because of being in the bottle, it is an extraordinary effort that offers the essence of graphite, blackberry liqueur, espresso, and acacia flowers, all combining into an olfactory smorgasbord for the senses. Sensationally concentrated, with sweet tannin, but neither weighty nor over the top as might be expected for a wine of such extreme richness, it is an extraordinarily well-delineated Syrah that should hit its prime in 10-12 years, and last for 30-40. Hail Caesar ... I mean Roman! 92 WS 99 WA
CLARENDON HILLS ASTRALIS SHIRAZ 2004 (1)
McLaren Vale.
One of Australia’s most prodigious Syrahs, Clarendon Hills’ 2004 Syrah Astralis is fashioned from vines planted in 1920, and spends time in 100% new French oak from the cooper, Cadus. It boasts off the charts intensity as well as an opaque purple color, and notes of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, roasted coffee beans, pepper, smoke, and a hint of sweet toasty oak. This full-bodied, rich, intense, backward Syrah needs 2-3+ hours in the decanter if one is going to approach it at this point in its life. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. 97 WS 98 WA
3 bts. per lot $600 - $900