The Astralis vineyard produces the prestige cuvée of Clarendon Hills, and is one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Technically remaining the same since the conception of the estate in 1990, Astralis made its debut under that name in 1994. Previously known simply as Clarendon Hills Shiraz, Roman and his wife Sue felt that the wine deserved a name more befitting of its excellence - Astralis, "pertaining to the stars".
Clarendon Hills is blessed to be surrounded by a plethora of fantastic terroirs from which to source grapes, but Astralis has proved year-after-year to be one of the greatest on Earth. At a mere 4 hectares in size, the land is precious and production levels are very limited. As is to be expected from a winemaker guided by Burgundian philosophies, all the vines in Astralis are low yielding, yet again restricting supply. Barely 500 cases are produced each vintage - no great amount given the shocking demand.
Astralis was planted in 1920 and is composed of a topsoil layer of pebble-ridden clay with a subsoil of pure ironstone. These 100 year old vines grow on a gentle due-east facing slope and are now "farmed as they grow", meaning that Roman does not trellis them.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Astralis is still quite primary eliciting aromas of black plums, blueberry compote and blackcurrant liqueur with a savory and baking spice undercurrent plus a fragrant whiff of violets. Very structured, fine and complex in the medium to full-bodied mouth, this wine is revealing much more than when I first tasted it a year ago and is now showing layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, mocha, toast and spices before finishing with great length. Extraordinary wine. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2030+.
Drinking Window: 2014 - 2030
Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Review Date: 27th February 2014
Sourced from a single vineyard in the cool Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale, the vines over 90 years old; whole bunches and whole berries are included in the prolonged fermentation, followed by 18 months in 100% new, high quality, French oak; the extreme power of the palate is so effortless the wine has a touch of elegance that will emerge in the decades to come.
Drinking Window: 2012 - 2045
Reviewer Name: James Halliday
Review Date: 24th December 2012
- Details
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- Year 2010
- Colour Red
- Country Australia
- Region South Australia
- Sub Region NA
- Designation
- Classification
- Pack Size 6x75cl
- ABV 14.5°
- Drinking Window 2014 - 2045
- Drinking Recommendation Drinking Now, will improve
- LWIN 100153220100600750
- Reviews (2)
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100 Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Astralis is still quite primary eliciting aromas of black plums, blueberry compote and blackcurrant liqueur with a savory and baking spice undercurrent plus a fragrant whiff of violets. Very structured, fine and complex in the medium to full-bodied mouth, this wine is revealing much more than when I first tasted it a year ago and is now showing layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, mocha, toast and spices before finishing with great length. Extraordinary wine. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2030+.
Drinking Window: 2014 - 2030
Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Review Date: 27th February 2014
97 Halliday's Wine CompanionSourced from a single vineyard in the cool Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale, the vines over 90 years old; whole bunches and whole berries are included in the prolonged fermentation, followed by 18 months in 100% new, high quality, French oak; the extreme power of the palate is so effortless the wine has a touch of elegance that will emerge in the decades to come.
Drinking Window: 2012 - 2045
Reviewer Name: James Halliday
Review Date: 24th December 2012
- Producer
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Something of a maverick estate found in the heart of McLaren Vale, Clarendon Hills is a small but influential family-run winery. Today, we are delighted to offer a small parcel of their leading wine - the utterly perfect Astralis 2010. Founded by Roman Bratasiuk, a biochemist by trade, in 1990, Clarendon Hills is a pioneering producer of Australian fine wine. This legendary estate is still shepherded to greatness by this self-taught winemaker, whose obsession with the great wines of the world has seen him produce one of them! Deciding to focus on single-vineyard cuvées in order to convey the incredible terroirs available to him, Bratasiuk is determined to allow his wines to convey a sense of place. Thoughts of monstrously sweet, extracted, mass-produced Aussie Shiraz should be as far as possible from anyone's mind whilst considering Clarendon Hills. They are simply sublime expressions of varietal and regions. The 1994 and 1996 vintages are in the "Greatest 1000 Wines of All Time 1727-2006".
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Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz
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