Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2004

"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+. "

98 Points

The Wine Advocate

"The 2004 is a stunner, yielding up scents of flowers and spice, framed by hints of vanillin oak. It's dense and amply textured in the mouth, packed with wonderfully expressive blackberry and blueberry fruit. A tour de force of Australian winemaking."

98 Points

Wine Enthusiast

"Deep, dense and brooding. A smoky, thick Shiraz that feels open and welcoming as the finish expands and persists. Cherry, chocolate and espresso notes mingle harmoniously and hint at loamy earth as the finish sails on and on. Best from 2010 through 2020. 500 cases imported. "

97 Points

Wine Spectator

"Inky, bright-rimmed purple. Explosive, captivating aromas of every imaginable red and dark berry, kirsch, spicecake, pipe tobacco and floral essences. Thick and velvety in texture, with a stunning vibrancy to the boysenberry and blackberry liqueur flavors. Chewy and almost colloidal, but there's superb energy and vivacity here as well. A wild, almost overwhelming wine with great intensity and concentration, not to mention sweetness and purity. Does the finish here ever go away? I hope not."

96 Points

International Wine Cellar

"Astralis is Roman Bratasiuk's top selection of syrah, from an east-facing plot of 70-year-old, dry-grown vines on their own roots. The style of the wine is extreme, employing what is clearly exceptional fruit and concentrating it into a ripe, velvety mass of flavor. There is certainly an audience for this product, but while I can appreciate its supple, chocolate and honey flavors and recognize its quality, I would be hard pressed to define Astralis as a wine. It's more a shiraz concentrate; cut with two parts water, it becomes significantly more vinous."

90 Points

Wine & Spirits

The top 3 most liked reviews for this wine.

A Customer - Boston, Massachusetts

I had the opportunity to try this stunner at the wine shop in which I am currently employed. Vendors brought in a whole collection of 2004 Clarendon Hills wines, and the Astralis was the highlight. Unbelievable intensity, deep black fruits. Round and full-bodied, nice tannin. The finish went on and on... definitely one of the best experiences I've had with wine.

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