Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's 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+.
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James Suckling
Good yields, warm days and cool nights with even ripening. This has a complex nose with dried meat, wet earth, black truffle and black tea, together with ripe dark plums and blackberries. Sweet spices and hints of leather, too. The palate has a plush, supple and concentrated feel with good freshness of blueberry flavor. Cocoa and dark chocolate here, as well as rich dark plums. Hints of espresso to close. Complex and composed. Drink now.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Could this be one of the best New World red wines ever made? I just don't know! While it seems to be at a reasonable 14% alcohol level, the wine is a powerful expression of red, blue and black fruits. Some would call this a fruit bomb that more than kisses the palate. This wine is as demonstrative as there is. Any red wine that can be this expressive, without excessive heat is pretty amazing. But where will it go? It could even merit a higher rating in my book, I will just have to wait and see. Deep ruby, garnet color, showing a multi-hued look; bold, ripe fruit, multi-dimensional aroma, medium to full bodied, stays smooth and persistent on the palate; dry, medium acidity, fine balance; loaded with a power rush of a multitude of ripe berry flavors, smooth wood in the background; concludes with smooth, sweet tannins. Drinking pretty good now, time will bring the wine into greater focus and this could be the ultimate New World red! (Tasted: January 8, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.