96 Points James Halliday | McLaren Vale Syrah at Its Most Profound — A Collector's Wine of Rare Intensity

My Wine Man on Clarendon Hills

Clarendon Hills was established by Roman Bratasiuk in 1990 with a singular obsession: to make the finest possible Syrah and Grenache from McLaren Vale's oldest, most stressed vines. Astralis is the estate's undisputed flagship — sourced from a single block of 1920s-planted Syrah on ancient Clarendon soils. The 2007, now 18 years in bottle, is at the height of its powers.

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet with developing complexity. Earthy forest floor, dark cherry, blackberry, dried herbs, savoury spice, cedar and a haunting mineral thread. The palate is full-bodied, savoury and integrated — ripe seamless tannins and a long, complex finish of remarkable elegance for a wine of this concentration. 96 Points — James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied, savoury and complex. Drinking magnificently now at peak maturity. Decant 2 hours. Drink through 2035.

Food Pairing

An 18-year-old 96-point McLaren Vale icon deserves the finest cut. We love it with Cape Grim Grass-Fed Tomahawk Steak from My Meat Man — reverse-seared low and slow before a hard finish on the grill, the mineral-rich Cape Grim beef is a magnificent match for Astralis's earthy depth, dark cherry and seamless mature tannins.