Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Syrah 2018 (3 Bottles) McLaren Vale, South Australia

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

Planted in the rocky high reaches of cool climate Clarendon, McLaren Vale the winemaker designed Domaine Clarendon Syrah vineyard utilises single stake vines, reminiscent of northern Rhone vineyards to express the ancient Clarendon terroir with flair and grace. Consistent tasting notes of graphite, iodine, roast meat, black cardamom, chocolate and black olive with blueberry plum fruits on a layered silken palate. This young vineyard of profound pedigree offers a solid introduction to the Clarendon Hills collection. Taste the rocks and listen to their ancient story.

Domaine Clarendon Syrah vineyard was designed and planted by Roman Bratasiuk in 2003. Astralis vineyard cuttings were propagated across a select Clarendon site that spans an 1100 metre width and an 80 metre altitude drop. The 36 acre vineyard also features a major eastern facade that descends in to the ancient Onkaparinga Gorge and sits atop of some of the oldest geology in all of McLaren Vale. The Clarendon location overlooks all of Blewitt Springs and the greater McLaren Vale and St Vincent Gulf vista. A simply magical location that is the embodiment of an enduring dream of Roman Bratasiuk’s to design and create a world class vineyard and further his 33 year pursuit of capturing ultimate terroir expressions across the local sub-districts of Blewitt Springs and Clarendon regions in McLaren Vale.

Single stake, non cordon trellised, 7 foot tall bush vines reflect the ancient terroir of Clarendon sub-region with astonishing constitution. The site is McLaren Vale’s highest altitude vineyard and is located in the coolest part of McLaren Vale on its North Eastern border with the cool climate Adelaide Hills wine region. The site demonstrates a definitive sense of place and exhibits a cool climate Syrah character laced with natural acidity and Asian spices.

“Interesting wines from Clarendon Hills. They sit a little outside of the mainstream style, I think, which is no bad thing.

Black fruit, spice, liquorice, lavender, mint and dried roses. Medium to full-bodied, ripe black fruit, but has perfume and spice, some beef dripping and black olive, a firm chalky feel to tannin, and while it’s distinctly savoury, it’s also packed with sweet dark fruit and spiced plum cake. Dry tannin to close on a pretty long finish. Meaty and umami, quite different, but very good.”