Clarendon Hills 2003 Syrah Astralis Vineyard

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 5th 2006 at 12:02PM

The 2003 Syrah Astralis Vineyard from Clarendon HIlls is the latest addition to my list of fantasy wines. Usually the thought of an Australian Syrah doesn't inspire me to dream of the day my ship comes in and my wine cellar runneth over but this is no ordinary Syrah. This wine has received high marks from Wine Advocate which proclaimed it as being nearly as good as the 2002, a wine Robert Parker referred to as being "akin to midnight oil." Parker has anointed Clarendon Hills winemaker as one of the world's best. The Astralis vineyard is planted with the old clones of low-yielding Syrah grapes and matured in French oak barrels. The 2003 has an inky purple color with aromas of white flowers, chocolate and espresso roast. It sells for $319.99 from wine.com and should be cellared for another five to eight years for maximum enjoyment.

Tags: australian wine, clarendon hills, ClarendonHills, fine wine, luxury, syrah, syrah grapes, wine