CLARENDON HILLS Domaine Clarendon Syrah, McLaren Vale

Domaine Clarendon Syrah (first vintage 2009) comes from a vineyard planted in 2005 using cuttings from Clarendon Hills’ famous Astralis vineyard. The carefully chosen site is, at 350 metres, the highest in McLaren Vale and offers yields of less than one tonne per acre. The wine itself is soft and seductive with an array of rich fruit aromas and flavours running from blackberry and blackcurrant to plum and blueberry. This style has plenty of immediate drinking appeal but savoury, earthy, spicy notes, background French oak and finely textured tannins indicate 5-10 year cellaring prospects. Good concentration and length of flavour, but also finesse and balance. A winning Shiraz style with wide appeal.