2001 Clarendon Hills Liandra Vineyard Syrah (Shiraz)

Roman Bratasiuk has decided that from now on the Clarendon Hills Shiraz is to be called Syrah. This seems like a strange move to us, given that Clarendon Hills is an Australian company making wines from grapes which are called Shiraz in Australia. The explanation for the change of name can be found from Romans obsession with French wines and winemaking. In fact, his only regret in life is that his mother and father did not choose to migrate to France after the Second World War. Furthermore, most of his wine is exported where the consumers are more familiar with the term Syrah. Again, as with all Clarendon Hills wines, the vines are grown on a dry land farmed vineyard, yielding 2.5 – 3 tonnes per acre. The wine has been matured in 70% new oak and 30% one year old oak, two thirds of the barrels being Nevers Oak, whilst one third are Allier.Roman regards this wine as his Cote Rotie, although it does not have a Viognier component, (which he dislikes intensely, arguing that it is totally unnecessary when one has access to vineyards of the age and calibre of Clarendon Hills). All the Syrah wines tasted are from barrel.

Opaque black purple colour. Superb nose with wonderful aroma of blackberry, spice, confectionary, liquorice and blackpepper. The palate is mouthfilling with superb flavours of blackberry, liquorice, blackpepper and dark plums, followed by a subtle layer of toasted oak. (Only medium toast barrels are used.) Fine grained tannins, perfect balance, followed by a very long aftertaste of plum, liquorice, confectionary and lingering blackpepper.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc./vol. 13.5%