Clarendon Hills Onakaparinga Syrah, Clarendon, Australia

克拉倫敦山歐那卡帕靈加西拉紅葡萄酒

點擊次數：5356

Very deep purple-black colored, the 2009 Onkaparinga Vineyard Syrah presents gamey / earthy aromas of damp loam, black truffles, grilled pigeon breast and iron ore over a core of warm blackberries, mulberries and prunes. Full bodied and rich in the mouth, it has a very high lift of crisp acid with medium to firm, chewy tannins and a long, minerally finish. Drink this one 2012 to 2021+. Importer: Wine Brokers Unlimited, Hayward, CA

The 2008 Onkaparinga Vineyard Syrah is very deep garnet-purple in color, revealing notes of tar and tires over fruits of the forest conserve, warm black currant, licorice, loam, vanilla, cedar, meat and damp leaves. Ripe and fleshy in the mouth, it has a solid backbone of high acid and medium-firm fine tannins, finishing long and earthy. It should be best from 2013 to 2020+. Importer: Wine Brokers Unlimited, Hayward, CA

In a vintage that seemed to produce lean, structured, sinewy wines, the 2007 Syrah Onkaparinga borders on opulence, a rarity in 2007. Complex aromas of incense, violets, spice box, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry are followed by a medium to full-bodied, dense, sweetly-fruited wine with layers of flavor, excellent density, and well concealed structure. It will improve in the cellar over the next 4-6 years and drink well through 2022 and even longer according to the winery. In a sign of the times, pricing for Roman Bratasiuk’s Clarendon Hills portfolio has been reduced by close to 50% across the board. Suddenly, most of the wines offer an excellent price to quality relationship. As usual, the Clarendon Hills wines are unblended, 100% varietal, sourced from mostly old-vine, ungrafted, single vineyards, fermented naturally, and bottled without fining or filtration. Only seasoned oak is used for the Grenache bottlings, 100% new French oak for the Merlot and Cabernets, and 50-100% new French oak for the Syrahs depending upon the cuvee. There is a new addition to the portfolio, a Mourvedre sourced from 12 year old vines and aged in 2 year old French oak. The year 2007 was more difficult than the three that preceded it, marked by a 45-50% reduction in crop levels and elevated tannin from the resulting thick skins. As Bratasiuk notes, “Tight, drying tannin is the hallmark of the vintage.” Nevertheless, this is an impressive collection from one of Australia’s icon wineries.Importer: E & J Gallo, Modesto, CA; www.clarendonhills.com.au

The 2006 Syrah Onkaparinga was reviewed as a barrel sample in Issue 173. From a better vintage, it is a fragrant, relatively forward, spicy, layered and friendly Syrah that will evolve for another 4-6 years. In a sign of the times, pricing for Roman Bratasiuk’s Clarendon Hills portfolio has been reduced by close to 50% across the board. Suddenly, most of the wines offer an excellent price to quality relationship. As usual, the Clarendon Hills wines are unblended, 100% varietal, sourced from mostly old-vine, ungrafted, single vineyards, fermented naturally, and bottled without fining or filtration. Only seasoned oak is used for the Grenache bottlings, 100% new French oak for the Merlot and Cabernets, and 50-100% new French oak for the Syrahs depending upon the cuvee. There is a new addition to the portfolio, a Mourvedre sourced from 12 year old vines and aged in 2 year old French oak. The year 2007 was more difficult than the three that preceded it, marked by a 45-50% reduction in crop levels and elevated tannin from the resulting thick skins. As Bratasiuk notes, “Tight, drying tannin is the hallmark of the vintage.” Nevertheless, this is an impressive collection from one of Australia’s icon wineries.Importer: E & J Gallo, Modesto, CA; www.clarendonhills.com.au

The 2005 Syrah Onkaparinga delivers scents of toasty oak, crushed rock, pencil lead, game, bacon, and blueberry. Voluptuous but impeccably balanced, it has enough structure to evolve for 8-10 years and should drink well through 2030. Importer: E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, CA; www.clarendonhills.com.au