High-altitude McLaren Vale Syrah with floral lift, savoury depth and beautifully polished structure.

Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Syrah 2023 comes from a 36-acre single vineyard planted at around 350 metres in Clarendon, on the northern reaches of McLaren Vale. The vineyard was established from Astralis cuttings, with single-stake vines planted into ancient rock and farmed dry. The unusually cool and late 2023 season allowed the fruit an extended ripening period while preserving acidity and intensely floral aromatics. Hand-picked fruit was fermented with wild yeast using approximately 20% whole berries before maturation in French oak. The result is a distinctly refined expression of McLaren Vale Syrah, balancing ripe dark fruit with savoury complexity and impressive freshness.

Maturation takes place for 18 months in tightly grained French oak ranging from one to five years of age, after which the wine is bottled onsite without fining or filtration. Dark plum and blackberry sit alongside black olive, smoked meat, leather and pepper, while violets and rose-like florals bring lift to the aromatic profile. The palate has considerable flavour but remains poised and mid-weight rather than heavy, with fine tannins and bright acidity giving definition. Savoury notes of cured meat, graphite, black tea and spice build through the middle, adding complexity without obscuring the fruit. The finish is long, polished and finely detailed, showing the restraint and elegance that marked Clarendon Hills’ cooler 2023 Syrah vintage.

Tasting Notes
NOSE
– Floral, savoury and deeply aromatic
Boysenberry, blackberry and plum with violet, black olive, pepper, leather, smoked meat and subtle black-tea complexity.

PALATE
– Silky, detailed and finely structured
Dark fruit and savoury spice are framed by fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and an elegant mid-weight texture.

FINISH
– Long, refined and persistent
Blackberry, graphite, violet and savoury spice linger through a seamless, polished finish.

Reviews & Accolades
“A lovely perfume here, with cool boysenberry, violet, iodine, black leaf tea, nori, lilac and blackberry pastille.” — Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 Points — Excerpt

“The 2023 Domaine Clarendon Syrah leads with asphalt and hung deli meat, peppercorns, blackberries and licorice.” — Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 93 Points — Excerpt

“Layers of dark fruit and spices with aromas of black olives, graphite and violets.” — Ryan Montgomery, James Suckling, 94 Points — Excerpt

Finer Details:
Brand - Clarendon Hills
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
State - South Australia
Region - McLaren Vale
Vintage - 2023
ABV - 13%
Size - 750ml