Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah McLaren Vale GI

McLaren Vale GI, Australia

Roman Bratasiuk's Clarendon Hills Astralis is produced from 70-year-old Syrah vines on the Clarendon sub-region's ancient marine limestone — conditions that produce a McLaren Vale Syrah of Côte Rôtie-like elegance rather than the region's characteristic opulence. Translucent deep ruby with aromas of violet, dark olive, smoked meat, iron ore, and black pepper. The palate achieves the rarest balance in McLaren Vale: full body with Burgundian precision and a mineral-edged finish of extraordinary length.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Astralis's Côte Rôtie-like precision and olive-mineral character demand the refinement of squab over the robustness of beef; the black olive in the preparation echoes the wine's defining aromatic
• cheese: Australia's finest Syrah with aged cheddar — the wine's savoury, smoked-meat depth integrates with the cheese's sharpness and the nut's bitterness