Astralis, Clarendon Hills 1997

The 1997 Astralis Syrah is the most elegant of this quartet. It reveals a similar meaty, bacon fat, blackberry, and black currant-scented nose with hints of earth and pepper in the background. Not as dense as either the 1996 or 1998, it is a more feminine, stylish effort offering a rich, layered texture as well as sweet tannins. It is 1-3 years away from full maturity, and probably will not last as long as the more blockbuster-styled efforts of 1996 and 1998.

The essence of vineyard and the varietal, the 1997 Astralis has a saturated purple color and is just beginning to show more nuances, such as the tell-tale syrah characteristics of pepper, melted asphalt as well as a wealth of blackberry and crème de cassis fruit. The new oak seems to have been sucked up completely, and the wine shows softness and evolution. Nevertheless, it is still a very youthful, backward, spectacular wine that has surreal levels of richness and potential complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2024 RP Feb 2004

Nearly perfect, the 1997 Astralis (100% new French oak) is an explosive wine that represents the essence of Shiraz. The opaque purple color resembles a young vintage port. The nose offers up blackberry fruit intermixed with freshly melted asphalt and pepper. My notes read, "beyond wine." The wine is dry, but possesses unreal unctuosity and richness. This super-endowed offering will be at its finest between 2001-2020.This wine is a crowd-pleasing, exotic offering that takes the level of richness and hedonism to sensational heights. This wine is worth trying if only because of its compelling purity, opulence, and explosive richness.