Clarendon Hills

Astralis Vineyard Shiraz is the flagship wine in the Clarendon Hills range. Planted in the early 1930's on the due east facing slopes on clay, ironstone soil it is one of the earliest blocks to ripen every year due to the old age of the vines and the low crops of about two tonnes to the acre. The grapes are fermented in the open stainless steel tanks up to 32°C to extract the colour and tannin for long aging up to 30 years.

The first vintage was 1994 and the average production is 600 dozen. Astralis usually exhibits great purple-black colour and a very exotic bouquet of black berry and mocha. The palate is extremely long on the finish and the tannins are ripe and integrated - overall a most magical wine.

"Soil" profile of the Piggott Range Vineyard showing the complete lack of soil. Just rock and shale. The vine roots travel between the cracks in the rocks. This vineyard produces very concentrated wine that needs long cellaring to develop nuances and soften the high tannin content.

The highest, steepest part of the Blewitt Springs Vineyard Grenache, also the lowest yielding - about one tonne to the acre produces Romas. The most exotic and profound grenache in the Clarendon Hills portfolio. The wine exhibits raspberry, chocolate and exotic perfume in a layered, complex amalgam.

Hickinbotham old vine Grenache Vineyard planted in Clarendon in 1920. Faces north and slopes back into the Onkaparinga Valley.

Hickinbotham Shiraz Vineyard planted in 1965 on hard clay and ironstone soil again facing north into the Onkaparinga Valley.

Hickinbotham Vineyard Chardonnay faces due east. All the Hickinbotham Vineyards produce rich, ripe complex wines that will repay extended cellaring.

Mid and lower slopes of the Blewitt Springs Vineyard are the source of this wine. Yields average two tonnes to the acre and the resultant wine is very rich and very fleshy in the mouth. As with all Clarendon Hills wines this wine is made in a very traditional manner with minimal intervention being the key.

This vineyard was planted in 1920 in a natural ampitheatre on heavy clay soil. The aspect is southerly which is the coolest possible. Altitude is 250 metres. The resultant wine is very aromatic and contains lavender and basil smells. Always the most elegant of the single vineyard grenaches and perhaps the most beautiful.

Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1940 on their own roots in ironstone gravel with a northwest aspect. Perfect for great cabernet matured in 100% new French oak for 18 months to produce a very fine classic cabernet style.

The Brookman Shiraz Vines were planted in 1925 in gravel, ironstone and clay soils. The vines face northwest and ripen fully to produce one of the most complex wines in the Clarendon range.