Clarendon Hills consider themselves vineyard expressionists and seek to portray the story of the individual vineyard 'Terroir' within their wines. Clarendon Hills collection of the old vine vineyards in sub-regions of McLaren Vale assists in defining their international pedigree for making world class wines that rate extremely highly among the international press. Among the 9 single vineyards of Syrah is the Moritz vineyard Syrah which is located within the Kangarilla sub region of McLaren Vale, South Australia. All of the wines at Clarendon Hills are made by hand and are crafted using only natural processes and ingredients to an extremely high standard. Consistent Moritz Syrah characters include smoke and blue berry fruits with black olive tapenade and iodine like mineral resonance throughout the silky palate. The Moritz Syrah is a part of the Clarendon Hills premier cru classification and generally drinks best after 8-10 years in the cellar, when its terroir is formally demonstrated.

The wine has a mouth filling lusciousness, densely packed with generous plum and dark cherry fruit flavours along with subtle floral violet characters and a smack of vanilla underlying the opulent oak expression.

The Vicar is one of Chapel Hill’s flagship wines and is an annual vineyard selection of Chapel Hill’s most outstanding and expressive parcels of McLaren Vale Shiraz. The vineyard blocks were harvested and fermented separately in small batch open fermenters. Gentle plunging was utilised for cap management and all of the ferments were left on skins for a range of 13 days to 22 days. Following gentle basket pressing, the free run and pressing fractions were combined. During the subsequent 21-month oak maturation period, the barrels were periodically racked and returned to ensure the integration of the tannins back into the structure of the wine. To preserve purity and character the wine is made with minimal additions and is allowed to clarify naturally without the use of fining or filtration. This is wonderfully opulent Vicar. Inky black and packed with blackberries, plums and dark chocolate with a twist of aniseed. The nose brims with a complex mix of wild herbs, violets, black liquorice and a sprinkle of wild fennel. A powerful wine that flows across your palate unveiling layers of delicious flavours and succulent tannins with an impossibly long finish. Purity in a glass.

The tannins are energetic, fine grained, slightly puckering in their youth and are held up with layers of tobocca and cedar coming through from the french oak. The wine is powerful, youthful at release and has imposing character yet behind that a vale of delicacy and grace persist on the finish. Should cellar easily 10 years, possibly much longer.

Deep and meaty in its expression, a fleshy and red cedar-like undertone lines the typically velvety texture. Sandown Cabernet Sauvignon by Clarendon Hills.

Rich and opulent displaying aromas of deep plum and black cherry with hints of complex herb and delicate oak spice. The palate is full flavoured yet elegant with dark fruits and bright red berries, framed by firm, structural tannins and moreish acidity.

The quality of fruit and winemaking speaks volumes as to how this wine has turned out. The nose is abundant with red and blue fruits also seen on the palate, which is juicy, full bodied and underpinned by fine tannins. Further breathing reveals more layers of flavour and complexity after the initial tranche of bright fruits. A superb example of this most versatile of varietals

The Syrah patch was planted in the mid 1940’s and yields a microscopic 250-300 dozen per annum. The Sandown Syrah patch is west facing and features significant ironstone content. The site yields a signature incense like spice throughout the fruit and makes for a highly exotic expression of Blewitt Springs Syrah. Cola, sarsaparilla, incense, blackcurrant, blueberry, black olive, Italian leather, Sandalwood and roasted meat are all on display with recessed power woven throughout this highly perfumed and multi-layered, seamless example.