🏆 Best Shiraz Trophy winner at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show

🏆 Best Single Vineyard Shiraz Trophy winner at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show

🏆 Best Two Year Old Shiraz Trophy winner at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show

Gold (96 Points) – Halliday Wine Companion

“Of the district syrah trio, this is presently the most approachable.“

Released only in years that meet our uncompromising standards, Alpha Crucis wines are a testament to our dedication and passion. Each of these exceptional wines reflects the unique character of its specific terroir and our unwavering commitment to quality and varietal integrity.

Clarendon has the highest vineyards in McLaren Vale and shares its borders with the Adelaide Hills. Syrah fruit ripens 2-3 weeks later than the rest of the region.

ALTITUDE: 300 meters
SOIL: Grey Sandy Loam
MINERALS: Layers of quartzite

AROMA: Perfumed floral aromas of violet and flowering thyme along with dark cherry and mulberry fruit, layers of spice and hints of red licorice.

TASTE: A wine of beautiful structure and finesse. Showing dark cherry fruit flavours and florals the wine has intensity of fruit, but also freshness, structure and balance with fine silky tannins.

DRINKING WINDOW: Approachable young but built for longevity.

Hear from Ned Goodwin MW for James Suckling –

“The firmest rendition of the Alpha Crucis syrah trio, with no lack of grape tannins or oak. A cedar dryness segues to camphor, blood, iodine and hints of ferrous red earth laden with blue fruit and floral overtones and a smattering of orange zest. A fuller-weighted rendition, firm, pithy and impressively succulent. This should age well. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. Screw cap.”

Hear from Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion –

“From two sites, both over 300m; 16.5% whole bunch in the final blend; matured in French oak, with 10% new. Of the district syrah trio, this is presently the most approachable. That’s neither here nor there, with the key being that they are all nicely differentiated. It’s a great illustration, on a small scale, of the diversity of the Vale’s geologies and macroclimates. It’s the highest site of the three, but there’s a pleasing openness, a plushness of fruit that’s not heavy. It’s inviting on the nose and supple of delivery, with an underlying mineral depth. Red berries, sour cherry and plum, goji berry, incense, Earl Grey tea, Middle Eastern spices. Tannins are skilfully extracted, caressing but purposeful, the finish silky, the length exceptional.”

Chalk