98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:  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.