The five ultimate Syrahs from the Global Masters

Following the drinks business Global Syrah Masters earlier this year we present the competition’s top five wines – examples deemed so exceptional they were awarded the ultimate accolade of Master by our panel of judges.

The Drinks Business Global Masters series judges wines purely by grape variety rather than by region. Divided only by price bracket and whether the style was oaked or unoaked, the blind tasting format allows wines to be assessed without prejudice about their country of origin.

The best wines were awarded medals which ranged from Bronze through to Gold, with the ultimate accolade, a Master, reserved for exceptional wines.

This year, Australia took home the highest number of Gold medals and Masters, a country that has become Syrah’s most notable home outside France. Today, Syrah – or Shiraz – is Australia’s biggest grape in terms of vineyard area.

However it should be stated that the samples in the tasting were almost entirely from nonEuropean sources, with just one from Hermitage – which proved useful for benchmarking the high-priced great wines of the New World.

The wines were judged by a cherry-picked group of Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers on 6 July at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.

For a full report on all medal-winning wines click here, or continue to see the top-performing wines in the competition….

Bird in Hand, Nest Egg Shiraz 2012, Australia, Adelaide Hills

Style: Oaked 100% Syrah

Price category: Over £50

Medal: Master

What the judges said: “An inviting nose with a subtle black pepper character and ripe black fruit. A delicious palate with lots of ripe black and red fruit, liquorice, a hint of white pepper and some background oak. Very fine tannins bring a dry almost chalky sensation; the finish is long and refreshing.”

Château Tanunda, The Château 100 Year Old Vines 2014, Australia, Barossa Valley

Style: Oaked 100% Syrah

Price category: Over £50

Medal: Master

What the judges said: “Notes of black fruit, menthol, liquorice and leather on the nose and palate, with a smooth nature. The wine is rich and warming, but also fresh and lingering, with layers of flavour, and a European earthy taste and texture – this isn’t all about sweet upfront fruit and chocolaty oak. Lovely.”

M. Chapoutier, Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage 2012, France, Northern Rhone

Style: Oaked 100% Syrah

Price category: Over £50

Medal: Master

What the judges said: “A fabulous nose of dried herbs, tapenade, black pepper, crushed raspberries and ripe blackberries along with a whiff of cigar box from fine French oak barriques leads you in to your first sip, which brings yet more flavours, including notes of hay, cedar, black olive and spice, and then a brilliantly balanced structure, comprising finely-textured tannin and a lovely acid lift on the finish.

“This wine has many layers, but is far from weighty, making it a pleasure to drink – not just taste. Indeed, it shows why Hermitage produces the best Syrah from France, and some of the world’s finest wines.”

Bird in Hand, Bird in Hand Shiraz 2014, Australia, Adelaide Hills

Style: Oaked 100% Syrah

Price category: £20 to £30

Medal: Master

What the judges said: “Notes of pepper, spice, black fruit, vanilla and sweet oak on the nose, along with a hint of menthol. Lovely structure on the palate with lots of juicy, fleshy fruit and notes of blackcurrant, a touch of mint and pepper. A bit of heat, but with enough concentration to stand up to it. A very good wine.”

Elephant Hill, Elephant Hill Reserve Syrah 2013, New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay

Style: Oaked 100% Syrah

Price category: £20 to £30

Medal: Master

What the judges said: “Inviting nose with notes of dark fruits a lovely white pepper note. Pure fruit expression on the palate with flavours of blackberries and pepper. Smooth and structured with fine tannins. Long, balanced and complex on the finish. A very good wine now, but with the potential to develop greater complexity with further ageing.”