Top 22 Syrahs of 2022

Here are the top 22 wines from The Global Syrah Masters 2022, featuring a set of outstanding bottles from the Barossa, Hawke’s Bay, Languedoc, Castilla y León, the Okanagan, Western Cape and more.

The wines below have been selected from the this year’s Global Syrah Masters, which was held in London in September, and is the biggest competition of its type in the UK. Featuring almost 200 wines, every sample was assessed ‘blind’ – which meant that the judges had no idea about the wine’s source, although they had a loose sense of the wine’s price, with the samples arranged into price bands.

The following 22 bottles were the best performers among the wines from the day’s tasting, with all the medallists available to view here. The tasting notes for the selection below were penned by myself and Patricia Stefanowicz MW.

100 YEAR OLD VINES SHIRAZ

• Producer: Chateau Tanunda
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 15.5%
• Residual sugar: 3 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £120
• Medal: Master

A delicious chance to taste the concentration and elegance that results from Syrah that’s been made from centenarian vines in the Barossa – and handled with expertise by Château Tanunda. As one might expect from such old vines, this is a powerful and rich red wine, but, surprisingly, also one with a mouth-watering edge, helped by the finely textured, dense, dry tannins that dominate the finish. Flavour-wise, there’s juicy, fleshy dark berry fruit, cracked black pepper and olives, with additional complexity coming from the fine oak used to age this wine, which brings a touch of toast, charcoal, and dark chocolate. A wine that’s wonderful right now, but certainly one with the structure to age for many years to come. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

MARANANGA SHIRAZ

• Producer: Hare’s Chase Winery
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 15%
• Closure: Screwcap
• Approx. retail price: £25
• Medal: Master

This Master-winning wine from Hare’s Chase is a wonderfully indulgent, textbook Syrah from the Marananga GI. There are plenty of plums and dark berry and cherry fruit, complemented by notes of black olive and cracked pepper, with coconut, vanilla and toast characters from the American oak used to mature the wine. Generous and warming, but also fine and dry, with lots of firm tannins, this is a bold and beautiful glass of Syrah that’s also brilliantly Barossa. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

SARONSBERG FULL CIRCLE 2020

• Producer: Saronsberg Cellar
• Region: Western Cape
• Country: South Africa
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties: 76% Syrah, 13% Grenache, 9% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier & 1% Roussanne
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 2.9 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £35
• Medal: Gold

Blending Syrah with a mix of fine Mediterranean grapes – and some white Rhône varieties too – this is an exciting and complex find from the Western Cape. It’s a big but balanced red, with dense, ripe fruit at its core, and a touch of warming alcohol too, but also a refreshing combination of bright fruit and fine, dry tannin on the finish. Flavour-wise this is a layered wine with lots of smoky toast and roasted coffee bean, mocha, and cracked pepper, allied to dark cherry and plums, along with red berry and black olive – the hallmarks of fine barrel-aged Syrah. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

GATT OLD VINE SHIRAZ

• Producer: Gatt Wines
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2016
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.76 g/l
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £70
• Medal: Master

A great wine from Gatt, using old-vine Shiraz to yield a delicious Barossa red with concentration and complexity. There’s a touch of blackberry jam, then red cherry and raspberries, a hint of menthol, smoked meat, and black pepper, with a finish that’s fresh and dry, with plenty of fine tannins. In short, a Syrah that’s juicy, ripe and moreish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

DOMAINES FRANÇOIS LURTON C2 SYRAH IGP CÔTES CATALANES 2021

• Producer: Domaines François Lurton
• Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
• Country: France
• Vintage: 2021
• Grape varieties: 85% Syrah & 15% Viognier
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 0.3 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £17
• Medal: Gold

Thirty-four hectares are planted at Mas Janeil in the Tautavel terroir, at the foot of the Corbières Massif in the Agly Valley on a wide variety of soils. Syrah and Viognier grapes are harvested together and co-fermented, the Syrah destemmed, and the Viognier as whole bunches. The resulting wine has a ruby-purple colour with crunchy red and black fruits and herbes de Provence and peppermint accents. Brisk acidity and supple tannins support the flavours and balance the warm alcohol nicely. An elegant wine to pair with a duck terrine or roasted poussin. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

DE BORTOLI LA BOHÈME ACT 4 SYRAH GAMAY 2020

• Producer: De Bortoli Wines Pty Ltd
• Region: Yarra Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties: 86% Syrah & 14% Gamay
• ABV: 13.5%
• Residual sugar: 3.1 g/l
• Closure:Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £9
• Medal: Gold

From the Dixons Creek (Home) Vineyard in the relatively cool Yarra Valley comes this affordable unusual blend of old-vine Syrah and recently planted Gamay, which pays homage to Yarra Valley’s own Dame Nellie Melba and her many artistic talents. With a medium-deep ruby colour, the wine shows bright morello cherry, bilberry and blueberry fruit and a subtle cedarwood overlay. Mid-weight, juicy fruit on the palate is framed by crisp acidity and linen-textured tannins with a good fresh finish. A wine for slightly spicy foods whether Asian or Cajun or even Melbourne-style Australian. Classic gumbo or jambalaya, though, will be perfect. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

BODEGAS CLUNIA SYRAH VINO DE LA TIERRA DE CASTILLA-LÉON 2018

• Producer: Bodegas Clunia
• Region: Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León
• Country: Spain
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 1.46 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £20
• Medal: Gold

At 975m altitude in northwest Spain, the sandy, iron-rich, chalky-clay soils of La Encina vineyard deliver a concentrated wine with a deep purple hue, blackberry fruit, black pepper, and tobacco-wood accents. Vibrant fruit is supported by the elegant oak, zesty acidity and linentextured tannins. A layered wine with an intriguing crushed rose-petal lift on the finish. A wine designed to pair with local roasted cabrito or a few fairly robust tapas. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

BERTON VINEYARDS RESERVE LIMITED RELEASE BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2019

• Producer: Berton Vineyards
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 4.5 g/l
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £18
• Medal: Gold

The Barossa Valley was settled in the mid-19 thcentury by Lutheran emigrants from Silesia, a German-speaking part of what is now southeast Poland, near Wroclaw, and their descendants are the people who fashion the Barossa Valley wines. This example, sourced from the sub-area of high altitude Ebenezer, is no Scrooge. Deep purple-black in colour, the wine shows exuberant sweet summer pudding fruits of strawberry, raspberry, brambles, and blueberry accented by vanilla oak and an attractive violet lift. Rich, the palate is framed by lively acidity and dense but velvet-textured tannins. Sappy and savoury, this Barossa Valley wine, with its extra freshness needs a nice piece of grilled venison steak sauced with a reduction of red wine-garlic with hints of cardamom and soy sauce to show at its best. Exceptional value for money. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

LANGMEIL WINERY HALLOWED GROUND SHIRAZ 2019

• Producer: Langmeil Winery
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 15%
• Residual sugar: 2.6 g/l
• Closure: Screwcap
• Approx. retail price: £27
• Medal: Master

In 1842 Prussian emigrant Christian Aucricht established one of the Barossa’s earliest trading villages, naming it Langmeil. During the World War I years, the name was changed, first to Bilyara, and now Tanunda. Auricht’s legacy remains, however, in what may be the oldest surviving Shiraz vineyard in the world (c.1843) and in the current wines of the remarkable Lindner family. This example, deep purple-ruby in hue, has dark berry fruits and a smoked-meat overtone typical of Barossa. The generous palate exhibits excellent fruit with good freshness and corduroy-textured tannins in support. Dark chocolate and vanilla pod notes lead onto a spicy black pepper lingering finish. Layered, complex, a wine to savour slowly, with braised beef or game, this is stunning. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

POPLAR GROVE WINERY SYRAH 2019

• Producer: Poplar Grove Winery
• Region: Okanagan Valley
• Country: Canada
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 95% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 1% Viognier
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 0.66 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £21
• Medal: Gold

Founded in 1993, Poplar Grove is one of the oldest wineries on the Naramata Bench. Today the family also farms vineyards on the Skaha Bench and the Osooyos Bench, all in the Okanagan. The Syrah grapes are from the southeastern Osooyos vineyards, fermented with gentle tannin extraction and aged in a mere 25% new French oak with the rest of the wine in second-fill barrels. Bottle-ageing has delivered a deep ruby-cherry coloured wine with dark berries, gentle oak, and an aromatic violet lift. Belying the high alcohol level, the wine is mid-weight, showing purity of fruit supported by zesty acidity and linen-textured tannins, well-defined and with good length. This is an attractive wine that would work well with roasted poussin in a red wine-juniper sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

GOLDEN AMRITA WINERY SINGLE ESTATE SHIRAZ 2020

• Producer: Golden Amrita Winery
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties:100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £40
• Medal: Gold

Amrita is an ancient word for Nectar of the Gods. This single-vineyard estate in the Greenock sub-region of the Barossa is owned by famed tea producer Golden Amrita from the Yunnan province in Southern China, and has been nudged to perfection by the winemakers Shawn Kalleske, a sixth-generation Barossa winemaker, and Kym Milne MW. The wine, deep purple-black in colour, shows dark berries and the quintessential black pepper accented by smoky oak and a bright peppermint note. Very spicy on the palate, seemingly mid-weight despite the high alcohol, the wine has lively acidity and linen-textured tannins, excellent flavour expression followed by a long finish. A winter warmer, definitely. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

LAWSON’S PADTHAWAY SHIRAZ 2016

• Producer: Orlando Wines
• Region: Padthaway
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2016
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.4 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £40
• Medal: Master

Located along the Limestone Coast in southwestern South Australia with its terra rosa limestone-based soils, Padthaway produces some exceptional Shiraz, as well as its better-known Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine, deep purple in hue, exhibits blackcurrant and bramble fruit, with black pepper and vanilla pod with mint behind. Mid-weight with good freshness and integrated velvet-textured tannins, the wine has lovely herbal, lavender and earthy accents. An elegant wine that will be perfect with a gently roasted leg of lamb rubbed in rosemary and garlic. Mint sauce will also accent the wine. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

THE PIONEER SHIRAZ 2018

• Producer: Wakefield Taylors Wines
• Region: Clare Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.61 g/l
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £100
• Medal: Gold

Taylor ’s flagship Shiraz is named to celebrate the pioneering spirit of Bill Taylor, who had the conviction to do things a bit differently, and planted Shiraz in the Clare Valley when everyone else was putting in the almost ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon. What a result! Almost opaque purple-black in colour, the wine delivers juicy blackfruits, with black pepper, vanilla pod, and cigar box aromatics, and flavours balanced by brisk acidity and linen-textured tannins. Beautifully defined, with layers of intriguing spices adding complexity. A sensational wine to match strong-flavoured game. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

MISSION ESTATE HUCHET

• Producer: Mission Estate Winery
• Region: Hawke’s Bay
• Country: New Zealand
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.1%
• Residual sugar: <1g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price:£75
• Medal: Master

A vineyard was established in 1851 at the French monks’ mission in Hawke’s Bay. Carrying on the tradition, this Mission Estates Huchet Syrah comes from the Gimblett Gravels near Napier. The wine is named in honour of Brother Cyprian Huchet, the son of a French Loire Valley vigneron, who became a New Zealand pioneering winemaker while working at Mission around 1871, and the wine is made in limited quantities only in outstanding years. A legacy, the 2019 example is fabulous. Rich blackberry and Victoria plum fruit is accented by cedar, sandalwood, vanilla pod and white pepper. The complex palate has concentration of flavour with zippy acidity and velvet-textured tannins and adds intriguing notes of orange zest and kitchen spices. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

BERTON VINEYARDS METAL LABEL LIMITED RELEASE BLACK SHIRAZ 2019

• Producer: Berton Vineyards
• Region: Southeastern Australia
• Country: Australia
• Grape varieties: 98% Shiraz, 2% other varieties
• Abv: 14.0%
• Vintage: 2019
• Closure: Screwcap
• Approx. retail price: £18.00
• Medal: Gold

The limited small parcel Black Shiraz is a blend of premium Shiraz from around Australia. The selected parcels for this first release are from Mount Lofty (South Australia), Gundagai (New South Wales) and Heathcote (Victoria), hence the Southeastern Australia Geographical Indication. The wines were fermented in stainless steel and then matured in new French and American oak for around 14 months. The best barrels were blended for the final wine. Deep purple in colour, the wine shows ripe red and black fruits with cedarwood and vanilla notes and violet accent. A rich wine framed by crisp acidity and abundant velvet-textured tannins. Intriguing wine that shows just how important blending can be in a stunning creation. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

GATT SHIRAZ 2016

• Producer: Gatt Wines
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Grape variety: 100% Shiraz
• Abv: 14.5%
• Vintage: 2016
• Closure: Screwcap
• Approx. retail price: £31.00
• Medal: Master

Based in the High Eden Valley, Gatt Wines also have old vines in the lower altitude Barossa Valley. And that is where this excellent Shiraz originates. Deep ruby-purple in hue, the wine is rich and packed with brambles and ripe strawberries, accented by cedarwood and a hint of red earth. The palate is lifted with brisk acidity and grippy tannins supporting the flavours, followed by a lingering, warming finish. Probably best with grilled red meats, or sautéed sweetbreads in a pumpkin-seed infused sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

THE LANE VINEYARD HERITAGE SHIRAZ-VIOGNIER 2020

• Producer: The Lane Vineyard
• Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
• Country: Australia
• Grape varieties: 97% Shiraz, 3% Viognier
• Abv: 14.0%
• Vintage: 2020
• Closure: Screwcap
• Approx. retail price: £52.00
• Medal: Gold

Set 450m high in the Adelaide Hills is this small gem of a winery. The relatively cool climate with warm days and cooler nights allow Australian winemaker John Edward’s vision of ripe expressive fruit and lovely freshness to come to fruition. This wine demonstrates the duality, showing rich blackberry and blueberry fruit, a touch of meat and smoke and a lift of jasmine tea. Very spicy on the palate, having plenty of black fruit and black peppercorns balanced by good acidity and grainy tannins. The wine is possibly not really ready yet, but delicious nonetheless and it has plenty of potential. Duck confit, perhaps, or cassoulet would work now. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

PENFOLDS BIN 150 MARANANGA SHIRAZ 2019

• Producer: Penfolds
• Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
• Country: Australia
• Grape variety: 100% Shiraz
• Abv: 14.5%
• Vintage: 2019
• Closure: ScrewCap
• Approx. retail price: £75.00
• Medal: Gold

Penfolds, a master of Shiraz, has produced this Bin 150 wine from Marananga, a sub-region of the Barossa close to the centre of the Valley floor. The slightly northwest position has warm, dry conditions and red, iron-rich soils provide backbone. Deep purple-black in colour, the wine shows crunchy blackfruits and black pepper and herbal notes bolstered by vanilla and toast from American and French oak ageing. Sweet-fruit on the palate is framed by zesty acidity and abundant silky-textured tannins with very good balance and lingering finish. The wine deserves the most robust red meat available, simply grilled after tenderising with a little salt and pepper. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

JACOB’S CREEK JOHANN SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON

• Producer: Jacob’s Creek
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 58%, Syrah, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon
• ABV: 14.4%
• Residual sugar: 0.4 g/l
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £70
• Medal: Gold

Honouring Johann Gramp, the founding figure of Gramp & Sons in 1847, this Barossa wine shows just how well Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon complement each other. Deep purple in colour, the wine exhibits well-defined blackfruits with spices and cedarwood, lifted by a herbal accent. Full-bodied and rich, the palate is impeccably balanced with lively acidity and pronounced silky-textured tannins which lead onto a long, savoury finish. A delicious wine that deserves to be showcased alongside crown-roast of beef. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

PENFOLDS RWT BIN 798 SHIRAZ 2018

• Producer: Penfolds
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.6 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £73
• Medal: Master

A slightly different take on Penfolds Shiraz, RWT (Red Wine Trial) is a single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured solely in French oak, highly unusual for Penfolds. Its style is fleshy, with ultra-ripe blackberries and blackcurrants, and a cedarwood overlay, supported by dense tannins and lively acidity. Warming alcohol carries through onto the finish, though the wine is not unduly heavy, as it is lifted by a plethora of kitchen spices, as well as a slight tangerine note. A beautifully textured wine suggests pairing with whole roast pig (cooked imu-style in an underground pit), or Southern States barbecue with hash and rice. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

PENFOLDS ST. HENRI SHIRAZ 2018

• Producer: Penfolds
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vintage: 2018
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.6 g/l
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Approx. retail price: £77
• Medal: Gold

Doing away with new oak in the winemaking and maturation, St Henri is a distinctive style of fine Australian Shiraz, in that the fruit flavours aren’t married to the vanilla and coconut characters of freshly-made wooden barriques – notes that are prevalent in other great wines from Penfolds, above all its flagship Grange. But St Henri’s distinctive style has earned it a loyal following among discerning drinkers, and this year’s Masters showed us why. Intensely purple in appearance, this is a concentrated wine, with masses of pure blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, complement by notes of cedar and cracked pepper, a touch of dark chocolate, along with a hint of violet and olive. Structurally, not only is this dense and fleshy, but fine, fresh and wonderfully dry, with plenty of berry-sourced grippy tannins, ensuring that it will be a wine that ages slowly and wonderfully – this is undoubtedly a style of Shiraz for laying down. (Patrick Schmitt MW).

CHURCH ROAD 1 SYRAH

 

• Producer: Church Road
• Region: Hawkes Bay
• Country: New Zealand
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 2g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £60
• Medal: Master

This outstanding Syrah from the superb and historic Hawke’s Bay producer that is Church Road hails from its Redstone Vineyard – a prized, early-ripening site taking its name from the iron-rich volcanic ash that gives a rust-coloured staining to the stones of this former riverbed. The wine is a wonderful expression of fine Syrah in its youth, with plenty of potential to age and develop greater complexity in three to five years’ time. It’s crammed with fleshy plums and red berries, with a hint of cherry stone too, then notes of tapenade and white pepper, cedar and dark chocolate, as well as a touch of toast too. The fruit is pristine, and the wine’s structure wonderfully fine, with a chalky-textured tannin and a bright acidity, giving this juicy red a dry and fresh finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW).

Read more

The medal-winning wines from the Global Syrah Masters 2022

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