Winemaker Notes
Nose. Blueberry and ripe forest fruit flavours, peppermint and cedar aromas dominate the nose.
Taste: The palate displays generous sweet cherry and blueberry fruit, with a creamy texture. The mid palate is characterised by vanilla bean, peppermint cream and chocolate. Silky tannins give the wine excellent structure, balance and good persistence.
What foods go best with it: This elegant yet complex wine is the perfect partner for many dishes, especially those with Asian or Mediterranean influences, including stir fried beef, duck curry and fillet steak.
Professional Ratings
Though Syrah originated in the Rhône Valley of France, Australia is home to the oldest Syrah (called Shiraz here) vines on the planet. Found in Australia’s Barossa Valley, where phylloxera has never threated viticulture, these ancient vines are between 140 to 175 years old!
Having brought fame and merit to the country’s wine scene since the early 1950s, namely via the debut of Penfolds Grange, today Syrah (Shiraz) claims rank as the most widely planted grape in Australia. In fact, the amount of land dedicated to Shiraz in Australia is now almost equivalent to what it is in France. Australian Shiraz has its own personality with flavors and aromas of intense blackberry, fruitcake, menthol, tobacco leaf and umami. Conveniently one can find great Australian Shiraz at a variety of price points but the very best will be dense, gloriously complex and capable of long aging.