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Syrah or Shiraz- Enjoy!
By Darryl Beeson
Sirah and Shiraz are the same grape. Australia uses the
term Shiraz instead of Syrah. California winemakers also use Shiraz if the wine
is made in an Australian style, that being fruit-forward. Syrahs can have aromas
and flavors such as pepper, plum, blackberry, herbs, and warm spice. Syrah pairs
well with heavy foods. Barbequed foods as in chicken, lamb, and steak are
awesome with Syrah. Spicy foods also pair well with a spicy Syrah. Syrah grows
well in both cool and hot climates. A cooler climate yields a wine with more
spicy aromas and flavors. Hotter climates yield a more fruity wine
Domaine Cros, Minervois 2000
Price $9.99
Rating 93
The nose reminds of wild fruit and hot, earthiness. The sip leads with bacon,
ripe plum and mineral in the long length.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné "Domaine de Thalabert" Crozes
Hermitage, Rhone 2003
Price $36
Rating 95
The 2003 Crozes-Hermitage Thalabert (production was one-third of normal)
presents a dark purple hue as well as powerful aromas of olive/tapenade, black
fruit, cherries, anise and Asian spice. There are elements of garrigue, a
Mediterranean bush consisting of low evergreen shrubs and abundant herbaceous
plants. Big-bodied, with low acid, balanced tannin, and concentrated fruit,
drink over the next twenty years.
Domaine d'Andezon Côtes du Rhône, 2001
Price $14.99
Rating 93
The nose is complex with plum, black cherry and hints of roasted herbs. The sip
offers an array of complex fruit, plus roasted mineral elements in the long
finish. Domaine d'Andezon is a 25-acre property in Estezargues, a small village
on the western edge of the Cotes-du-Rhone appellation, close to Lirac and Tavel.
The floor of the organically-farmed Andezon vineyard is blanketed in large,
round stones like those found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The estate has been in the
Lamouroux family for more than thirty years and is now run by the children of
the original brother-owners. They carry on their fathers' traditions and adhere
to the family's mantra: "It is by the work of the ground that one arrives at
quality."
Reynolds Vineyard Shiraz, South Australia 2004
Price $9.99
Rating 90
The nose is rich with blackberr andminera. The sip is concenrated with ripe
fruit. Elements of pepper and spice follow. Blackberry and plum follow in the
palate. Pair this lusty, fruit-forward red with stewed meats, wild selections
such as venison, or with gourmet herbed sausage. The grapes for this wine were
primarily sourced from the famed "Nanya" vineyard based in the Murray Valley (Riverland).
The exact blend is 93% Syrah and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Benziger Syrah, California 2001
Price $22
Rating 93
There are very complex aromas are of black fruit, smoky tar and dried herb. The
sip is velvety with flavors of black plum, vanilla and black pepper. The finish
is long and complex with ripe fruit. "2001 may be remembered as a comeback
vintage," recalls wine maker Terry Nolan.
Columbia Valley Syrah, Columbia Valley 2001
Price $18
Rating 92
Aromas of dark fruit and leather are followed by flavors of blackberry, leather,
black pepper and firm mineral in the complex, long finish dusted by cocoa and
mocha.
Delas "Les Launes" Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2002
Price $18
Rating 86
The sniff reveals powerful black pepper, the calling card of the Syrah grape.
The sip leads again with black pepper. The fruit elements are lean. Give this
red some time to age.
Delicato Shiraz, California 2004
Price $8
Rating 88
Blackberry and charred oak are in the nose. The sip leads with blackberry,
followed by toasted oak. This producer's Shiraz has won as Best California
Shiraz at the California State Fair for three consecutive years.
Hess Select Syrah, California 2003
Price $13
Rating 90
The nose and sip are packed with jammy fruit and mineral complexity. There are
floral notes of violet, along with soft pepper in the finish. The sip is long,
like velvet, and concentrated.
Gallo Family Vineyards Reserve Syrah, Sonoma 2003
Price $13
Rating 93
"The 2002 first vintage Syrah was crafted with some of Sonoma County’s finest
grapes," explains Alexandra (Alex) Dutzi, of The Gallo Family wine making team,
Sonoma. "It is a rich and opulent Syrah displaying aromas of cassis, black
pepper spice and blackberry fruit. Powerful and succulent."
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz, South Eastern Australia
2003
Price $12
Rating 90
The sip is rich, luscious, leading with blackberry and plum. More black fruit
and soft velvet down the throat, then classic pepper and hints of aromatic
leather. The tannins or soft. The oak shows restraint. The Koonunga Shiraz took
the "Great Value Red Wine of the Year" at the 2001 International WINE Challenge
in London.
Wolf Blass "President's Selection" Shiraz, South
Australia 2003
Price $17.99
Rating 90
The nose is spicy with eucalyptus and concentrated fruit. The sip is rich with
concentrated fruit. Think ripe plum and gentle pepper.
Graffigna Shiraz, Argentina 2003
Price $12
Rating 89
The huge, worldwide demand for Australian Shiraz has other regions in the world
competing for some of the action. This Argentinean "Shiraz" showcases ripe red
fruits in the nose, along with a small touch of earth and oak complexity.
Wild Horse Syrah, Paso Robles 2003
Price $22
Rating 92
Earthy mulberry leads in the nose, along with notes of bacon. There are flavors
of leather and mineral, along with gamy red fruit throught the long length,
ending with pepper and menthol.
Qupe Syrah, Central Coast 2004
Price $16.99
Rating 93
This producer wrote the book on California "Rhone Ranger" Syrah. Complex and
earth driven flavors of plum, pepper and frshly sliced bacon are all within the
glass.
Francis Coppola Green Label Syrah-Shiraz, California
2003
Price $16
Rating 93
There are hints of smoky bacon in the nose. The sip begins with chewy, coarse
black fruit with black pepper and plum. The length is long with mineral, tar and
black fruit.
McPherson Winery Syrah, Texas 2004
Price $15
Rating 90
The flavors are lush and true to form, with hints of pepper and leather. Kim
McPherson is a native of Lubbock, Texas. After graduation from Texas Tech with
a degree in Food-Nutrition Science, Kim completed the enology and viticulture
program at the University of California at Davis and worked in Napa Valley.
Charles Shaw Shiraz, California 2004
Price $3.99
Rating 87
This wine is in limited distribution, primarily at Trader Joe's stores. This was
once famously known as "two buck chuck." The nose is delicate. The sip is light,
almost grapy with plum and soft mineral inthe good length.
Penfolds "Koonunga Hill" Shiraz, South Eastern Australia
Price $12
Rating 90
This Shiraz is concentrated and assertive. Ripe plum, black pepper and dark,
jammy fruit lead the way.
Hugh Hamilton "Jim Jim" Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2004
Price $9.99
Rating 91
There are notes of Asian spice in the nose. The sip is vibrant and rich with
complex fruit.
Hugh Hamilton "Jekyl & Hyde" Shiraz/Viognier, McLaren
Vale 2004
Price $26
Rating 93\
The nose starts with menthol, plum and black fruit with hints of pepper. The sip
has layers of plum.
Lulu B. Syrah, France 2004
Price $8.99
Rating 89
The flavors or complex and fruit-forward. There are floral notes within the
lilting finish. This great value of a screw-top red is imported by Boisset
America. Learn more at www.luluBwine.com.
Rosenblum Syrah "Fran's Vineyard" Dry Creek 2002
Price $30
Rating 93
This lovely perfumed and very inky dark Syrah has aromas and flavors of smoke,
black cherry and wild blackberries with a core of minerals. This is a reflection
of the mountain terrior that fostered the grapes. This vineyard is owned by Fran
and Jack Florence, Sr.
Houghton Shiraz, Western Australia 2004
Price $14
Rating 92
The color is almost purple. There are aromas of ripe plum and pepper. The sip
offer ripe plum, dark fruit andmocha in the finish.
Angoves "Vineyard Select" Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2004
Price $12
Rating 86
This Shiraz is big and ripe with jammy fruit. There could be less jam and a
little more complexity. An enjoyable red, nonetheless.
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Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great wine
finds. Says writer Roy Blount, Jr., “Wine is tough, but I know Darryl can do
it.”
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