Syrah is a rising star, so get your astro-awareness on by tasting a smorgasbord of styles…
Earthworks Barossa Shiraz 2015 $19
Sniffing this wine is like having someone slock you ‘round the face with a cocoa-dusted stocking stuffed with ripe blackcurrants, fresh green herbs, roasted spices and smoky oak. Concentrated, refreshing and packed with character – it’s one of those red wines that’ll have you reaching for your slippers, robe and pipe even if it is the middle of the day. Shiraz = syrah. They are the same grape.
Sip with: those gourmet beef sausages you’ve been eyeing up through the butchers window…
Clearview Estate Cape Kidnappers Syrah 2015 $27
Woah Nelly!! How’s about the whoomph of clove, cinnamon, currants and cocoa on the nose? It’s an aromatic colossus, and one I couldn’t stop sniffing. But once you do you’ll note that it’s incredibly juicy and fleshy for a young wine. I love the onslaught of blackcurrant, peppercorn and graphite goodness in this coastal-grown syrah. Clearview’s winemaking team have created a really impressive, warming, fleshy wine right here.
Sip with: chunky beef stew.
Jérôme Quiot Vacqueyras 2014 $33
A blend of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre from France’s Rhone region, produced by the Quiot family who’ve been making wine since 1748. 1748! This new puppy has a lovely lift of fresh raspberries and redcurrant, cracked pepper and rosehip tea on the nose, followed by fresh berryfruit on the palate and a spicy kick on the finish.
Sip with: a slab of pork and pistachio terrine
www.mvauron.co.nz
