Shiraz / Syrah

APPEARANCE

ON THE VINE: small to medium blue-black berries with thin skins. Fairly loose, cylindrical bunches.

IN THE GLASS: dense ruby is to be expected, extending to the rim in recent bottlings. Brick-coloured russet edges may start to show with age.

 

Smoky, peppery fragrances, wild herbs. Hints of allspice, perhaps cinnamon, pimento. Rustic features in older styles can prompt thoughts of venison, leather, tar.

TASTE

Shiraz typically has red berry fruit intensity, plum, spicy pepperiness and a sweetness on the palate, reined-in with top examples. Rustic farmyard flavours can be evident, with fudge and candy-floss among the words sometimes used to describe certain styles.

ORIGIN

Some say Shiraz (called Syrah outside South Africa and Australia), originated in the town of Shiraz in Iran – hailing from Persia by way of the Rhône Valley in France. The grapes have been grown in the northern Rhône for the last few hundred years, though some argue that it came from Syracuse in Sicily.

IN SOUTH AFRICA

Although Shiraz is known to produce good wine in warm climes, it is not a prolific bearer – which once meant limited popularity for the varietal in the Cape. Today it is appreciated for its quality, and is grown throughout the main wine-producing areas – Rust en Vrede and Zandvliet are virtually synonymous with the grape, and Fairview stands out as one of the innovators in the category of late. Old bottles will show the full, earthy, alcoholic dikvoet (clumsy) examples that had writers conjuring up images of sweaty saddles. Today, while farmyard features can still present on the nose of modern bottlings, winemakers are now competing with the best, style wise.

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD

Syrah’s popularity continues to grow, and it is now also planted with great success throughout the Rhône, the Languedoc and around the world – particularly in Australia, champion of the New World style.

BEST EXAMPLES

In South Africa, consistently good producers in recent years include: Boekenhoutskloof, Cederberg, De Trafford, Hartenberg and Stellenzicht – to name a few. Examples of top French/Rhône Shiraz: Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle, Côte Roties of Marcelle Guigal, August Clape. In Australia, notable Shiraz wines include: Penfold’s Grange; Henschke Hill of Grace; The Armagh; Mount Langi Ghiran.

AGEING POTENTIAL

Many Syrahs are being made to show better earlier, and are drinkable from two or three years after the vintage, some sooner. Exceptional wines have lasted over 20 years, and some French examples have still been delightful after 40 to 50 years.

MATCHING WITH FOOD

Red meat dishes with sweet and spicy overtones; venison, oxtail, ostrich, bredies, goulash.

SERVING TEMPERATURE

Between 16° and 18° C.