Australia’s best Shiraz wines
Shiraz (also known as Syrah in the new world) is well known for its spicy, black fruit flavours and smooth tannins.
It’s a perennial favourite for red wine lovers – and as the grapes thrive in Australia’s hot and dry conditions, many Aussie winemakers are producing world-class examples of this varietal.
Here are our six favourite Australian Shiraz.
Castagna 2015 Genesis Syrah (Beechworth, Vic)
When you want an easy drinker, this is the drop for you.
The Genesis Syrah is certifiably biodynamic, and features complex flavours of blood plums and hints of apricot on the palate. Beautifully balanced with a light body, it finishes with a perfect acidity that will have you ready for a second glass in no time.
Mount Pleasant 2017 1880 Vines Old Hill Shiraz (Hunter Valley, NSW)
Planted in 1880 by Charles King, the ‘Old Hill’ vineyard has produced some of the Hunter Valley’s greatest red wines – and this is one of them.
With powerful fruit flavours, and a long intense palate with seamless tannin, it’s easy to see why this shiraz has scooped so many winemaking awards. A great pick for special occasions, it can also be cellared for up to 50 years.
Vinteloper SH/17 (Adelaide Hills, SA)
The first thing that grabs you with this wine is the aroma – a multi-layered bouquet of juicy fruits, cloves, pepper and dried apricot.
Then once you take a sip, you’re greeted with flavours of heavily spiced fruitcake and blackcurrant juice. With a full-bodied length and drive, this is the perfect drop to share on a cold night in front of a roaring fire.
St Leonards 2012 Wahgunyah Shiraz (Wahgunyah, Vic)
With multifaceted flavours and structure, this complex shiraz is a truly beautiful example of the varietal.
The palate is effortlessly poised with flavours of ripe cherries and raspberries, with a slight integration of oak from its barrel fermentation, and well-managed tannins provide subtle support. Pair with roast lamb for ultimate decadence.
Bekkers 2016 Syrah (McLaren Vale, SA)
This Shiraz is Bekkers’ flagship wine, and their experience with the varietal is obvious from the moment you pour your first glass.
Made with fruit from two different vineyards, the wine features an excellent balance of fresh cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. It has a soft, silky texture and a lovely, lingering finish. It will also only improve with time, and can be cellared up until about 2025.
Philip Shaw 2016 No.89 Shiraz (Orange, NSW)
This may be the ultimate expression of a cool climate shiraz. Harvested and sorted by hand, the No.89 Shiraz is a well-balanced wine that is elegant, spiced, perfumed and intricate.
It has alluring fruit flavours with undertones of spice and earth – and on the palate the wine is opulent, with savoury tannins, length and finesse.
