3.16 Syrah Flashcards
By what other name is Syrah known?
Shiraz
What’s the general profile of Syrah?
Moderate climate styles:
Fresh black fruit (cherry, blackberry)
Black pepper
Herbal aromas
Medium-high acid
Medium-high tannin
Medium alcohol/Medium body
Riper styles are full bodied with high alcohol and cooked black fruit and licorice flavors.
In what climate does Syrah thrive?
Moderate (i.e; Northern Rhone)
Warm (i.e; South Australia)
Why is Syrah/Shiraz often used as a blending grape?
Because it can add:
* Color
* Black fruit flavors
* Tannin
What are Syrah’s frequent blending partners?
Grenache
Mourvedre
+ other Southern Rhone varietals
Is Syrah generally oaked or on-oaked?
More commonly, it is oaked.
(It softens the tannins and adds layers of flavor: smoke and spices, while also increasing aging potential)
What tertiary aromas/flavors can Syrah develop?
- Leather
- Meat/bacon
- Earth
Which region in France is the “classic” region for Syrah?
Northern Rhone
What’s the only black grape allowed in the Northern Rhône?
Syrah
Name the most important Northern Rhone appellations for Syrah.
- Côte Rôtie AOC
- Hermitage AOC
- Crozes Hermitages AOC
Describe the slope/aspect of Côte Rôtie AOC and Hermitage AOC.
Steep slopes that require hand harvesting and individually staked vines.
What grape is traditionally co-fermented with Syrah in Côte Rôtie AOC
Viognier (it helps with color stabilization and adds floral aromas)
What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?
Moderate
Is machine harvesting possible in Crozes-Hermitage?
Yes. Crozes-Hermitage is flat and can be machine harvested, so prices will be lower than Côte Rôtie and Hermitage.
Remember that the best vineyards (Côte Rôtie and Hermitage) are on slopes, not flat land.
What appellation represents the northernmost point where Syrah can reliably ripen?
Côte Rôtie AOC
What direction does the steep hill of Hermitage face?
South
This makes Hermitage generally warmer than Côte Rôtie, producing more powerful wines.
Where is Crozes-Hermitage AOC , relative to Hermitage AOC?
At the bottom of Hermitage Hill
Stylistically, how is Syrah from Crozes- Hermitage different from wines from Côte Rôtie/ Hermitage?
Generally:
Less complex
Less concentrated
Less impressive
Less expensive
What is Syrah typically blended with in the Southern Rhone?
Grenache
Mourvedre
“GSM” is the Southern Rhone ‘Holy Trinity”
What region in Southern France is known for Syrah?
Languedoc-Roussillon
What 2 appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon are well known for Syrah?
Minervois AOC
Pays d’Oc ICP
Describe Minervois AOC and its wines.
Minervois AOC is in the South of France: known for its GSM blends.
Syrah ripens easily in the South of France: it can be blended or single varietal.
Which country outside France has the largest plantings of Syrah?
Australia
What’s Australia’s most planted grape?
Shiraz
What style of Shiraz comes from South Eastern Australia?
Bulk wine
Name 2 regions in Australia known for production of high-quality Shiraz
Barossa Valley
Hunter Valley
T or F
Australia is home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines.
True (125+ years old!)
Old vine Shiraz produces concentrated fruit and wines with:
High level ripe tannins
Cooked black fruit
Often flavors from American oak (vanilla, coconut)
What’s the climate of the Barossa Valley?
Warm
Describe the style of Barossa Valley Shiraz?
- Dry
- Full body
- High, ripe tannin
- Cooked black fruit (blackberry, cherry)
- Black pepper
- Oak flavors (vanilla, coconut) (often American oak)
What’s the climate of Hunter Valley?
Warm
But high cloud cover and ocean breezes moderate the heat and extend the growing season- allowing slow ripening of the grapes.
Describe the style of Hunter Valley Shiraz.
- Dry
- Medium body
- Medium to high tannin
- FRESH black fruit
- Black pepper
- Not as intense as Barossa Valley Shiraz
Is Shiraz sometimes blended in Australia? What are its blending partners?
Yes
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grenache
