Shiraz Flashcards
What can we expect from Shiraz from France ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium acidity, full body, and medium to high levels of tannins. They are generally aged in oak.
Flavours: Blackberry and dark chocolate with hints of smoked meat and black pepper spice. With age the wines develop flavours of leather, wet leaves and earth. The oak can give toast, smoke, vanilla and coconut flavours to the wine.
The Northern Rhône is where Shiraz is home and the wines display black pepper and dark fruit character. The best appellations are Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage for the more intense examples of this variety. Crozes-Hermitage is a larger appellation and the wines are less complex. In the Southern Rhône and the south of France Shiraz is typically blended with Grenache. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What can we expect from Shiraz from Australia ?
Climate: Moderate to hot
Style: Dry, medium to high tannins and full bodied. They are generally aged in oak or in contact with oak chips or staves.
Flavours : Intense blackberry and plum, sweet spices of cinnamon and vanilla with notes of dark chocolate. The use of oak can be pronounced giving flavours of smoke, vanilla and coconut.
100% Shiraz wines can come from the hotter regions of the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley (these wines being particularly powerful). In the more moderate climates of Victoria the Shiraz is intensely flavoured and complex and is similar in style to the northern Rhône. Shiraz is classically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to add softness to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines range in price from inexpensive to premium.
What are the key facts of Shiraz ?
- Shiraz is also known as Syrah
- It produces full bodied red wines with oak influences
- It needs moderate or hot climate to ripen
- Wine can be single varietal or blended with Grenache in parts of France or Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia
- Quality and price from good to outstanding and inexpensive to premium
