Red Wine

Shiraz/Syrah

Shiraz A.K.A Syrah makes a vast array of styles and blends from vineyards in cool to very hot sites.

From super ripe jammy numbers to fresh vibrant supple wines of elegance, restraint and harmony no style including fortified is off limits! Typically in the new world if you see Syrah, the French name for Shiraz on the label it is an indication that the wine will be more elegant in style, often from a cooler climate. There are no hard at fast rules though!
Where is it grown?
Shiraz has its roots in the Northern Rhône Valley regions of Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, and is grown throughout the great Rhône. Outside France, Australia has been its home for over the last 150 years. James Busby bought it here in 1832! Australia has some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world in regions where phylloxera is absent.

The warmer regions of Australia, think the Barossa and McLaren Vale were some of the first to achieve global recognition for their Shiraz. Yet the Clare Valley, Wendouree, and Central Victoria, Thabilk and Bailey’s of Glenrowan, have made Shiraz for just as long. The size of Australia and dramatic differences in microclimate and geology of Australia allow us to celebrate Shiraz in so many different ways. The Hunter Valley and other cool climates around Australia including the Adelaide Hills, Canberra, the Yarra Valley, Mornington, the Grampians, and, Heathcote are known for their Shiraz.

An epic 395,000 tonnes of Shiraz grapes are grown in Australia accounting for nearly 25% of the annual crush, and, 50% of the red grape crush. It is almost double the amount of Cabernet and four times the amount of Pinot grown in Australia!
What does it taste like?
The diversity of styles is influenced heavily by the other grape varieties often blended with Shiraz.

In Côte Rôtie it’s blended with the white grape Viognier giving it a beautiful perfume, contributing a certain luscious element to the palate, and, surprisingly making the colour dark through the process of co-pigmentation. Heading to the Southern Rhône and areas like Chȃteauneuf du Pape, Grenache and Mouvèrdre A.K.A Mataro amongst many other varieties are blended with Shiraz. The Grenache adds flowers, perfume spice, a juby confectionary character, the Mouvèrdre structure, and, earthiness. Similar blends are found in the Languedoc-Roussillon. Each variety contributing different elements to the wine. Decades ago many of Burgundy’s Pinots were fortified with a splash of Syrah from the Rhône.

In Australia, there is a long history of blending Shiraz and Cabernet. It is virtually impossible to generically describe Australian Shiraz. We’ll have a stab at breaking it down to regions in general terms past and present.

Past

The wines of the Barossa and McLaren Vale have historically been very ripe, sometimes jammy and inky in nature. In the 1980’s and 1990’s it was common to see them loaded up with oak and added tannins. At the some time the Clare was producing equally dense wines with greater freshness and an edge more structure from grape tannin. The Hunter produced wines of much lower alcohol content, medium weight and an earthy less fruit forward nature. Central Victorian wines from the likes of Thabilk have vibrant dark fruit, with sometimes massive structure and tannins. Cooler climates in Victoria and South Australia offered juicy natural acid and red fruits with a more supple mouthfeel.

Present

In recent times experimentation with Shiraz, pushing the boundaries across all aspect of growing and making has seen a fascinating evolution in styles. Particularly in warmer regions, makers have been picking earlier and earlier, they have had to work hard in the vineyards to ensure they can achieve flavour and tannin ripeness at when doing so. Trials with carbonic maceration, whole bunches, stalk use, different fermentation vessels, long periods of skin contact, older oak, and, larger oak have been common.

Shiraz Viognier blends have been around since the 1970’s at Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley, in the 1990’s these took off and we now see a plethora of wines made with this blend, the most notable being Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier from Canberra.

All of this experimentation has resulted in wines of greater restraint coming from the warmer climates and wines of incredible sophistication, texture and complexity from the cooler climates. Shiraz in Australia is the best it has ever been and only getting better!


Battle of Shiraz vs Syrah!


Craiglee

Craiglee Shiraz 2019

Shiraz/Syrah | Victoria, Australia

A delicate lick of oak with a hint of mocha is quickly usurped by fresh red and darker fruits, a little liquorice, and a background layer of plum pudding with spices and candied citrus rind. A savoury cured meat / light reduction adding complexity. Superfine, flowing, and soft texture with excellent mid-palate weight and length. Blossoming in the glass. Another classic from Pat!  If Pat Carmody can’t make great shiraz, then we should all shut up shop. He’s only been doing so at C
$69
$66ea in any 3+
$63ea in any 6+

N.Z.’s Finest from Bilancia

Bilancia Syrah 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

This comes from 20 yo vines from property next door with some La Collina pressings. Subtle, the flow here is more even long & supple than the 2019. Mid-weight with excellent red dark and spiced fruit, sophisticated and elegant. Musk, perfume, flow. Fresh elegant, sophisticated. Energetic and fresh and thirst quenching. Beautifully weighted.  Fine long even. Lovely build in tannin. Subtle sophisticated spice and a little licorice. Very bloody good! Tasting the 2020 with Warren and L
$46
$43ea in any 3+
$40ea in any 6+

Bilancia ‘la collina’ Syrah 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Bilancia's 'La Collina' is New Zealand's Syrah equivalent TeMata's 'Coleraine' Bordeaux blend. The only challenge, they make a minuscule volume. Australia might see 10 dozen for the country! Tasting the 2020 with Warren and Lorraine last year was inspiring. A little lift that blows off. Interesting fresh energy, redder fruit. Even long detailed fine tannins, with a playful edge. The length and depth. Poise balance perfume, underlying savoury edge. Excellent balance. This will be stunning i
$165
$160ea in any 3+
$155ea in any 6+

The Skips 🦘

An Icon!

Clonakilla O’Raida Shiraz HALF 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Murrumbatemen, Australia

A great introduction to Shiraz from Clonakilla & Murumbatemen, Canberra. Cool climate Shiraz with excellent texture and shape. Opulent & generous fruit, tamed by excellent tannins with an edge of playful grip and energetic acid. Plum and red fruit have spice, savoury, graphite, and that hallmark pepper playing around with florals making for an entrancing perfume. Delicious, complete, harmonious, and thirst-quenching!
$35
$32ea in any 3+
$29ea in any 6+

Wine Decoded Yarra Valley Shiraz 2017

Shiraz/Syrah | Yarra Valley, Australia

Our 3rd and Best Release is Here! I'm quietly very happy with this one. As a passion project we had no commercial time constraints and were able to give this much more time maturing in barrel and then bottle prior to release, over 5 years prior to release. The end result is a wine of poise and balance. I reckon I've nailed it. Delicious, cool climate Shiraz with energy, vibrant fruit, layered savoury, earthy complexity with pops of spice. An underlying darkness, fine, long, plush and caressin
$51
$48ea in any 3+
$45ea in any 6+
An Icon!

Clonakilla O’Raida Shiraz 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Murrumbatemen, ACT

A great introduction to Shiraz from Clonakilla & Murumbatemen, Canberra. Cool climate Shiraz with excellent texture and shape. Opulent & generous fruit, tamed by excellent tannins with an edge of playful grip and energetic acid. Plum and red fruit have spice, savoury, graphite, and that hallmark pepper playing around with florals making for an entrancing perfume. Delicious, complete, harmonious, and thirst-quenching!
$54
$51ea in any 3+
$48ea in any 6+

The 2017 Vintage & Making of the 2017 Wine Decoded Shiraz

2017 was a cooler, year with good water stores available for the vines. Ripening was slow and even with phenolic ripeness matching sugar levels. A short spell of rain a couple of weeks prior to harvest freshened up the vines and we ended up picking delicious fruit with ripe tannins . The water stressed from 2016 was not a challenge.

Genevieve, Max & Alby Sampling our Shiraz

If you get the chance go through the Articles in the Wine Bites Mag Articles that share the making process and you’ll get a deep understanding of each step in the process, the care and detail we took in handling our grapes, and, guiding them through to the bottle.


Rippers from the Northern Rhône!


Domaine des Hauts Châssis Crozes Hermitage ‘Les Galets’ 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Crozes-Hermitage

There's Crozes and then there's Crozes - Franck Faugier has made a cracker! Stunning Syrah 🍇 Perfume violets, draws you in with the depth and length of aroma. Beautiful integration finely spiced, with a earthy, seasoned wood from grape not oak rhubarb red fruit. Heart shape complete, beautifully weighted and sophisticated. Excellent drinking. Long fine delicious. Honest wines made by farmers of stone fruit & grapes with bloody good palates Galets are pebbles, the vineyard is covered
$80
$76ea in any 3+
$72ea in any 6+
Excellent élévage yet so very tight. Graphite mineral thing. Long even tannins, fine vibrant red fruit fresh red cherry. Pure grape first Syrah with much more going on. Lovely shape. Longer finer feel compared with Villard’s Saint-Joseph that uses much more whole bunch. It’s a matter of preference and difference not necessarily quality between the two. More to come from both with a few years in bottle. Excellent Syrah!
$88
$84ea in any 3+
$80ea in any 6+

François Villard Saint-Joseph ‘Mairlant’ 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Saint-Joseph, France

Love the perfume here very complete long layered fine, dark and red fruit with brooding and stalk. Harmonious with subtle pepper pop. Excellent élévage, fine acid. Build in structure and mid-palate grip, giving energy. Playful fun. Excellent comparision with Hauts Châssis’ Saint-Joseph made with no whole bunches. Saturated violet color. Vibrant, spice-tinged dark berry, cherry, potpourri and licorice aromas are sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Fresh blackberry and bitter
$107
$102ea in any 3+
$97ea in any 6+
Museum Release

François Villard Côte-Rôtie ‘Gallet Blanc’ 2016

Shiraz/Syrah | Côte-Rôtie, France

Côte-Rôtie with incredible energy, definition, and intrigue. So many layers of pleasure. François is making stunning wine. From a 20 year old chef to a vigneron with over 30 years experience his wine wisdom shows. Stylistically you'll find great density in his Côte-Rôtie with fruit from the Northen half, the Côte-Brune coming from several Lieux Dits. The Côte-Brune is known to produce more masculine wines that the Côte-Blonde. The 2016 vintage shows a lovely, Classic, balance amongst the
$164
$157ea in any 3+
$150ea in any 6+

François Villard Côte-Rôtie ‘Gallet Blanc’ 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Côte-Rôtie, France

Côte-Rôtie with incredible energy, definition, and intrigue. So many layers of pleasure. Personality+ this calls: Drink Me! Drink Me! Perfectly balanced, harmonious, seamless. It draws you in. Exceptional line and length and the tannins are so long, fine and even. Red and dark fruit a little licorice. So fine. Incredible complex savoury roasted barbecued vegetables & a line of earthiness. Perfume of Violets so long. A tiny splash of Viognier. This is exceptional. Would make a fantastic com
$178
$171ea in any 3+
$164ea in any 6+

Stéphane Ogier ‘La Rosine’ Syrah 2019

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Collines Rhodaniennes

Stéphane makes wines of great energy and vibrancy, always on the fresher end of the spectrum. Here there is both power and finesse. La Rosine comes from a single plot just outside the southern boundary of the famous Côte-Rôtie appellation. The 2019 is much more together than the 2018 at the same stage.  Still a little puppy fat. This is generous out of the gate. The tannins silky and long match the fruit nicely. Decant in youth to get the most from this. A divine array of fruits, spices a
$60
$57ea in any 3+
$54ea in any 6+
Wines of Presence

Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Mon Village 2018

Shiraz/Syrah | Côte-Rôtie, France

Fresh dark berries, potpourri, olive, exotic spices and smoky bacon on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, penetrating blackberry, cherry liqueur and candied violet flavors show fine delineation and a spine of juicy acidity. Subtly chewy tannins add grip to an impressively persistent, mineral- and spice-driven finish that strongly echoes the cherry and floral notes. Josh Raynolds, Vinous
$152
$145ea in any 3+
$138ea in any 6+
Burgundy meets Côte-Rôtie
Côte-Rôtie is often compared to Burgundy for it's detailed vineyard breakdown. Like Burgundy we see dramatic differences in the wines from vineyard to vineyard. Stéphane has a great number of lieux-dits that he works with through the Côte-Blonde (southern part of Côte-Rôtie) and Côte-Brune (northern part of Côte-Rôtie). Stéphane makes wines of greater energy and vibrancy, always on the fresher end of the spectrum. La Belle Hélène from Côte Rozier, a parcel of Stéphane's oldes
$890
$870ea in any 3+
$850ea in any 6+
Burgundy meets Côte-Rôtie
Côte-Rôtie is often compared to Burgundy for it's detailed vineyard breakdown. Like Burgundy we see dramatic differences in the wines from vineyard to vineyard. Stéphane has a great number of lieux-dits that he works with through the Côte-Blonde (southern part of Côte-Rôtie) and Côte-Brune (northern part of Côte-Rôtie). Stéphane makes wines of greater energy and vibrancy, always on the fresher end of the spectrum. La Belle Hélène from Côte Rozier, a parcel of Stéphane's oldes
$1,035
$1015ea in any 3+
$995ea in any 6+

Filters & Sorting

Showing 77 Delicious Wines!

Wine Decoded Yarra Valley Shiraz 2016

Shiraz/Syrah | Yarra Valley, Australia

The Wait is Over … Our 2nd Ever Wine Decoded Wine is Here! This is Not Just a Wine! This is 28 years in the making! I've made 100's of wines, this is only the 2nd to be released under my own label. Just a little bit excited 😉 Explore below for all the juice on making, the style & what's next! Thanks to all the friends who helped make this possible! I have tasted 3 wines made by different makers from the same Shiraz. All show characteristics of the site, yet they are incredibly
$35
$32ea in any 3+
$29ea in any 6+
An Icon!

Clonakilla O’Raida Shiraz HALF 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Murrumbatemen, Australia

A great introduction to Shiraz from Clonakilla & Murumbatemen, Canberra. Cool climate Shiraz with excellent texture and shape. Opulent & generous fruit, tamed by excellent tannins with an edge of playful grip and energetic acid. Plum and red fruit have spice, savoury, graphite, and that hallmark pepper playing around with florals making for an entrancing perfume. Delicious, complete, harmonious, and thirst-quenching!
$35
$32ea in any 3+
$29ea in any 6+

Bilancia Syrah 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

This comes from 20 yo vines from property next door with some La Collina pressings. Subtle, the flow here is more even long & supple than the 2019. Mid-weight with excellent red dark and spiced fruit, sophisticated and elegant. Musk, perfume, flow. Fresh elegant, sophisticated. Energetic and fresh and thirst quenching. Beautifully weighted.  Fine long even. Lovely build in tannin. Subtle sophisticated spice and a little licorice. Very bloody good! Tasting the 2020 with Warren and L
$46
$43ea in any 3+
$40ea in any 6+
Great refreshing red. Light on foot it packs plenty of flavour into a thirst-quenching drink. Great refreshing red. Light on foot it packs plenty of flavour into a thirst-quenching drink. Crunchy fruit and fine acid match red fruits a little spice and flowers. So easy to devour, perfect as the weather warms. 50% Grenache 50% Syrah. Made from 40 year old vines this is 100% tank fermented.
$48
$46ea in any 3+
$44ea in any 6+

Swinney Syrah 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | West Australia, Australia

Beautifully refined with vibrant fresh fruit. Excellent élévage and exceptional mouthfeel. Plush and delicately spiced with a satisfying generosity and balanced twist of whole bunch. "The 2021 Syrah is a haunting, glowing crimson in the glass. I love the tannins here—they're so good that they compel me to look beyond the fruit and to the structure, which is a rare occurrence. There are notes of pink peppercorns and Sichuan peppercorn, and the fruit has purity, clarity and a supple flo
$48
$45ea in any 6+
$42ea in any 12+

Wine Decoded Yarra Valley Shiraz 2017

Shiraz/Syrah | Yarra Valley, Australia

Our 3rd and Best Release is Here! I'm quietly very happy with this one. As a passion project we had no commercial time constraints and were able to give this much more time maturing in barrel and then bottle prior to release, over 5 years prior to release. The end result is a wine of poise and balance. I reckon I've nailed it. Delicious, cool climate Shiraz with energy, vibrant fruit, layered savoury, earthy complexity with pops of spice. An underlying darkness, fine, long, plush and caressin
$51
$48ea in any 3+
$45ea in any 6+
An Icon!

Clonakilla O’Raida Shiraz 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Murrumbatemen, ACT

A great introduction to Shiraz from Clonakilla & Murumbatemen, Canberra. Cool climate Shiraz with excellent texture and shape. Opulent & generous fruit, tamed by excellent tannins with an edge of playful grip and energetic acid. Plum and red fruit have spice, savoury, graphite, and that hallmark pepper playing around with florals making for an entrancing perfume. Delicious, complete, harmonious, and thirst-quenching!
$54
$51ea in any 3+
$48ea in any 6+

Stéphane Ogier ‘La Rosine’ Syrah 2019

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Collines Rhodaniennes

Stéphane makes wines of great energy and vibrancy, always on the fresher end of the spectrum. Here there is both power and finesse. La Rosine comes from a single plot just outside the southern boundary of the famous Côte-Rôtie appellation. The 2019 is much more together than the 2018 at the same stage.  Still a little puppy fat. This is generous out of the gate. The tannins silky and long match the fruit nicely. Decant in youth to get the most from this. A divine array of fruits, spices a
$60
$57ea in any 3+
$54ea in any 6+
Seduction by Wine!

Yarra Yering Dry Red No.2 HALF 2019

Red Blend | Yarra Valley, Australia

The original Shiraz Viognier blend .. with a spalsh ofMataro! A complex and layered wine; sweet and savoury all at once. The fragrance is melting pot of violets, plums, savoury spices and a whiff of bramble and five spice. Moderate in weight; the summer pudding fruits come in all colours dialling up the flavour interest. There is cigar box and cardamom spice lending intrigue. Firm yet fine tannins ably support the fruit and texture drive the palate. This one is hard to put in a box, there is so
$65
$62ea in any 3+
$59ea in any 6+
Poise and shape. Perret’s Saint-Joseph has a drinkability about it that is so often lacking in the new world. Florals, on red and blue fruits with a bit of spice sit delicately on framework of tannins with a nice bit of mid-palate grip. Weightless yet full of flavour. A graceful Syrah. It’s fun now, there is no doubt that time will be kind helping it relax and show more perceived generosity.
$67
$64ea in any 3+
$61ea in any 6+

Craiglee Shiraz 2019

Shiraz/Syrah | Victoria, Australia

A delicate lick of oak with a hint of mocha is quickly usurped by fresh red and darker fruits, a little liquorice, and a background layer of plum pudding with spices and candied citrus rind. A savoury cured meat / light reduction adding complexity. Superfine, flowing, and soft texture with excellent mid-palate weight and length. Blossoming in the glass. Another classic from Pat!  If Pat Carmody can’t make great shiraz, then we should all shut up shop. He’s only been doing so at C
$69
$66ea in any 3+
$63ea in any 6+
F*@#ing excellent! Vibrant fresh, energetic, wonderful wine. Poised and balanced. There’s a seamless harmony about this wine that takes me to a happy place! F*@#ing excellent! Vibrant fresh, energetic, wonderful wine. Poised and balanced. Excellent tannins, dusty and of quality, layered. Lovely drive of fruit. Got this tricky dark, brooding undertone with energetic layer on top. Excellent complexity. There's a seamless harmony about this wine that takes me to a happy place! True to form for
$72
$69ea in any 3+
$66ea in any 6+

Domaine des Hauts Châssis Crozes Hermitage ‘Les Galets’ 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Crozes-Hermitage

There's Crozes and then there's Crozes - Franck Faugier has made a cracker! Stunning Syrah 🍇 Perfume violets, draws you in with the depth and length of aroma. Beautiful integration finely spiced, with a earthy, seasoned wood from grape not oak rhubarb red fruit. Heart shape complete, beautifully weighted and sophisticated. Excellent drinking. Long fine delicious. Honest wines made by farmers of stone fruit & grapes with bloody good palates Galets are pebbles, the vineyard is covered
$80
$76ea in any 3+
$72ea in any 6+

Dhillon by Bindi Col Mountain Shiraz 2017

Shiraz/Syrah | Victoria, Australia

This wine, to state the obvious, has been quite a while coming! In 2014 we began making experimental ferments using four clones from this exciting vineyard and decided to mature the blended bottled wines until we felt they were settled and singing. The 2017 Col Mountain is based on the smooth and aromatic Shiraz clones PT23 and 1654 with a little of the robust and rich Yalumba and R6WV28. The Col Mountain wines, from deep red soil with a significant amount of shattered rock, are earthier and
$85
$81ea in any 3+
$77ea in any 6+

Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Olivets’ 2017

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

“A straight-up fruit bomb, it has full-bodied richness, beautiful purity, and tons of charm. I'm impressed – Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste any 2018s from this estate but, unquestionably, their 2017s are some of the wines of the vintage. Now - 2029” Jeb Dunnuck  
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
Excellent élévage yet so very tight. Graphite mineral thing. Long even tannins, fine vibrant red fruit fresh red cherry. Pure grape first Syrah with much more going on. Lovely shape. Longer finer feel compared with Villard’s Saint-Joseph that uses much more whole bunch. It’s a matter of preference and difference not necessarily quality between the two. More to come from both with a few years in bottle. Excellent Syrah!
$88
$84ea in any 3+
$80ea in any 6+