This Syrah from San Juanito in Mexico is pretty good. Bold and dry with reasonable length and rounded flavours of black fruit, oak and spice. Its a wine to try with friends and ideally with food, but its good enough to drink on its own in front of the fire.
Gérald Besse, Les Serpentines, 2021, Syrah, Martigny, Switzerland
The swiss can make some really good wine and this dry red syrah from Gérald Besse from the Martigny area of Switzerland shows it. Good length and full of red fruit flavours. With a little bit of smoke, leather and slight earthy note just poking through it’s very enjoyable red to watch a sunset with.
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Reininger, Syrah, 2017, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, USA
This 2017 Syrah from Reininger got a silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards with 90 points which may have been a little stingy because its really rather good. Its a dry red wine with a silky texture and well integrated tannins. Aromas and flavours of plum, blueberries with licorice and hints of pepper. At USD50 a bottle its not cheap but rather good. Serve with steak and or sip slowly and just enjoy.
Terra Argillosa, Syrah, 2019, Marche, Italy
Yep another italian red wine, granted its rather good, in some ways quite excellent. Reasonable dry, solid tannins but not overly so with a “presence” that’s comforting. With red and black fruit flavours and smoke and oak notes it’s all well integrated It’s no Gold medal winning wine but that’s where I think it scores. It’s a wine that red drinkers will like, not have to think about and be happy to open a second bottle. 😊
At about £18 a bottle it’s a bit pricey and that’s the down side.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Syrah, 2021, Rhone, France
This syrah from Paul Jaboulet Aîné, in the Rhone of France is a marmite wine, its love it or hate it red wine when its first opened. Its dry, medium bodied and very juicy with rich aromas and flavours of blackcurrant and hints of spice but with a tanker full of herbs thrown in. When I tried it the next day much of the overpowering herb flavours had disapated. It’s not bad with all the herby nores but not what I was expecting, but it is also more juice focused and one dimensional. Even at £6.99 at Majestic Wines on a mixed 6 offer i couldn’t give it more points, sorry not for me.
Duca di Salaparuta Calanica, Syrah, 2020, Southern Italy
This southern this southern Italian red wine is really rather good. It’s dry, bold but smooth. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours and works well on its own znd with food such as pasta or red meat dishes. At £13 a bottle it’s not bad value.
Anthony Joseph Vidal can make wine, good wine but at £30 a bottle it needs to be really good.
This Legacy, Syrah from the Hawks Bay area has some fine qualities. There are aromas of plum and raspberry with notes of spice, for the flavours get more darker fruits Oak and some very fine tannings which are slightly out of balance with the fruit flavour. On the plus side I got no hangover after having an entire bottle of this wine one evening, which shows this is pretty good, it’s just not £10 good.
Anthony Joseph Vidal, Legacy, Syrah, 2014, New Zealand
Chateau Ste Michelle, Syrah, 2017, Columbia Valley, USA
The U.S. can produce up notch wine and this Syrah from Chateau Ste Michelle in the Columbia Valley is a good example. It’s a bold, dry red with aromas of black fruit, oak and chocolate with earthy notes. The flavours are well integrated with softness of plum, cherry and blackberry with licorice and herb hints.
Easy drinking yet perfect with a steak and under £20 it’s a compelling wine to try.
Hacienda, Casa del Valle, Syrah, 2016, Spain
Red wine from Spain is a favourite of mine and this Syrah from Hacienda is great, but for all the wrong reasons!
Aged for over 6 months in French and American oak, it’s dry but quite light with lack luster aromas of red fruits that follows through in the taste. So what makes this great? Drink it, just that. No complexity, no messing around with amazing flavours and aromas. It’s a drink, enjoy wine and less chance of a hangover too. Some wines are wines for a moment and this is a drink and don’t think wine, which is what you just need after s crap day at work. Oh at £5 a bottle it’s great value.
La Méridionale, Merlot, Syrah, Languedoc, France
The South of France produces lots of Merlot and Syrah red wines and this one from La Méridionale is typical.
Blackberry, plum and cherry and you primary flavours for this pretty simple but drinkable red. Its very Dry, has decent enough body and depth of flavour with tannins that are a little rough and pronounced. Its not bad but its a food wine. pair it with steak or a burger and it will go down very well. At £7 a bottle its decent value too.