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The medal-winning wines from the Global Syrah Masters 2022

We list all the medallists from this year’s Global Syrah Masters – the biggest UK-based competition for wines made with this grape – with top-performers including bottles from the Barossa and Hawke’s Bay, along with the Okanagan and Castilla y León.

IF THERE’S a lesson I’ve learnt in 2022, it’s this: if you want a reliably delicious fine red wine, then opt for Syrah from Barossa or Hawke’s Bay. It’s a conclusion I drew after a day spent tasting nothing but Syrah/Shiraz for the Global Syrah Masters, where not only did we have one of the highest hauls of Gold and Master medallists of any competition we’ve run, but the majority of the top-scoring wines were from these two regions in Australia and New Zealand respectively. These great reds weren’t cheap, but they didn’t disappoint for their price.

While these regions dominated among the standout performers, they weren’t alone. Other beacons of Syrah brilliance were found in the Western Cape, the Languedoc, Castilla y León, and the Okanagan Valley in Canada. This also leads me to conclude that Syrah is a safe bet for fine wine from quite a broad range of locations. Sadly, such reliability doesn’t appear to translate into fashionable status – of all the noble grapes that deliver outstanding single-varietal wines, Syrah seems to have the least draw. Even the producers of the Northern Rhône – the historic home of great Syrah – seem to lag somewhat behind the great names of Tuscany, Bordeaux, and Burgundy when it comes to the must-haves in any great wine collection.

Based on this year’s Masters, that should change, with Syrah deserving a higher reputation for great wine. Perhaps the problem for the grape’s upmarket image stems from another aspect to the variety – it also yields reliably good inexpensive wine. This year we even awarded a Gold to a wine under £10 – aSyrah/Gamay blend from the Yarra Valley made by De Bortoli. However, it seems the sweet spot for quality and value when it comes to Syrah is £15-£20 in UK retail prices. In this band we had six Golds, taking in wines from France and Spain, as well as Australia.

As for the styles of Syrah prevalent on the market today, it was pleasing to taste wines with both concentration and grace. Even in the samples from the Barossa – an area famous for generous drops – there was an element of restraint, with the sweeter notes from new oak supporting, rather than dominating the wines, and some fresh fruit characters bringing a mouth-watering edge. But don’t think this detracted from what makes these wines famous – they were still loaded with juicy black fruit and toasty, sometimes coconutty barrique-sourced notes. As panel chair Jonathan Pedley MW said: “It was a relief that in the search for a little more elegance the Australians have not sacrificed the profound fruit concentration that makes their Shiraz wines so special. The fruit may be a tad less jammy and the oak use more subtle, but the joyous depth and density of their finest Shirazes is still there.”

Meanwhile, the Syrahs from Hawke’s Bay delighted too, but delivered a slightly different style – one that shows more restraint. With red and dark fruits, and sometimes a tapenade-like character, along with a prominent white pepper note, these wines are close in style to top drops from the Northern Rhône, giving the New Zealand Syrah appeal for those looking for something a little spicier and lighter in character than you might find from the Barossa.

In terms of weaknesses observed during the competition, we had a few wines with elevated volatile acidity, some that tasted oxidised, and a few suffering from the opposite – the cooked-egg aromatics from reduction. “As the tasting demonstrated, Syrah is capable of greatness, but like all grapes it needs careful handling in the vineyard and cellar to realise that potential,” concluded Pedley.

Unoaked 100% Syrah
Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
Aldi Ireland Specially Selected South Australia Shiraz South Australia Australia 2021 Silver
Señorio de los Llanos Opera Prima Syrah Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2021 Bronze
Bodegas 1890 Translations Syrah Jumilla Spain 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Viñedos y Bodegas Asensio Carcelén 100X100 Syrah Jumilla Spain 2020 Silver
Bodegas Viña Elena Pacheco Syrah Jumilla Spain 2020 Silver
Swartland Winery Winemakers Collection Syrah Swartland South Africa 2020 Bronze
£15-£20
Bodegas BSI Numun Syrah Jumilla Spain 2021 Silver

Oaked 100% Syrah
Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
De Bortoli Wines Woodfired Shiraz Heathcote Australia 2019 Silver
De Bortoli Wines Rutherglen Estate Shiraz Rutherglen Australia 2021 Silver
De Bortoli Wines The Estate Vineyard Shiraz Yarra Valley Australia 2021 Silver
De Bortoli Wines Regional Classic Gundagai Shiraz Gundagai Australia 2018 Bronze
Kavaklıdere Egeo Syrah Aegean Turkey 2019 Bronze
De Bortoli Wines Deen Vat 8 Shiraz Heathcote/Hill Tops Australia 2018 Bronze
De Bortoli Wines Winemaker Selection Shiraz SE Australia Australia 2019 Bronze
£10-£15
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Special Release Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Saronsberg Cellar Provenance Shiraz Western Cape South Africa 2020 Silver
Kavaklıdere Pendore Syrah Aegean Turkey 2019 Silver
Bodegas San Dionisio SF Syrah Roble Jumilla Spain 2019 Silver
Bodegas Luzón Origen de Luzón Syrah Jumilla Spain 2020 Bronze
Luis Felipe Edwards Marea Leyda Valley Chile 2021 Bronze
£15-£20
Langmeil Winery Valley Floor Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Gold
Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz Barossa Australia 2020 Gold
Bodegas Clunia Clunia syrah Castilla y León Spain 2018 Gold
Berton Vineyards Reserve Limited Release Barossa Valley Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2018 Gold
The Lane Vineyard Lane Shiraz Adelaide Hills Australia 2020 Silver
Principi di Butera Butirah Syrah Sicilia DOC Sicily Italy 2020 Silver
Pyros Wines Pyros Appellation San Juan Argentina 2019 Silver
Casas del Bosque Syrah Gran Reserva Casablanca Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Langmeil Winery Blockbuster/Prime Cut Shiraz Barossa Australia 2020 Silver
Fermoy Shiraz Margaret River Australia 2019 Bronze
Swartland Winery Bush Vines Syrah Swartland South Africa 2020 Bronze
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz Heathcote Australia 2021 Bronze
Perdeberg Wines The Dry Land Collection Pioneer Fairtrade Syrah Coastal Region South Africa 2020 Bronze
£20-£30
Hare’s Chase Marananga Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Master
Langmeil Winery Hallowed Ground Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Master
Schild Estate Wines Ben Schild Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Jaraman Shiraz Clare Valley and McLaren Vale Australia 2020 Silver
Saronsberg Cellar Saronsberg Shiraz Western Cape South Africa 2020 Silver
The Lane Vineyard Provenance Syrah Adelaide Hills Australia 2021 Silver
Undurraga TH Syrah Leyda Valley Chile 2019 Silver
De Bortoli Wines Yarra Valley Single Vineyard Section A8 Syrah Yarra Valley Australia 2021 Silver
Bridge Pa Vineyards Three Crows Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2019 Silver
The Iconic Estate Hyperion Exclusive Shiraz Dealu Mare Romania 2017 Bronze
Viña Morandé Morandé Adventure Tirazis Casablanca Valley Chile 2020 Bronze

Oaked 100% Syrah, continued
Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
£30-£50
Gatt Wines Gatt Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2016 Master
Orlando Wines Lawson’s Padthaway Shiraz Padthaway Australia 2016 Master
Langmeil Winery Orphan Bank Shiraz Barosssa Australia 2019 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines St Andrews Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Masterstroke Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2020 Gold
Golden Amrita Winery Golden Amrita Single Estate Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Gold
Masciarelli Marina Cvetic Syrah Colline Pescaresi IGT Abruzzo Italy 2017 Silver
Gatt Wines Gatt High Eden Shiraz High Eden Australia 2018 Silver
Gatt Wines Gatt Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2018 Silver
Orlando Wines Centenary Hill Barossa Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2015 Silver
Golden Amrita Winery Golden Amrita Single Estate Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Silver
The Lane Vineyard Reunion Shiraz Adelaide Hills Australia 2019 Silver
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Estate Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2019 Silver
Gatt Wines High Eden Shiraz High Eden Australia 2016 Silver
St Hugo Barossa Shiraz Barossa Australia 2018 Silver
Tulip Winery Syrah Reserve Upper Galilee Israel 2019 Bronze
£50-£70
Château Tanunda 50 Year Old Vines Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Gold
Schubert Estate Wine The Sentinel Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2015 Silver
Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz Barossa Australia 2018 Silver
Te Awanga Estate Trademark Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2018 Bronze
£70-£100
Gatt Wines Gatt Old Vine Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2016 Master
Mission Estate Mission Estate Huchet Hawkes Bay New Zealand 2019 Master
Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz Barossa Australia 2018 Master
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz Barossa Australia 2018 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines The Pioneer Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2018 Gold
Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Gold
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines The Pioneer Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2016 Silver
Schubert Estate Wine Goose-Yard Block Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2015 Silver
Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Silver
Avantis Estate Collection Syrah Evia Greece 2017 Silver
Domaine Bousquet Immortelle ‘Le Casot’ Languedoc-Roussillon France 2020 Bronze
£100+
Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Master
Schubert Estate Wine The Gander Reserve Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2016 Silver

Unoaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)
Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
Bodegas 1890 Translations Red Blend Jumilla Spain 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Esencia Wines Infiltrado Jumilla Spain 2021 Silver
£15-£20
Domaines François Lurton C2 Languedoc-Roussillon France 2021 Gold

Oaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)
Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
De Bortoli Wines La Boheme Act 4 Syrah Gamay Yarra Valley Australia 2020 Gold
Bodegas Alceño Alceño Premium 50 Barricas Jumilla Spain 2020 Silver
Luis Felipe Edwards LFE Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2021 Silver
Luis Felipe Edwards LFE Classic Central Valley Chile 2021 Silver
De Bortoli Wines Rutherglen Estate Red Shiraz Durif Rutherglen Australia 2019 Silver
Howard Park Madfish Shiraz Western Australia Australia 2020 Silver
Ego Bodegas Marionette Jumilla Spain 2021 Bronze
Bodegas Ontalba Dominio de Ontur Syrah Monastrell Garnacha Jumilla Spain 2020 Bronze
£15-£20
Berton Vineyards Metal Label Limited Release Black Shiraz SE Australia Australia 2019 Gold
Langmeil Winery Hangin’ Snakes Shiraz Barossa Australia 2019 Silver
Top Wine Group Sutil Limited Release Limari Valley Chile 2020 Silver
£20-£30
Poplar Grove Winery Syrah 2019 Okanagan Valley Canada 2019 Gold
Llano Estacado Winery Petite Grange Texas USA 2018 Silver
Llano Estacado Winery La Violette Texas USA 2019 Silver
£30-£50
Saronsberg Cellar Saronsberg Full Circle Western Cape South Africa 2020 Gold
Avantis Estate Agios Chronos Evia Greece 2018 Silver
£50-£70
The Lane Vineyard Heritage Shiraz Viogneir Adelaide Hills Australia 2020 Gold
Schild Estate Wines Narrow Road Vineyard Shiraz Cabernet Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Silver
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw Magic Monkey Shiraz Orange Australia 2017 Bronze
£70-£100
Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Australia 2018 Gold

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Syrah Masters provides a chance for your wines to star.

The 2022 competition was judged on 15 September at Vivat Bacchus, Farringdon, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Syrah Master. This report features the medal winners only.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

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