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All the medallists from the Global Syrah Masters 2024

Whether Syrah or Shiraz, this is a grape variety that offers great quality and tremendous value for money from all origins. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

Syrah is an exciting and distinguished grape variety, which is why the Global Syrah Masters is an annual event that always inspires anticipation. The competition typically produces a high number of wines awarded Silver, Gold and Master medals – and this year was no exception.

Syrah’s traditional heartland is in the northern Rhône valley, but in recent decades the variety has moved further south, first into the southern Rhône and then into Languedoc-Roussillon, where the départements of Aude, Hérault and Gard now have well over half of France’s 70,000 hectares Syrah.

Australia is the 19th-century outpost for Shiraz, which remains the country’s most planted red variety, now with around 36,000ha of vineyard. In the 2024 Global Syrah Masters we had a significant number of Australian entries, with appropriately stellar results.

Mouthwatering, with brambles, blueberry and sometimes ripe plum or other red fruits, accented by signature notes of black pepper, the wines show sophistication and grace.

Very fine wines can be found from all over the country, including juicy examples from the Barossa Valley, the refined character of Clare Valley or McLaren Vale, mint-touched Coonawarra, and leathery New South Wales.

If there is a minor moan, climate change sometimes causes alcohol levels to be just a little too warming, but that is the reality in Australia. Its strength, however, is the high quality of the wines, even at affordable price points. The judges found value for money in the under-£10 price bracket and experienced true joy at £10–£15, as well as at £15–£20 and £20–£30.

That said, this year all the judges found that the real ‘sweet spot’ for Australian Shiraz is £30–£50, with wonderful wines at relatively realistic prices, where the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are struggling at the same level. Yangarra Estate was one of the wines that showed brilliantly here.

There are a number of Australian producers with superb ranges of wines that span various prices, from under £15 to more than £50. Wakefield Wines, Gatt Wines and Heirloom Vineyards are a few names to try for complete enjoyment across the board.

Above £50, Australian Shiraz wines are true collectors’ items and should be revered as such. Whilst drinkable (and delectable) now, lovers of Australia’s finest Shiraz should not be concerned about cellaring these fine wine for years to come. Indeed, 20 years on, they are delicious: integrated, layered and complex. Expensive wines from Philip Shaw’s Hoosegg, Château Tanunda, Cape Barren and Schild Estate all provided real joy for the judges.

There were also some outstanding wines tasted this year from New Zealand, specifically from Hawke’s Bay, near Napier on the North Island, where some examples from Church Road particularly stand out.

It is also worth looking beyond Australia and New Zealand around the globe, as the judges found some truly exciting wines from South Africa, Greece and Chile this year. Syrah/Shiraz is extending its reach, and aiming for ‘the heavens’ of wine.

Unoaked 100% Syrah Rosé

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
£10-£15
Avantis Estate Winery Ktima Avantis Rosé PGI Evia Greece 2023 Bronze

Unoaked 100% Syrah

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
£15-£20
Trullo Flaminio Syne Puglia Italy 2019 Silver
Cave Saint Désirat Saint-Joseph Rhône France 2022 Bronze
£30-£50
Res Fortes Traveller Côtes Catalanes France 2021 Silver
£50-£70
Avantis Estate Winery Collection PGI Evia Greece 2020 Gold

Oaked 100% Syrah

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
Viña Cono Sur Single Vineyard Syrah San Antonio Chile 2021 Silver
De Bortoli Wines 17 Trees Shiraz Heathcote Australia 2022 Silver
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The High Noon Shiraz Cape Town South Africa 2022 Silver
Berton Vineyards Metal Label Limited Release Shiraz SE Australia Australia 2021 Silver
De Bortoli Wines Family Selection Shiraz Riverina Australia 2022 Silver
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos Reserve Shiraz Mendoza Argentina 2023 Bronze
De Bortoli Wines Winemakers Selection Shiraz Heathcote Australia 2022 Bronze
De Bortoli Wines Woodfired Shiraz Heathcote Australia 2022 Bronze
Koelenhof Winery Koelenbosch Shiraz Stellenbosch South Africa 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Taylors Special Release Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2022 Gold
Avantis Estate Winery Syrah PGI Evia Greece 2021 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Wakefield Estate Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Kavaklidere Saraplari Egeo Syrah Aegean Turkey 2021 Silver
Viña y Cava Valle Secreto First Edition Syrah Cachapoal Valley Chile 2022 Silver
Saronsberg Cellar Provenance Shiraz Western Cape South Africa 2022 Silver
Church Road McDonald Series Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2021 Silver
Berton Vineyards Winemakers Reserve Shiraz Padthaway Australia 2022 Bronze
£15-£20
Heirloom Vineyards Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Gold
Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2021 Gold
Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Gold
Marisco Vineyards Leefield Station Stockman Syrah Marlborough New Zealand 2022 Silver
Cave Saint Désirat Saint Joseph Cuvée Côte-Diane Rhône France 2022 Silver
Dandelion Vineyards Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Silver
Bodegas Borsao Borsao Zarihs Campo de Borja Spain 2020 Silver
Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2022 Silver
Wirra Wirra Vineyards Catapult Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Silver
François Villard Syrah l’Appel des Sereines Rhône France 2021 Bronze

 

Oaked 100% Syrah (continued)

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
£20-£30
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Jaraman Shiraz Clare Valley/McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Gold
Schild Estate Ben Schild Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold
Kavaklidere Saraplari Pendore Syrah Aegean Turkey 2021 Gold
Saronsberg Cellar Shiraz Western Cape South Africa 2022 Gold
Heirloom Vineyards Barossa Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Gold
Gatt Wines Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Gold
Golden Amrita Winery Sunshine Hill Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Silver
Gatt Wines High Eden Shiraz Eden Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Trinity Hill Wines Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2021 Silver
De Grendel Wines Op Die Berg Syrah Ceres Plateau South Africa 2021 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Taylors Heritage Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2023 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Taylors Taylor Made Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Wirra Wirra Vineyards Woodhenge Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2021 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Taylors Reserve Parcel Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Alpha Estate Syrah Single Vineyard Turtles Florina Greece 2021 Silver
Viña Sutil Limited Release Syrah Limarí Chile 2022 Silver
Enate Syrah – Shiraz Somontano Spain 2021 Silver
Ballina Terra Sagrada Priorat Spain 2021 Bronze
£30-£50
Dandelion Vineyards Firehawk of McLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Master
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Wakefield Masterstroke Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2021 Master
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Estate Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2021 Master
Kellermeister Wild Witch Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Gold
Golden Amrita Winery Single Estate Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold
Langmeil Winery Hallowed Ground Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold
Mission Estate Winery Mission Jewelston Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2021 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Old Vine Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2019 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Wakefield St Andrews Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2021 Gold
Church Road Church Road 1 Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2021 Gold
Stellenrust Wines Peppergrinder Shiraz Stellenbosch South Africa 2021 Gold
Garage Wine Co Syrah Truquilemu Empedrado Lot 108 Maule Chile 2019 Gold
Church Road Church Road 1 Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2022 Gold
Kellermeister Kellermeister Black Sash Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Golden Amrita Winery Lumenval Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Silver
Gatt Wines Old Vine Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Wirra Wirra Vineyards RSW Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2021 Silver
£50-£70
Heirloom Vineyards A’Lambra Barossa Shiraz Barossa Australia 2022 Master
Hickinbotham Brooks Road Clarendon Australia 2021 Gold
Wirra Wirra Vineyards Chook Block Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2021 Gold
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw Magic Monkey Orange NSW Australia 2018 Gold
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw Magic Monkey Orange NSW Australia 2019 Gold
£70-£100
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Wakefield The Pioneer Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2020 Master
Cape Barren Rare Bird Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2018 Gold
£100+
Langmeil Winery House of Lindner Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Master
Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Master
Kellermeister The Meister Shiraz Eden Valley Australia 2018 Gold
Kellermeister The Meister Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Gold
Trinity Hill Wines Homage Syrah Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2020 Gold
Weingut Kurt Angerer Syrah Redgranite Niederösterreich Austria 2016 Gold

Unoaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
£10-£15
Domaine Pujol Au Gré des Grès Languedoc-Roussillon Colchagua Valley France 2022 Silver
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards Bendito Red Blend Colchagua Valley Chile 2022 Bronze
Fratelli Wines Shiraz Cabernet Franc Maharashtra India 2024 Bronze

Oaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Under £10
Nederburg The Manor House Shiraz Coastal Region South Africa 2022 Silver
£10-£15
Viña Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition Syrah Limarí Chile 2021 Gold
Château Val Joanis Château Val Joanis Rouge Rhône France 2022 Gold
Fratelli Wines Master Selection Red Maharashtra India 2023 Bronze
£15-£20
Bruce Jack Wines Ghost in the Machine Shiraz Cape South Coast South Africa 2022 Gold
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz Western Cape South Africa 2019 Gold
Dandelion Vineyards Lion’s Tooth of McLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2022 Gold
Château Val Joanis Les Griottes Rhône France 2022 Gold
Domaine Pujol Saint Fructueux Languedoc-Roussillon France 2021 Silver
Langmeil Winery Kegelbahn Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Alpha Estate Axia Florina Greece 2021 Silver
Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2022 Silver
Viñedos Calcu Calcu Tiny Blocks Syrah Colchagua Chile 2022 Silver
£20-£30
Berton Vineyards The Bonsai High Eden Australia 2021 Silver
Poplar Grove Winery Poplar Grove Syrah Okanagan Valley Canada 2021 Bronze
Avantis Estate Winery Agios Chronos Red PGI Evia Greece 2020 Bronze
£30-£50
Saronsberg Cellar Full Circle Western Cape South Africa 2022 Master
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards LFE 900 Red Blend Colchagua Valley Chile 2019 Gold
Château Tanunda 50 Year Old Vines Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold
Alpha Estate SMX Florina Greece 2021 Gold
Langmeil Winery Valley Floor Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold
£50-£70
Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Syrah Yarra Valley Australia 2022 Silver
£100+
Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia 2021 Gold

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Syrah Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 6 June at Mosimann’s in 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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