Shiraz and syrah dominate the Australian wine landscape. Not only is it our most widely planted grape and grown in most regions, it's also our greatest wine export. Australian shiraz is bold, with ripe flavours, but most importantly – it's very easy to drink.
Below are three wines – a syrah from McLaren Vale's Clarendon Hills, a shiraz from Mitchelton in Nagambie Lakes, with the fruit sourced from Heathcote, and 2021 Heathcote shiraz from Tyrrell's Wines in the Hunter Valley. Add these expressions to your list.
2020 Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Syrah
Notes of satsuma plum, espresso cremé, cocoa powder, roast meat and boot leather on the nose. Elements of the cool-climate vineyard location emerge with graphite, crushed rock and flinty gunpowder characters that combine with regional character of black olive tapenade for a serious overtone in this largely umami-style syrah. Wonderfully polished and soft in the mouth, the chocolate and black olive seen on the nose transfers to the palate and offers a supreme depth of resonating flavour. Multi-layered, yet seamlessly composed, this is a youthful example that offers incredible approachability and freshness, and impeccable balance and intensity on the long lasting finish.Co-owner Alex Bratasiuk says: This is an estate owned, single vineyard syrah from the cool-climate, high-altitude Clarendon subdistrict of McLaren Vale. Sitting at 350 metres above sea level, we believe it’s McLaren Vale’s highest altitude vineyard. The brooding wine demonstrates an umami style with phenomenal McLaren Vale varietal depth and cool-climate Clarendon overtones of graphite and iodine.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
AB. Top quality Australian ingredients – whether it's Cape Grim wagyu or South Australian crayfish on the charcoal grill. There are always big smiles around the table when everything is prepared with love and there’s a bottle of Domaine Clarendon Syrah within arms reach.
RRP $45 | Drink to 2043 | clarendonhills.com.au
2019 Mitchelton The Print Shiraz
The 2019 Print shows depth and complexity with intense aromatics of red berries, dark chocolate and savoury oak spices. The palate displays balance and structure, there are lashings of dark chocolate, blood plums with a lingering finish of licorice and spices. The tannins are firm yet fine, this is a wine that is approachable now and will age beautifully for many years to come.Winemaker Natalie Cleghorn says: Since its establishment in 1969, Mitchelton has focused on crafting wines that have distinct character, allure, and that reflect a sense of place. The Print is Mitchelton’s flagship wine and is the finest parcel of red wine for the vintage. The 2019 Print Shiraz is sourced from our Toolleen vineyard in Heathcote.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
NC. The 2019 Print shows depth and spice, it pairs beautifully with free range pork ribs with a dark, sweet glaze. This wine will also pair wonderfully with a cheese platter – especially with crumbly aged cheddar and quince paste.
RRP $85 | Drink to 2033 | mitchelton.com.au
2021 Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz
A wonderfully fragrant, intoxicating aroma of dark berries and white pepper. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fruit intensity that is only seen in the great vintages. It is impeccably long and balanced – the best Heathcote shiraz vintage since 2006. The grapes were fermented in a combination of open and closed top fermenters. Maturation took place in predominantly French oak barriques (15 per cent new) for 12 months before bottling.Winemaker Chris Tyrrell says: Heathcote gives us shiraz that has some of the 'bigness' expected in overseas markets, while still maintaining finesse and elegance on the finish. The wine is more fruit and acid than alcohol and tannin.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
CT. This is definitely a beef wine – pair it with a high-quality steak off the barbecue. The best way to enjoy the wine is in a decent size glass that will let the wine open up, and like all red wines never drink it too hot.
RRP $25 | Drink to 2028 | tyrrells.com.au
