Shiraz (also known as syrah) is Australia's most widely planted grape, and is grown in almost every wine region in the country. While styles of shiraz vary depending on its region, in Australia, it's common to encounter shiraz with fruit flavours of blackberry, blueberry, plum and black cherry, herbs and spices like pepper, mint and star anise, and notes of chocolate, licorice and tobacco.
Cooler expressions will generally be medium-bodied and spicy, while full-bodied shiraz wines are rich, with ripe and intense fruit flavours.
These five shiraz wines come from Mountadam Vineyards in the Eden Valley, Peter Lehmann and Pine Drive Vineyards in the Barossa Valley, the Great Southern's Rockcliffe, and Tahbilk in Victoria's Nagambie Lakes.
2020 Mountadam Vineyards Five Fifty Barossa Shiraz
The fruit was sourced from Block 23 (67 per cent) and Block 41 (33 per cent) on the estate's eastern vineyard and harvested using a selective destemming harvester over the nights of March 13–18. The fruit was fermented in five and 10-tonne open fermenters, pumping over twice a day. Over one year, the two blocks were kept separate throughout maturation in seasoned French oak barriques, hogsheads and puncheons.Winemaker Caitlin Brown says: The Mountadam Vineyards Five Fifty range is aptly named after the estate's altitude of 550m above sea level. All Mountadam wines are sourced entirely from our estate of 147ha undervine. The Five Fifty range offers amazing quality for price value.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
CB. The ultimate pairing for the 2020 is salted Barossa pork belly over charcoal, smoked with peach wood, and a side roast root vegetables and crispy brussels sprouts.
RRP $20 | Drink to 2035 | mountadam.com.au
2017 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz
The 2016 growing season was one of the wettest on record. The resulting wet soils, combined with a cooler-than-average spring and early summer, equalled two things: The vintage was far later than usual, and the grapes saw an extended ripening period – most unusual for the Barossa. The 2017 vintage will be remembered not for its power, but more so for its exceptional elegance and purity of fruit. The palate is rich with fine, pure tannins – an abundance of blueberry, violet, earth and clove. Long and blue-fruited, it demonstrates a cool vintage in the Barossa, while retaining stereotypical fruit ripeness and intensity. The oak is seamlessly integrated, almost imperceptible.Chief winemaker Nigel Westblade says: The Stonewell Shiraz has received numerous accolades, cementing itself as an iconic wine. We are known for crafting wines that showcase the incredible fruit from the Barossa and our long-standing relationships with growers. Our quality, full-bodied classic Stonewell Shiraz is beautifully balanced and structured with massive density and length. Blue and black fruits with ironstone and graphite tannins.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
NW. Savour the 2017 with rich game dishes, roast beef or enjoy with cheeses such as parmigiano reggiano, aged cheddar or grana padano.
RRP $100 | Drink to 2047 | peterlehmannwines.com
2021 Pine Drive Moppa Shiraz
The stunning 2021 vintage has produced an almost impossibly perfect expression of the shiraz grown in our vineyard, which is located at the Moppa sand dunes in the north western corner of the Barossa Valley. Dark magenta colours, verging on black, fill the glass. On the nose there are bold notes of chocolate, black olives, spices, mushrooms and black fruits which flow through to a typically generously proportioned palate of great length, framed by fine, supple tannin. An utterly hedonistic pleasure to enjoy in its youth, the wine will reward the patient time and again over the next 10–15 years.Owners Matthew Grayson and Bernadette Stewart say: Our vineyard surrounds our house, and we work in the vineyard throughout the year to produce the very best estate-grown shiraz we can. We’re fortunate to work with winemaker Jo Irvine, who guides us in crafting a wine that best expresses the special character of our vineyard site. There is something very special about enjoying a wine that you’ve nurtured from the vineyard to the glass.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
MG & BS. Nothing beats a glass of our shiraz with a bowl of slow-braised lamb shanks and lentil soup. If lamb isn't for you, leave it out and top up with chickpeas and pumpkin.
RRP $30 | Drink to 2036 | pinedrivevineyards.com
2018 Rockcliffe Nautica Shiraz
Our Nautica Shiraz has been crafted exclusively from delicious, hand-picked berries grown in mineral rich soils of a selected sea of vines. Experience a nose of pronounced dark forest fruits, white pepper and smoky oak. With a palate of luscious black forest cake, earthy notes, and a long dark chocolate smoky finish.Owner Dr Steve Hall says: It’s great producing a wine that people love so much. We work hard to make the best shiraz – for our climatic year and terroir – we can. To us, this is a perfect expression of shiraz that we love making and love sharing.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
SH. We believe you should drink your favourite wines with the food you love – shiraz with fish is just as great as riesling with steak.
RRP $120 | Drink to 2035 | rockcliffe.com.au
2017 Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz
Best of a vintage is a mantle that this 2017 Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz wears very easily. A symphony of deliciously ripe, dark plum and red berry fruits is joined by a background chorus of black pepper, exotic spices and licorice notes. Well-integrated French oak and earthy tannins give supporting structure to a wine of style and distinction.Winemaker Joanne Nash says: The ESP Shiraz is a beautiful example of shiraz grown in the Nagambie Lakes region – it has all the hallmarks of the Tahbilk Estate. With a lovely dark mulberry fruit character, knitted perfectly with blend of French and American oak, it's a wine that will only reward those who are patient enough to offer it time.
H. What is the ultimate food pairing for this wine?
JN. Think a cool winter night, sitting in front of the fire, enjoying a roast of beef or a wholesome lasagne. Wine should always complement the food – neither should over power the other – both should work in harmony to make the occasion special.
RRP: $73.70 | Drink to 2043 | tahbilk.com.au
Top image credit: Wine Australia.
