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We’ve visited Australia numerous times and have a love affair with the country’s Shiraz whether it’s made in the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, or McLaren Vale. They’re big, bold, and juicy and they pair beautifully with anything grilled on the “barbie.” We’re always impressed with just about every winemaker’s insistence on calling them Shiraz and only when pressed will they admit that it’s the same grape as Syrah. They’ll wax poetically about the different soil types and how the French born grape has genetically evolved to become something uniquely Australian, a story we’ve heard a few hundred times, but we still listen politely knowing full well that DNA testing proves Syrah and Shiraz to be the same.
So, what is it that makes an Aussie Shiraz different from a French Syrah? We definitely agree that terroir and climate are two of the factors, but the most important factor is probably the winemaker. He (or she) decides when to pick, what degree of ripeness, how long to macerate, how long to ferment, stainless steel or barrel, and a variety of other choices that go into the art of winemaking.
Whether bottled on its own or in a Rhone-style GSM blend with Grenache and Mourvèdre, Shiraz is far and away Australia’s most popular variety. Australian wines made from 100 percent Shiraz are often full-on powerhouses, from the first scents of blackberry, blueberry, violet, spice and black pepper, to tastes of black cherry, cassis, jalapeño, chocolate, and espresso, that lead to a long, chewy finish. We recommend firing up the “barbie,” throwing a few slabs of prime cuts of beef on the grill and popping open a nice Aussie Shiraz, and if it’s really hot outside, don’t hesitate to chill your bottle for about 20 minutes in the fridge.
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Kay Brothers 2020 Block 6 Shiraz McClaren Vale South Australia
The Kay brothers, Fredrick and Herbert, planted their first Shiraz vines in 1892 and labeled the vineyard Block 6. It faces east for maximum sunshine with rows running north to south and has soils composed of sandstone, limestone, and siltstone, which impart a nice level of minerality to the finished wine. The 2020 vintage represents the 37th release of this single vineyard bottling. Deep ruby colored in the glass it has aromas of crushed violet petal, smoked charcuterie, tobacco, cedar, and ripe red fruits. It has velvety tannins and flavors of black currant, black raspberry, dried black olive, and cocoa powder in the finish.
Buy Now: $100
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Penfolds 2019 Grange Shiraz South Australia
Penfolds Grange generally does not need any introduction as most wine collectors know it as the world’s No. 1 coveted and collected Australian wine. Grapes for this legendary bottle are sourced from prime vineyards in Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, and farther afield. We have tasted vintages from the past 20 or so years and find the 2019 to be drinking perfectly right now. If you’re not ready to drink your bottle at this time, no worries, it will continue to age nicely. Earlier this week we found this Shiraz to have aromas of black currant, blueberry, and English breakfast tea with rounded and generous tannins. Well balanced on the palate, it has juicy flavors of black plum, cassis, raspberry, dark chocolate, and freshly ground black pepper.
Buy Now: $820
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Glaetzer 2019 Amon-Ra Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
Ben Glaetzer makes wines from grapes grown in Ebenezer, a small sub district of the Northern Barossa Valley. We’ve had dinner with him and tasted a variety of his wines and can tell you he has definitely earned the numerous awards and accolades he has received over the years including the Robert M. Parker Junior Wine Personality of the Year, Quantas Young Winemaker of the Year, and Baron of the Barossa. Named after the king of the Egyptian gods, Amon-Ra, this stunning wine is ink colored with aromas of cassis, black raspberry, black plum, and a touch of dried sage. It has pleasantly grippy tannins and flavors of blackberry, black currant, and a touch of freshly ground black pepper in the persistent finish.
Buy Now: $115
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Jim Barry 2018 the Armagh Shiraz Clare Valley South Australia
Jim Barry graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947 and was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley. He made wines for Clarevale Cooperative and the Taylor family before opening his eponymous winery with the support of his wife Nancy. Their sons Peter, Mark, and John became involved in the family business and today their three grandchildren run the day-to-day operations. Jim Barry’s the Armagh is made with grapes grown in a single vineyard and has aromas of blueberry, crushed violet petals, and finely ground black pepper. Rounded, plush tannins coat your tongue and prepare you for flavors of cassis, black raspberry, and black cherry.
Buy Now: $240
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Hickinbotham 2019 Brooks Road Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia
Alan David Hickinbotham planted vines in 1971 with the guidance of his father Alan Robb Hickenbotham, the first wine science professor at the Roseworthy Agricultural College. The winery and vineyards were purchased by California’s Jackson family in 2012 and converted to biodynamic and organic farming in 2019. This stunning Shiraz is inky purple with enticing aromas of crushed violet petals, black cherry, cassis, and raspberry. It has opulent, plush tannins and ripe fruit flavors of cherry, black currant, and mocha, with just a hint of dark chocolate in the long, long, finish.
Buy Now: $85
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Torbreck 2021 Descendant Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
Fruit for this delightful wine is grown in the Descendant vineyard, which was planted in 1994 with cuttings from the older RunRig vineyard. It is made from 92 percent Shiraz and 8 percent Viognier that are co-fermented together, then aged for 20 months in second-use French oak barrels. Aromas of cassis, dried apricots, anise, and red raspberry lead to a full-bodied wine on the palate with rounded tannins and flavors of black raspberry, plum, and black currant.
Buy Now: $100
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Henschke 2018 Mount Edelstone Shiraz Eden Valley Barossa South Australia
It all started with Johann Christian Henschke who immigrated from Central Europe to South Australia in 1868 and began making wine. Six generations of winemakers later, Henschke is still going strong as one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries. This Shiraz has aromas of purple flowers, black plum, and freshly ground black pepper that transform to flavors of blackberry, plum, black currant, and crushed violet petals in the mid palate. It has supple tannins and balanced acidity.
Buy Now: $270
