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Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM (ET)
In California it is Syrah, in Australia, Shiraz. Syrah. The Australians planted Syrah in the mid-1800’s, when it was deemed a worker grape, used to produce in-expensive, every-day drinking wines, with body and flavour. As Australia took on the challenge of producing world-class wines, Shiraz became the country’s greatest expression of wine-making in the form of such wines as Penfold’s Grange.
A newcomer to the California wine scene, Syrah has gained in popularity only in the last decade with the state's wineries shipping 1.8 million cases to the U.S. in 2006. Syrah is a noble grape variety that can produce some serious, long-lived red wines. The usual aroma and flavor descriptors include blackberry, cassis, black pepper, smoke, as well as dry, dark and tannic.
Through DNA testing, Syrah has shown to be a cross of a black variety, Dureza, and a white variety, Mondeuse, both with origins in France's Rhône region and earlier fabled origins in the Middle East. The grape is also known as Sirah, and in Australia and South Africa, it is called Shiraz.
We’ll examine, sip and savour eight wines; four from Australia and four from California. Here’s the line-up that John Macdonald and Chris Bee have selected for us to taste. They are in random order.
1999 Leasingham Classic Clare, Clare Valley, South Australia
2000 Hernry’s Drive, Padthaway, South Australia
2001 Charles Melton, Barossa Valley, South Australia
2002 Rosemount Hill of Gold, Mudgee, New South Wales
2001 Macrostie Wildcat Mountain, Sonoma County
2002 Arrowood, Sonoma County
2002 Zacca Mesa, Foxen Canyon, Los Olivos
2003 Silver Stone, Paso Robles
The Australian Wine Society (AWS) of Toronto is a not-for-profit organization devoted to the enjoyment of the wines of Australia. Through exposure to, and education about the wines and wine regions of Australia, the Society seeks to encourage, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, a greater awareness of the wine varietals, the diversity and the styles of Aussie wines. The opportunity to try a wide range of wines makes it easier for members to decide what types they might want to purchase through wine agents, the LCBO, Vintages monthly releases and the Classics Catalogue.
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