A lineup of shiraz I wanted to present to our little wine club in last autumn, but then the Covid situation got worse again and prevented the event from happening. It was only this June when I managed to gather my friends again, and despite some disappointing bottles, we could finally enjoy some good, even some world class wines. Continue reading
syrah
Glaetzer Wallace 2018
I was expecting a fruit bomb, but it’s something different, which I liked first, but then… Continue reading
A favorite of mine: Cote Mas Rouge 2019

Super, super little red from Languedoc. It’s the rare case when I’m 100% satisfied with a wine.
Kerekes Syrah 2018
Syrah has good potential in Hungary in my opinion, but this one is not there yet to prove my theory, unfortunately. Continue reading
Stéphane Montez Syrah 2018
A Northern Rhone Syrah from an emerging region, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes. Promising but I’m not fully convinced.
Not for the faint-hearted: Tesco Finest Valle del Limari Shiraz 2019 (Chile)

I hope I can visit Chile one day, during the harvest period and taste some black grapes. Doing a vintage in a cellar would be even more amazing. That way I could probably understand where that very special character comes, which hallmarks the red wines of the country.
Not a Shiraz – Mayer Syrah 2019, Yarra Valley, Australia
Small production, artisanal Australian Syrah from a cooler climate. It indeed has nothing to do with bold Oz Shirazes. I found their Close Planted Pinot Noir 2012 quite stunning earlier this year, and while this Syrah is also pretty, it hardly comes close.
Chateau Fontareche “Cuvée 1682” 2017, Corbieres
Savage Thief in the Night 2018

Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Replace the latter with Mourvedre and you get a classic Rhone blend. This has nothing to do with Rhone reds, though.
Summer red – an 11% alc. Hungarian Syrah, Válibor 2018 from Balaton
This is no ordinary Syrah. How often do you see 11% alc. on the back label of a red made from this powerful grape? Continue reading