Ok, that title was way too easy and quite cheesy, but I couldn’t help myself.  I really love Syrah, recently focusing on the Northern Rhone style, to the point I’ve attempted to make my own using Crushpad‘s winery services.  I won’t know for a while if I even came close until it gets bottled after 14 months of barrel aging.  In the meantime, let’s try a flight of some Syrah from 3 very different regions of the world: Australia, France and Argentina.

2006 Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier Victoria, Australia      $25
Don’t be fooled by the “Viognier” part of the label.  As a matter of fact the wine bar didn’t even list it on their menu, it only stated Shiraz.  Turns out there is only 5% of Viognier added and I’m not quite sure what characteristics it has added.  If anyone knows, please comment.  Additionally, this was a partnership between Terlato and Chapoutier, who produced the next wine in the flight below.

Color: Dark ruby
Nose: Vegetal at first, some licorice and violet, coffee. The coffee was faint at first but then became more pronounced 15 min later
Taste: Mineral,  vegetal, some cassis and med tannins

2005 M. Chapoutier “Belleruche” Cotes du Rhone           $17
Color: Lighter ruby/burgundy, lightest of the flight
Nose: Light nose, couldn’t get a lot out of it, maybe some red berries, overall very tight
Taste: Blackberries, more tannin, spice, long finish

I really loved the taste and flavors in this wine and what I expected in a Rhone Syrah, but was disappointed in the overall experience because the nose was so shy.  Overall, the smoothest, fruitiest and spiciest of the three.

Normally $35, I was able to take advantage of a special for the 2005 Paul Autard Chateneuf Du Papeat $25 just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.  I grabbed 4 bottles because though this red blend from the southern part of the Cotes du Rhone region of France is drinkable now, it can be kept for another 10 years.  I hope to try it again in a few more years and then a few more after that to see how it changes.

This is a traditional blend from the southern Rhone with 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Couniese along with Cinsault, Mourvedre and Muscardin. 

Color:  Deep, ruby red

Nose:  Some bitter dark chocolate, slight charcoal and reminded me of port (note: 14.5% alcohol), maybe some licorice

Taste: Cinnamon like you get on the crust of an apple pie or some kind of coffee cake, raisins and maybe clove.  A good bit of spice that leads to tannins that cover the entire mouth and finishes nicely

Overall, I think this is a good cross-over wine if you’re interested in trying the old world styles because the Syrah gives you that familiar spice and tannic character, but you get a feel for the flavors and complexities that come with blending the classic Rhone varietals listed above.

The bottle itself was also very cool with raised glass design of the words spelling out Chateneuf Du Pape… maybe a nice mantle-piece that you can turn into a candle for Christmas?