A spotlight on Hermitage: exploring the famous hill and tasting 25 examples
The appellation of Hermitage, in France’s northern Rhône wine region, is a place of wine pilgrimage, because this is where
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syrah
A focus on Australian Shiraz: freshness, diversity and a sense of place
I took part in an international virtual tasting of some top Australian Shiraz wines last week, hosted by Mark Davidson
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Two new high-end wines from Iona (Elgin, South Africa): Kloof and Solace
Elgin-based producer Iona have released two new wines from special terroirs. I review them here. Iona Solace Wine of Brocha
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Highlights: two from Domaine du Tunnel in the Northern Rhône
Stéphane Robert started making his own wines at the young age of 24 from rented vineyards. A few years down
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Highlights: Three Crows Syrah 2019 Bridge Pa, Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay, in New Zealand, is home to some of New Zealand’s best red wines, including some impressive Syrah. This
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Highlights: Viña Leyda Syrah Reserva 2019 Leyda, Chile
I visited Viña Leyda back in 2010, and at the time I described them as one of Chile’s most exciting
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Highlights: Mullineux Iron Syrah 2018 Swartland, South Africa
Mullineux is one of the Swartland’s most important wineries. In 2011 they launched two terroir-specific Syrahs: Schist and Granite. In
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Highlights: Chapoutier Sicamor Crozes-Hermitage 2018 Northern Rhône
So impressed with this wine. It’s a relatively new release from Chapoutier, and it has a wonderful wild intensity to
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Highlights: François Villard L’appel des Sereines Syrah 2017, Northern Rhône, France
François Villard is well known in the Northern Rhone for his masterful and poetic Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph. Starting off his
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Highlights: The Ojai Vineyard Syrah 2017 Santa Barbara County, California
Syrah from a cool-ish climate in California. It’s a variety you’d think would be thriving in California, but it hasn’t
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