The results in full from The Global Syrah Masters 2021

We reveal all the medal-winners from this year’s Global Syrah Masters, featuring top performing wines from Hawke’s Bay, the Barossa and Hunter Valley, as well as Florina in Greece.

SYRAH IS one of those rare red grapes that makes delicious wines at both ends of the price spectrum. It can be the basis of fruity, balanced, appealing reds under £10, as well as barrel-aged fine wines for extended cellaring that can rival the greatest vinous creations on earth.

Bargain single-varietal Cabernet or inexpensive Pinot Noir rarely – if ever – produce such appealing entry points, while grapes such as Malbec or Grenache, which seem so well-suited to making cheap unblended reds, only occasionally reach the high points of a top-end Syrah. This means that the grape has much to recommend it, providing a reliable source for everyday drinking, and a good-value bet when it comes to truly great wines. It was why in this year ’s Global Syrah Masters we had such strong results across the board, even with those wines under £10, but especially among those over £30. It was also why this large sampling of Syrah was a pleasure to do – the wines were a joy to taste, whatever the quality level or source area.

What makes Syrah distinctive and delightful is its combination of fleshy black fruit, peppery interest, and firm dry tannic structure – although softer than Cabernet – augmented by further appealing characters, sometimes floral, other times olive-like, and occasionally both. It tends to deliver a wine with a deep colour, and a bright acid structure, especially when grown in a cooler climate, and carries the character of oak with ease, be that a sweeter coconut note or a more austere cedar-like taste.

Based on the results this year, Syrah not only delivers appeal at a range of price points, but also source locations, and doesn’t appear particularly fussy, although it will take on a different character according to climate and soil type. Its preference seems to be for warm to hot regions, continental climes, and a range of rock types, but particularly granite and schist.

Among the high points this year were Syrahs from New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay, South Africa’s Tulbagh Valley, Australia’s Hunter Valley, along with Barossa and McLaren Vale, and Greece’s Florina region – that is, in the expert hands of Alpha Estate.

While we did have a lovely Crozes-Hermitage, which we found ourselves seeking out to drink with a post-tasting burger, we had few Syrahs from the grape’s native home of the Northern Rhône in this year ’s competition.

Below are the medallists from this year’s competition, and click to hear to see the highlight wines from the tasting.

Unoaked 100% Syrah

Oaked 100% Syrah

Unoaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)

Oaked Blend (minimum 50% Syrah)

Judge’s comment: Patricia Stefanowicz MW