Syrah vs. Shiraz

Each flight included one of each syrah/shiraz from Avantis (Greece), Penfolds and E. Guigal.

• 2009 Avantis Estate Syrah 88 Points

  Greece, Continental Greece, Evia

  Dark ruby. Ripe (boardering to overripe) and somewhat jammy fruit, true to the winery's signature style, with cherry/blackberry jam, noticeable oak (vanilla) and chocolate. Med+ bodied with flavors reminiscent of candied sour cherries in syrup, slightly coarse tannins and balancing acidity. Quite long aftertaste. Much better than my previous, overmature bottle.

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• 2007 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  A lovely, typical Northern Rhone red, at a very nice stage to enjoy now and potential to improve further. Medium garnet color. Etheral floral and spicy nose with leather, red berries, violets and intense white pepper. Medium-bodied with firm tannins that will mellow with further cellaring (or next a dish rich in protein) balancing to high acidity and a long, peppery aftertaste. Very enjoyable Cote Rotie from the region's master.

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• 2010 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Dark ruby-purple. Sweet nose with liquorice, dark berries, cumin and smoke. Med+ body, silky tannins, good balance and length. Excellent aussie shiraz.

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• 2008 Avantis Estate Agios Chronos 90 Points

  Greece, Continental Greece, Evia

  Probably the best of the 3 syrah-dominated Avantis bottles. This is co-fermented with a small percentage of viognier. Dark ruby-garnet. Chocolatey and raisiny nose, somewhat port-like with berry jam, chocolate and sweet spice alongside scents of violets. Med+ bodied with jammy fruit, soft tannins and long aftertaste. Probably at peak.

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• 2009 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Dark purple. Still a baby, with esspresso coffee, leather, charcoal, fresh-sliced salami, smoke and meat. Focused and somewhat restrained. Full-bodied and dense with firm tannins, powerful fruit and balancing acidity. Very long. Great potential but needs time to unwind.

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• 2005 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Plains

  One of the stars of the tasting, and definitely my choice if I had to pick a wine for immediate consumption. Medium garnet. Eucalypt, blueberry, violet and scents of undergrowth. Refined and complex, medium-bodied with silky tannins, round, perfectly balanced and long. Everybody loved it. Great now but will drink nicely for another decade or so.

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• 2009 Avantis Estate Syrah Collection 89 Points

  Greece, Continental Greece, Evia

  Medium to dark ruby. Sweet, yet somewhat restrained nose with clove, cinnamon, vanilla, berry jam and the usual raisiny elements. Full-bodied with firm tannins, rich fruit but just a bit hollow mid-palate. Long aftertaste. Good but not fully justifying its price.

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• 2009 Penfolds Shiraz RWT 95 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Unmistakeably Barossa shiraz of top quality. Pronounced eucalypt, camphor, blueberry, godiva mint chocolate and florality. Full-bodied, dense with explosive fruit, yet perfectly balanced. Firm but fine-grained tannins of textbook quality and a very long aftertaste. Still quite youthful but absolutely enjoyable. My WOTN.

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• 2006 E. Guigal Hermitage 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Relatively disappointing compared to the Cote Rotie. Dark ruby-garnet. restrained nose with smoke, bacon fat, spice and floral scents. Medium-bodied and even less expressive on the palate with a medium aftertaste.

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Aussie shiraz from Penfolds was probably the winner overall. Guigal wines performed nicely with the exception of the rather disappointing 2006 Hermitage. The Greek wines, from Avantis, were the most ripe in character with more evident oak than both Penfolds and Guigal, but overall their performance was anything but disappointing especially given their prices.