Home Winners > Winners 2019 > NEW WORLD: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Blends - Australia

Winner Details

New World: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Rhône-style Blends - Australia

2019 Gold 12      Silver 13      Bronze 6        Commended 32
2018 Gold 11      Silver 21      Bronze 11      Commended 31

It would have been asking a lot to expect Australia to replicate its frankly extraordinary numbers from 2018 again this year: 43 medals made it the biggest hooverer-up of medals in last year’s competition. But credit to the Aussies – they gave it a damn good go, and in doing so they actually pulled in a record number of Gold medals.

This was another spectacular performance for Aussie Shiraz, with our tasters luxuriating in the wide variety of styles on offer, from spicy through savoury to plush and fruit-driven. There were wines with earthiness and wines with bright, lifted fruit; wines from cooler mountain vineyards, and wines from valley floors. It was a stimulating smorgasbord of what the country can do with its signature red grape, from New South Wales to WA.

There were one or two naysayers who felt that the wines were somewhat out of whack or out of fashion, but they were in the minority. Generally, the feedback here was highly positive: good wines, well balanced and with a definite style.

And while there was precious little to be had under £10, there was really good value in the £10-£15 area – and no one thought their customers would have a problem paying for it. One of this year’s star categories.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘The Barossa wines were actually quite elegant in their style. Complex, juicy and very fresh, they would please people that want full-bodied wines but not too rich, too full, too oaky. The best flight today.’ Raphael Thierry, Street XO

‘There’s a big difference between Barossa and the rest of Australia: funky, savoury styles versus big bold, rich, tannic, high-alcohol styles. It’s important to have the knowledge to share with customers.’ Elena Serban, Hakkasan

‘When I look at Australian wines for my list it always jumps from entry level to Grange and Henschke. Not many people are keen to experiment in the middle ground.’ Sean Arthur, Cliveden House

‘These had great balance, eye-opening freshness, and the value was pretty good.’ Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche

‘This is a category that does very good things. Some at the entry level would be fun by the glass.’ Jade Koch, team leader

‘Unbalanced acidity, oaky, high alcohol, flavours of plum and ripe fruits. People aren’t looking for this style any more.’ Tanguy Martin, New Street Warehouse

‘Price-wise these were good, and I liked the ripeness of the fruit. I was expecting some jammy wines, but these were quite elegant. They were really nicely balanced, particularly at the lower price points, when they used less oak.’ Antonio Federico Moccia, 67 Pall Mall

Award winners

Found 63 wines

New World: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre & Rhône Blends, Australia

Domaine Tournon, Shays Flat Vineyard, Shiraz 2015, Pyrenees, Australia

Gold medal winner

‘Great nose of sour cherry, black berry, mushroom and truffle,’ said Gian Giacomo Stella of Simpsons Restaurant, while Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles described a ‘richly stewed dark fruit palate a menthol and eucalyptus finish’.

£12.40 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Chateau Tanuda, Matthews Road, Shiraz 2016, Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

This remarkable Shiraz stood out for judges as ‘rich, full and concentrated, with dark chocolate and ripe, spicy tannins, and a long, leathery finish’, according to The River Cafe’s Mattia Mazzi, as it was rightly elevated to Gold. Team leader Jan Konetzski found ‘notes of plum, prune, violet and clove, plus cinnamon, cola and liquorice’, adding that it was ‘quite grippy, with good structure’. Aviary’s Aurore Anguenot thought its ‘vanilla spice and tannins’ made it ideal to accompany ‘a rib eye steak’.

£12.70 Bibendum

Mitolo, Jester, Shiraz 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

Our judges had no reservations about awarding this Gold, with Benares Restaurant & Bar’s Filip Viorel, for example, finding it to be ‘elegant and soft, with a rich palate of prunes, blackberries and coffee, and with great acidity and tannin – overall a great wine’. Team leader Tom Forrest was similarly impressed, describing ‘spicy aromas with menthol, and some light medicinal notes, alongside ripe blackberry, leading to eucalyptus and some savoury notes too, like black pepper and chillies’.

£11.62 Liberty Wines

Chaffey Bros Wine Co, Synonymous, Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner Food Match

As Chaffey Bros added another Gold to its collection of medals, as well as a Food Match trophy, an impressed Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles described ‘cassis and menthol notes on the nose, leading to more cassis dominating the palate, with some nice gamey character coming through on the finish, which has notes of black tea, menthol and liquorice’. The River Cafe’s Mattia Mazzi, meanwhile, enjoyed notes of ‘tobacco, as well as sweet-and-savoury fruit compote’, finding it to have ‘good concentration and balance’.

£12.42 Enotria&Coe

Glaetzer, Wallace, Shiraz/Grenache 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

‘Classic Aussie Shiraz,’ said consultant Ian Howard as this was awarded a well-deserved Gold medal. For Raphael Thierry of Street XO it was ‘complex and elegant’, while Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair praised it as ‘juicy and fruity, with notes of mint and chocolate’. Team leader Laurent Richet MS, finding notes of ‘cherry, prune and olive’, declared it ‘very versatile, and well suited for pairing with everything from mutton to game birds, and red meat too’.

£14.06 Enotria&Coe

Willunga 100, The Hundred Clarendon, Grenache 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

Judges were taken with this Grenache’s atypical style, finding it to be undoubtedly deserving of Gold. Team leader Andres Ituarte spoke of ‘oyster shell and worn schist’, while Benares Restaurant & Bar’s Filip Viorel noted some ‘earthy, mushroom notes on the nose’. This was joined, for team leader Tom Forrest, by some ‘minty, medicinal and herbal aromas, as well as cherry and raspberry, with more cherry, ripe berry and some herbal, eucalyptus notes on the palate’.

£14.75 Liberty Wines

Dandelion Vineyards, Lionheart of the Barossa, Shiraz 2017, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

As an impressed team of judges awarded this a Gold medal, Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles described it as ‘richly plummy, with dark fruit and menthol aromas’, adding that it was ‘very concentrated, with a full mouthfeel and well-balanced tannin, with a good, spicy finish’. Francisco Macedo of Cliveden House enjoyed ‘black fruits and herbaceous notes, with really good acidity’, while The River Cafe’s Mattia Mazzi thought it ‘savoury and spiced, with a tapenade note’.

£10.50 Liberty Wines

Willunga 100, The Tithing, Grenache 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

Judges didn’t hesitate in awarding this complex Grenache a Gold medal. Quentin Loisel of Restaurant Sat Bains described ‘red fruit and blood orange notes, along with maqui berries, blueberries and white chocolate’, while team leader Tom Forrest found ‘eucalyptus, medicinal and herbal aromas’ that led to a ‘soft cherry palate with a herbal, peppery finish’. ‘A very drinkable wine,’ added an impressed Filip Viorel of Benares Restaurant & Bar.

£16.57 Liberty Wines

Dandelion Vineyards, Red Queen of the Eden Valley, Shiraz 2016, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

‘Layers of spice, cigar and tobacco leaf mingle with blackcurrant and cherry. Intense and concentrated with a well-balanced, vibrant acidity,’ said Diana Rollan of D&D, adding: ‘Perfect for roasted meat.’

£29.40 Liberty Wines

Henschke, Tappa Pass, Shiraz 2015, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

Judges were unanimous in their verdict of Gold for this top-end Shiraz, with Maze by Gordon Ramsay’s Gabriele Bertotti describing it as ‘elegant, with good fruit character’, while Elena Serban of Hakkasan found it to have ‘fresh, intense bright fruit with notes of clove and tar’. Daniel Jonberger of Rockliffe Hall thought it was ‘soft and juicy, with lots of hibiscus and notes of vanilla, with rich blueberries too, and a long, pleasant aftertaste’.

£48.23 Enotria&Coe

Zonte's Footstep, Lake Doctor, Shiraz 2017, Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

‘Bright, ripe raspberry and liquorice aromas. Good concentration on the palate with morello cherries, liquorice, spicy black pepper and hint of smoke. A lovely finish,’ said Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles.

£11.48 Zonte's Footstep

Henschke, Henry's Seven 2016, South Australia, Australia

Gold medal winner

‘Bright, vibrant and fleshy,’ began The River Cafe’s Mattia Mazzi in praise of this SGV as it took home a well-deserved Gold, adding that it was ‘very juicy, with approachable tannins’. Team leader Jan Konetzki appreciated its notes of ‘honeycomb and milk chocolate’, while Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair described ‘pleasing smoky notes on the nose, leading to a long finish with notes of red and black berries’, praising its ‘great balance between alcohol, tannin and acidity’.

£19.61 Enotria&Coe

St Hallett, Butcher's Cart, Shiraz 2015, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

Janusz Sasiadek of Bottles & Battles certainly liked this one: ‘Very pleasant wine with lovely spiced notes and an elegant intensity; this is a well-balanced wine for easy drinking.’

£15.12 Matthew Clark

Paringa Estate, Peninsula, Shiraz 2016, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

Team leader Carlos Ferreira thought this wine had ‘a beautiful fruit-driven nose that carries to the palate’ and was ‘very well balanced with a long black fruit aftertaste’. ‘Cigar box and cedar wood notes,’ added Diana Rollan of D&D.

£19.89 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Chateau Tanunda, Newcastle, SGMCC 2015, Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Bright red fruit aromas on the nose. This is full bodied, with well-defined red fruit flavours seasoned with salt and spice notes. Nicely put together,’ said team leader Charlie Young.

£11.32 Bibendum

Mount Langi Ghiran, Cliff Edge, Shiraz 2017, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘A savoury, mineral, stony nose with prominent tannin and sweet red, fleshy fruit. It has an elegant finish with good ripe, fleshy texture,’ said team leader Charlie Young.

£14.48 Bibendum

Sidewood, Mappinga, Shiraz 2016, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘The nose is smoky with a touch of hemp too,’ thought Rockliffe Hall’s Daniel Jonberger, continuing: ‘A multitude of dark berry and spice blends with the soft oak and an intense, sensual finish. Very good.’

£25.47 Davy's Wine Merchants

Mitolo, GAM, Shiraz 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘This is an intense and full-bodied example of a SGM,’ said Cliveden House’s Sean Arthur ‘Its complex palate shows deep red cherry, with notes of cigar box, wet tobacco and engaging use of oak. A really contemplative wine.’

£19.92 Liberty Wines

Fowles Wine, Ladies who Shoot their Lunch, Shiraz 2016, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

Team leader Carlos Ferreira thought this wine was ‘perfect for charcuterie’, adding: ‘The nose is fresh with blackberries and cherry, there are notes of smoky bacon and leather, too, but the palate is very well balanced with great acidity.’

£18.34 Enotria&Coe

Dandelion Vineyards, Menagerie of the Barossa, Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘This would work well on many lists,’ said consultant Ian Howard. ‘It has a really nice nose of parma violets and a very Grenache, red fruit palate. It has nicely balanced acid and is good value.’

£11.04 Liberty Wines

McWilliams, 660, Reserve, Shiraz 2015, New South Wales, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Pronounced meaty nose. Very savoury with good concentration, rich and powerful,’ noted Matteo Cali of Savoy Grill, while for Virginia Fontò of La Trompette there were ‘fragrant notes of plum, raspberry, blueberry, chocolate and vanilla, with a smooth and soft palate’. She also thought it was ‘good value for money’.

£10.61 Enotria&Coe

Dandelion Vineyards, March Hare of the Barossa, Mataro 2016, Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘This seems very Syrah-heavy – very dense blackcurrant with white pepper,’ said Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair, continuing: ‘It has a beautiful purple colour, fairly high acid and the good structure that would make it great food wine.’

£31.08 Dandelion Vineyards

Heirloom, Shiraz 2017, Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles said: ‘The wine offers up cassis, leather and coffee on the nose; there’s great complexity here with stewed blackcurrant and eucalyptus on the palate with leathery notes. It’s full bodied and all very well integrated with smooth tannins, lovely fruit and a smoky finish.’

£12.83 Liberty Wines

Zonte's Footstep, Z Force 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

Rémi Cousin of Le Gavroche noted: ‘Some lovely, jammy red fruit notes lifted by some good toasty aromas and a hint of mint. It’s very fresh on the palate and the huge body and structure remains clean and fresh on the finish.’

£20.33 Zonte's Footstep

D’Arenberg, The Footbolt, Shiraz 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Lots of big, rich aromas of cherry, blueberries and cassis on the nose,’ said Sexy Fish’s Julien Sahut, adding: ‘The palate is spicy with lots of clove and bay and the richly fruited, long and spicy finish is carried along by smooth tannins.’

£11.12 Enotria&Coe

Katnook Estate, Founder's Block, Shiraz 2016, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘The nose is spicy blackcurrant with a touch of reduction,’ said team leader Charlie Young, adding: ‘Some sweet and aromatic qualities on the palate and really nice texture, freshness and depth to the finish.’

£10.60 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Magpie Estate, The Black Craft, Shiraz 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘There’s sweet dark fruit and it’s quite smoky, with notes of mint and chocolate,’ said team leader Jan Konetzki, adding: ‘The tannins are nicely polished and this ripe but fresh wine is super value.’

£8.95 Boutinot

Chaffey Bros Wine Co, Pax Aeterna, Barossa Nouveau, Old Vine, Grenache 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘I like this,’ said team leader Jan Konetzki: ‘There’s red, ripe fermented fruit on the nose with hints of dill and fresh herbs. The palate is dry but juicy, fresh and vibrant.’

£12.92 Enotria&Coe

Zonte's Footstep, Baron Von Nemesis 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘Foxy, animal aromas,’ thought Charlie Carter of Ten Green Bottles, ‘it has a powerful and complex palate, again slightly animal with vibrant red fruits, menthol and spice.’

£14.43 Zonte's Footstep

Zonte's Footstep, Hills Are Alive, Shiraz 2017, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘Red and black fruits are very well balanced here and this complex wine represents good value for money,’ said team leader Carlos Ferreira, adding that ‘the finish is long and elegant’.

£14.43 Zonte's Footstep

D’Arenberg, D'Arry's Original, Shiraz/Grenache 2015, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘Complex and richly fruited on the nose, this is big and bold; a rich, really great red wine,’ said Sexy Fish’s Julien Sahut.

£10.94 Enotria&Coe

St Hallett, Blackwell, Shiraz 2015, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£20.45 Matthew Clark

St Hallett, Faith, Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£10.47 Matthew Clark

St Hallett, Gamekeepers, Shiraz Grenache Touriga 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£8.71 Matthew Clark

Kingston Estate, Echelon, Shiraz 2015, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Langmeil, Hangin' Snakes, Shiraz/Viognier 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Langmeil, Three Gardens, Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvèdre 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Langmeil, Valley Floor, Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Chapel Hill, The Parson, Shiraz 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Chapel Hill, Grenache 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Mount Langi Ghiran, Billi Billi, Shiraz 2016, Victoria, Australia

Commended medal winner

£9.47 Bibendum

Robert Oatley, Signature Series, G-18, Grenache 2018, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Robert Oatley, Hancock & Hancock, Shiraz/Grenache 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Robert Oatley, Helmsman, Shiraz 2017, Multi-Region, Australia

Commended medal winner

Jarrah Wood, Shiraz 2017, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Boutinot, Sixty Clicks, Shiraz/Mataro 2018, Victoria, Australia

Commended medal winner

£6.35 Boutinot

Chalk Hill, Luna, Shiraz 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£10.63 Matthew Clark

Sidewood, Shiraz 2016, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Windowrie, David O'Dea, Preservative Free, Shiraz 2018, New South Wales, Australia

Commended medal winner

Windowrie, Pig in the House, Shiraz 2016, New South Wales, Australia

Commended medal winner

Larry Cherubino, Ad Hoc, Middle of Everywhere, Shiraz 2017, Western Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Dandelion Vineyards, Lion's Tooth of McLaren Vale, Shiraz/Riesling 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£9.48 Liberty Wines

Mount Pleasant, Philip, Shiraz 2015, New South Wales, Australia

Commended medal winner

£11.95 Enotria&Coe

Heirloom, Shiraz 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Heirloom, Alcala, Grenache 2018, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Heirloom, King's Garden, Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvédre 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Heirloom, Alambra, Shiraz 2016, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Peter Lehmann, Stonewell, Shiraz 2013, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£29.91 Liberty Wines

RedHeads, Dogs of the Barossa 2016, Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

Zonte's Footstep, Love Symbol, Grenache 2017, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

D’Arenberg, The Laughing Magpie 2014, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£14.24 Enotria&Coe

D’Arenberg, The Love Grass, Shiraz 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£11.12 Enotria&Coe

D’Arenberg, The Ironstone Pressings, GSM 2016, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£26.31 Enotria&Coe