Home Winners > Winners 2019 > NEW WORLD: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Blends - Rest of the New World

Winner Details

New World: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Rhône-style Blends - Rest of the New World

2019 Gold 1      Silver 4      Bronze 2      Commended 8
2018 Gold 0      Silver 4      Bronze 5      Commended 9

If Australia has emphatically ‘made it’ with Shiraz/Syrah, and South Africa is ‘on the way’, the rest of the New World is mostly at the ‘work in progress’ stage.

This section scoops up wines from a large geographical area, but our winners were all from Chile and the US, and the tendency for both these countries was to get a bit carried away with the fruit. These wines aren’t markedly cheaper than their counterparts from Oz, so without price being a factor, they need to go toe to toe when it comes to balance, elegance and know-how.

They’re not a million miles away, and there was a decent spread of good wines here – but no signs yet of a real explosion of unmissable quality. More wines need to follow the example of Charles Smith, which jumped from a Bronze last year to a Gold in 2019.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘There is demand when this style is from Australia, but in the US the cheaper wines were better than the more expensive. They were trying to make garage wines to sell for a lot of money. It’s good to see some value from the USA.’ Lionel Periner, team leader

‘Overripe fruits, rich, full-bodied. They have to let the grape talk.’ Emanuel Pesqueira, consultant

‘To me, Grenache is a grape you usually blend – it will take time to establish single varietal New World Grenache.’ Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche

Award winners

Found 15 wines

New World: Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre & Rhône-style Blends, Rest of the New World

Charles Smith, Boom Boom, Syrah 2016, Washington State, USA

Gold medal winner

‘Smashing!’ began New Street Warehouse’s Tanguy Martin, echoing the sentiments of the team of the judges that elevated this to Gold, and further describing ‘dark olive and blackcurrant leaf notes, with some sweet spices and smooth, integrated tannins’. Sue Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn thought it ‘fresh, with a long-lasting smokiness’, while team leader Lionel Periner enjoyed its ‘rich, dark fruit – a full-bodied wine, with the oak in balance’.

£14.56 Bibendum

Sutil, Limited Release, Syrah 2017, Limarí Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Sexy,’ said Tim Smith of CuVée VIII, ‘lovely minty nose with a touch of white pepper followed by dense, ripe red fruits on the palate – raspberry, cranberries. There’s a lick of vanilla from the oak on the finish, too.’

£10.73 Castelnau Wine Agencies

Outer Limits by Montes, Zapallar, Syrah 2017, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Olivier Gasselin of Hakkasan noted a ‘very spicy nose with a broad, herbal, leafy appeal with a touch of tomato leaf’. He went on to say: ‘The palate is dense, with dark plum and new oak, but good tannin management.’

£16.02 Liberty Wines

Chateau Ste Michelle, Columbia Valley, Syrah 2016, Washington State, USA

Silver medal winner

‘This has a powerful nose of bright red fruits, herbs and spice, bringing fresh mint and star anise to a rich palate,’ said Francesca Turra of Mondrian London. ‘There’s chocolate, coffee, tobacco and hints of vanilla on the finish.’

£11.76 Enotria&Coe

Errazuriz, Max Reserva, Syrah 2015, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Lovely notes of olive tapenade on the nose with a fresh eucalyptus lift,’ noted Chiara Sieni of Bottles Group, adding: ‘There’s a morello cherry palate with a good sense of balance between the rich body and the ripe, chocolatey tannins and good acidity.’

£12.52 Hatch Mansfield, Matthew Clark

Concha y Toro, Marques de Casa Concha, Syrah 2016, Maipo Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘The nose is smoky and meaty, very concentrated with leafy notes,’ said Olivier Gasselin of Hakkasan, adding: ‘The palate is chunky but juicy, with ripe, chocolatey tannins and a nice savoury note.’

£10.50 CyT UK

Lapostolle, Collection, Grenache 2016, Maule Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Notably paler wine,’ said Michael Harrison of CuVée VIII. ‘This is quite pretty, with soft red fruits and a sweeter style. Very acidic on the finish.’

£14.47 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Ventisquero, Kalfu Sumpai, Syrah 2016, Leyda Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

Via Wines, Oveja Negra, Single Vineyard, Syrah 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

Cline Cellars, Ancient Vines, Mourvèdre 2016, California, USA

Commended medal winner

£13.95 Boutinot

Belharra, Las Madres, Syrah 2014, Sonoma County, California, USA

Commended medal winner

£23.80 Boutinot

Emiliana, Salvaje, Syrah 2017, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£9.90 Boutinot

Chateau Ste Michelle, Tenet, The Pundit, Syrah 2015, Washington State, USA

Commended medal winner

£21.10 Enotria&Coe

Truchard, Syrah 2016, Napa Valley, California, USA

Commended medal winner

£17.14 Bibendum

Valdivieso, Caballo Loco, Grand Cru, Limari 2014, Coquimbo, Chile

Commended medal winner

£20.52 Bibendum