Home Winners > Winners 2020 > Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Blends - South Africa

Winner Details

Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre & Rhône-Style Blends - South Africa

South Africa has made its reputation with Bordeaux reds. But what if they got it wrong all those years ago?

Certainly on this evidence you could argue that they might want to look at planting more over to Syrahs/Shiraz (the entries here were evenly split) because they performed consistently better than their Cab-based peers. More Golds, more Silvers, more overall medals – and far more positive feedback from our tasting teams, who liked everything about this flight.

They liked the consistency, they liked the balance, they liked the combination of fruit and savoury notes, they liked the quality of the top wines – and they liked the value for money pretty much across the board.

Without doubt, this is a place to go hunting for great wines at eyebrow-raising prices.

From The Tasting Teams

‘I’m still slightly suspicious of South African reds but this was a really good and very clean flight – it exemplifies the new guard of better wines.’ Tim Smith, Winesurfer Consulting

‘Surprisingly good. There’s been a tremendous improvement in South African SGMs. We saw some very different styles, from lighter wines in cooler regions to richer ones from warmer regions, but really good quality overall.’ Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine

‘The price point was never cheap – our flight started at £11 – but the best wine I tasted today was from here. Everything in harmony and balance, and ready to drink.’ Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK

‘Loads of food-matching potential here. These wines have a lot of character, interest and vibrancy. There was a sense of place as well. They were certainly more red-meaty than anything else, but that wasn’t to say they weren’t elegant. Overall, some really good, impressive wines from South Africa.’ Jade Koch, team leader

‘Altogether, we saw great value and really consistent wines. I think you can now get more for your money from South Africa than you can from California or Australia.’ Elena Serban, Heritage Restaurant

‘The quality was really good – not over-extracted or overworked. You can find really good wine at every level here, and with good acidity.’ Lionel Periner, team leader

‘These are pretty stunning and delicious, and the prices are super-fair. You can list them and make money.’ Tim Smith, Winesurfer Consulting

Award winners

Found 17 wines

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

Kleine Zalze, Vineyard Selection, Shiraz 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

'A classic South African wine, very well made, with a velvet texture and pretty structure. Overall a great wine.' Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche. 'Mocha, coffee and dark chocolate on the nose, with cooked dark fruit on the palate.' Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club. 'With cherry red fruit and good grip, this is so versatile and food friendly - a match for fatty red meat. Great value too.' Jade Koch, team leader.

£9.48 Hatch Mansfield

Elgin Vintners, Syrah 2017, Elgin, South Africa

'Smoky and herbaceous, this is showing some good fruit with cool-climate elegance, and dense blackcurrants and bramble.' Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers. 'Brilliantly put together, with tart cranberries and redcurrants, this is so fresh and crunchy.' Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club. 'Ripe, dark fruit and good acidity, with good oak integration too, and notes of chocolate and sweet spice.' Lukas Nikanorovas, 20 Stories.

£14.70 Berkmann Wine Cellars

D'Aria Winery , The Soprano, Shiraz 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

'With its aromas of black tea, tobacco, raspberries and wet soil, leading to depth, structure and good freshness, I see this working by the glass everywhere from gastropubs to fine-dining restaurants.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant. 'This has notes of black cherry and crushed red cranberry, combined with dark chocolate, light Drum tobacco and a touch of bergamot.' Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club.

£7.90 Eurowines

Morgenster, Estate Red 2010, Western Cape, South Africa

'This has big personality on the nose, leading to some lovely freshness on the palate.' Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche. 'Well-made, with a full but elegant palate and velvet tannins.' Lionel Periner, team leader. 'With its lovely fleshy, meaty character and violet notes, with good tannins and freshness, this is a good choice for any steakhouse or brasserie.' Diego Carballido, Bar Boulud - Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

£29.62 Enotria&Coe

Kleine Zalze, Family Reserve, Shiraz 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

'Ripe and juicy, with good tannins, this is very fluid and fleshy. Any steak house should have it.' Diego Carballido, Bar Boulud - Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. 'There's crunchy red fruit on the nose, with some tea leaves to complement, leading to a rich palate with good acidity and a lingering finish.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£20.12 Hatch Mansfield

Rikus Neethling, Bizoe, Estalët Syrah 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

'Opening with aromas of dried flowers, tobacco, truffles and raspberries on the nose, these lead to a palate that's very fresh and vibrant, with a refreshing fruity and leathery finish. I see this working by the glass in fine-dining restaurants.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£16.33 Davy's Wine Merchants

Flagstone, Dark Horse, Shiraz 2014, Western Cape, South Africa

'A good expression of Syrah with some very ripe fruit, but fresh acidity too, and age giving some layers, with notes of plums, dark cherries, prunes and chocolate. Very good.' Lukas Nikanorovas, 20 Stories. 'Smoky and toasty, with lovely fruit too, and a pretty structure on the palate.' Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

£14.76 Matthew Clark

Dorrance, Syrah 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

'This is very well controlled and elegant considering the power of fruit, with eucalyptus, fresh earth and mocha notes joining crushed, tart cranberry and fresh redcurrant, with some mouth-watering acidity.' Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club. 'Elegant red and black juicy fruit, with soft tannins and lively acidity.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

£20.03 Top Selection

Lismore , Syrah 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

'A young wine with great acidity and some elegant fruit and cacao notes, culminating in a long fine oak finish.' Lionel Periner, team leader. 'A fresh and crisp wine with lively acidity and some juicy, ripe red fruit.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine. 'Brilliant freshness, with black and red berries, a touch of hay, and darker mocha, forest floor and mushroom components.' Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club.

£25.02 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Spier, Seaward, Shiraz 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

'A generous wine with a classic South African nose that's earthy and rich with dark berry fruits, some sweet oak and good fruit. A well-made wine.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'You can't mistake the origin here... A great wine with an elegant mouthfeel.' Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche.

£11.36 Bibendum

Arendsig, Inspirational Batch 2, Grenache 2017, Western Cape, South Africa

'Elegant and ripe red fruit with some fireplace smoke and forest floor notes too.' Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers. 'Very elegant, with bright red fruit and some fresh acidity.' Lukas Nikanorovas, 20 Stories. 'Great balance here, with some red fruit, a floral hint and sweet spice, with a refreshing finish.' Lionel Periner, team leader.

£15.87 Enotria&Coe

Boschkloof Wines, Ron Burgundy Wines, Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2018, Stellenbosch , South Africa

£24.48 Enotria&Coe

Ken Forrester, The Renegade, Shiraz/Grenache 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

£11.27 Enotria&Coe