McLaren Vale wines triumph at global Syrah competition
The Global Syrah Masters, part of the annual series of competitions organised by industry-leading publication the drinks business, was open to any Syrah in the world, either as a varietal or a blend with at least 50% of Syrah and saw Australian wines achieving stellar results across various categories, reaffirming their quality, diversity, and exceptional value.
The eight expert judges, including five Masters of Wine and a Master Sommelier, tasted all entries blind and awarded medals from Bronze to Gold, as well as the prestigious title of Master for exceptional examples.
The judges were highly impressed with Australian entries, and chair of judges Patricia Stefanowicz MW, described them as "mouthwatering, with brambles, blueberry and sometimes ripe plum or other red fruits, accented by signature notes of black pepper", celebrating the wines' "sophistication and grace". Entries from Australia won 50% of the medals, achieving an exceptional performance across regions, with McLaren Vale performing particularly well, winning five Gold medals and three Master medals.
After tasting over 100 wines from every corner of the globe, the Master medal – the highest achievement – was awarded to only eight wines, with seven of them going to Australian wineries, of which, three were awarded to McLaren Vale wines!
McLaren Vale Gold and Master medal winners:
Medal | Name of Wine | Winery | Region | Vintage |
Gold | Lion's Tooth of McLaren Vale Shiraz | Dandelion Vineyards | McLaren Vale | 2022 |
Gold | Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz | Wakefield Wines Pty Ltd | Clare Valley/McLaren Vale | 2022 |
Gold | Old Vine Shiraz | Cape Barren | McLaren Vale | 2019 |
Gold | Wirra Wirra Chook Block Shiraz | Wirra Wirra | McLaren Vale | 2021 |
Gold | Heirloom Vineyards McLaren Vale Shiraz | Heirloom Vineyards | McLaren Vale | 2022 |
Gold | Rare Bird Shiraz | Cape Barren | McLaren Vale | 2018 |
Master | Firehawk of McLaren Vale Shiraz | Dandelion Vineyards | McLaren Vale | 2022 |
Master | Wakefield Masterstroke Shiraz | Wakefield Wines Pty Ltd | McLaren Vale | 2021 |
Master | Yangarra Estate Shiraz | Yangarra Estate Vineyards | McLaren Vale | 2021 |
The Global Wine Masters award wines with Bronze, Silver and Gold medals, and Master medals for the very best entries:
Master (97-100): An outstanding example of its type, showing impeccable winemaking. This wine delights for its wonderful texture, perfect balance and broad range of delicious, persistent flavours.
Gold (93-96): A brilliant wine that is a benchmark for its type. This wine has lasting appeal and shows great balance, complexity and intensity.
Silver (89-92): A high-quality wine that clearly demonstrates good winemaking while serving as a strong example of its style, source or dominant grape.
Bronze (85-88): A well-made wine that qualifies for our seal of approval. This wine is enjoyable and meets customer expectations.
A full list of winners and detailed judges' analysis, can be found: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/07/medallists-global-syrah-masters-2024/