Top 10 Syrah Producers

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Top 10 Syrah Producers Syrah has a problem. Actually, it’s a crisis- an identity crisis. While producing world class Syrah (Shiraz), they have failed to capture the imaginations of many consumers. But why?

Mostly because Syrah, like it’s duel name implies, is many things to many people. In fact, producers have almost tried to make it all wines to all people, from sweet to austere, fruity to meaty. And therein lies its second problem. While it is easy to produce fairly fruity Syrah, one of the variety’s defining features is the way it reveals its terroir in a generally meaty, spicy and not particularly fruity way.

That savoriness can be off-putting to people as can the overt sweetness that anchors the opposite end of the Syrah spectrum.

While you might not always be sure of what you’re getting from Syrah, you can be sure that these top 10 producers are always putting their best work in the bottle!

Photo courtesy Cortes de Cima via Flickr/CC

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Comments

zinman-
1948

939641 0

missed J C Cellars Jeff Cohn's award winning syrahs

Feb 16, 2012 at 2:46 PM
palderm

298189 2

Guigal where is it? Makes best shirai

Feb 16, 2012 at 4:03 PM
palderm

298189 2

Syrah Guigal

Feb 16, 2012 at 4:05 PM
EBGB

902774 23

Columella is fantastic, but always sold way too young.

Feb 16, 2012 at 4:17 PM
pplants

105989 38

you need to try one of the best Syrahs I've ever had. A California wine by Smith-wooten I believe. Great balance and elegant power.

Feb 16, 2012 at 5:29 PM
burgermeis-
ter

1028598 16

Of course enjoyed the comments about the wine but finishing them off with the ladies was fun, I particularly like the reference to Salma Hayek.

Feb 16, 2012 at 6:27 PM
aleger

604173 19

What about argentina syrah like Luigi Bosca Reserva 2008?

Feb 16, 2012 at 8:20 PM
MSG3003

71735 15

Do not forget about Novy Family Wines/Siduri - fantastic, highly scored, well priced Syrahs, generally in smaller lots (less than 1000 cases per bottling) with many bottlings to choose from.

Feb 17, 2012 at 12:16 AM
whauptman

864967 2

Chile is now producing some very fine Syrah as well. Quantities are limited, but they are very much worth seeking out. Try Matetic which is super smooth and very tasty. Great balalnce.

Feb 17, 2012 at 4:02 AM
williamsim-
pson

120201 212

Have had stylish shiraz from Margaret River and not that far away, Bests Great Western and Sandalford in SW corner of Oz.
I agree with the plaudits for guigal. great Cotes Du Rhone year after year
New zealand shiraz - they call it syrah - is a gentler, food friendly variant that gets overlooked in these discussions
Sicily has also had success with shiraz. Planeta Syrah worked for me. Petite Syrah from north Mexico/baja california is nice wine (LA Cetto)

Feb 17, 2012 at 4:16 AM
Baffetto-
de Roma

902305 41

My special favorite, Syrah 2007 Planeta Sicilia igt ****♥ Rich, with a bouquet of ripe red berries and black olives with lovely accents of sweet spices and vanilla. Round, fruity and flavourful full body with well integrated tannins. A vibrant wine with a spicy finish.

Feb 17, 2012 at 3:14 PM
williamsim-
pson

120201 212

Baffetto de Roma you have excellent taste indeed and all these people should try Planeta Syrah

Feb 20, 2012 at 5:46 AM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 96,132

I will be trying some Chilean Syrah soon, so look out for notes on those. And I've got notes on several New Zealand bottlings as well, which are being pulled together today! The Planeta is a fine wine, I've had it a handful of times, which is too few to include it in this list of my favorites but I'm glad you broguht it up!

Thanks for all the great comments folks!

Feb 20, 2012 at 1:09 PM