Syrah - or Shiraz - is a French dark-skinned red grape variety. Syrah's origins are certainly in the Rhône Valley and it is here that today it produces some of its finest examples, in Côte Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas. When used in Australia, it takes on a new name, Shiraz, and a different style. Syrah wines are generally deeply coloured and, when young, can have a character not dissimilar to Cabernet Sauvignon: pure blackcurrant fruit, firm tannic backbone. As it matures, Syrah can take on particular aromas and flavours of pepper (black or white), rubber and smoke.
