Syrah and Shiraz tasting notes: a worked example
See what a structured Syrah or Shiraz tasting note looks like, line by line, then fill in the blank sheet for the bottle in your glass. Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape.
A Syrah / Shiraz tasting note, line by line
This is a worked example of how a note can read for the typical style of the grape. It is not a review of one bottle. Your wine will differ, so write what you find.
| Line of the note | What a typical Syrah / Shiraz note says |
|---|---|
| Appearance Depth of colour | Deep. Wine Folly says Syrah has some of the most intense colour of the world's red wines. |
| Nose Fruit | Blueberry and black plum. Cooler places lean to raspberry. Warmer ones move to blackberry and chocolate. |
| Nose Spice and savoury | Pepper, including green peppercorn, plus tobacco. The northern Rhône can also show smoke, flowers and mint. |
| Nose With age | Tar and game. |
| Palate Sweetness | Dry. |
| Palate Acidity | Medium. |
| Palate Tannin | Medium-high. |
| Palate Body | Full. |
| Palate Alcohol | Usually 13.5 to 15% ABV. Check the label. |
| Conclusions Where it is from | It originated in south-eastern France and is most closely tied to the Rhône Valley. Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie are the great northern Rhône names. In Australia, where it is called Shiraz, it is the most important red grape. |
The same note in two sentences
Dry, with medium acidity, medium-high tannin and a full body. Deep colour. Blueberry and black plum on the nose, with black pepper and a little tobacco. Rich and peppery.
What to look for
- Look for pepper as well as dark fruit. A peppery finish is one of the things Wine Folly tells you to expect in Syrah.
- Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. The name usually tells you where it was made: Shiraz in Australia, Syrah in most other places.
- Style follows climate. Wine Folly says versions from France and Italy tend to have more acidity and earthy notes, and versions from Australia, the USA and South America tend to be more fruit-driven with a lot of spice.
Now write your own
Fill this in for the bottle in front of you. It saves on your device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Questions
What does Syrah taste like?
Typically dark fruit such as blueberry and black plum, with pepper, tobacco and sometimes chocolate. Cooler places bring out mint and pepper. Older wines can turn tarry and gamey.
Are Syrah and Shiraz the same grape?
Yes. Wine Folly and Decanter both treat them as one grape. It is called Shiraz in Australia and Syrah in most other places.
How do I write a Syrah or Shiraz tasting note?
Work in the same order every time: look, nose, palate, then your conclusions. Judge the depth of colour, name the dark fruit and the spice, then rate tannin, acidity and body. The blank sheet on this page follows that order.
Sources
The typical aromas, structure and regions above come from these grape guides.