The Glug Club moved on to the reds. In this flight we tried four very different Shiraz wines (Syrah) from South Africa, Southeast Australia and then Western Australia, and then finally a classic French Syrah form the northern Rhone.

Swartland Shiraz 2021
Wine of Origin, Swartland

This had mostly black fruit flavours, with that slightly cheesy flavour that often comes with the South African soils. 

Plum and Pepper, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019
Barossa Valley, Australia

The name says it all. This has stewed, jammy flavours of plum and then prickly black pepper and juniper notes. 

Vasse Felix Shiraz 2021
Margaret River, Western Australia

This is a legdary wine. Everyone though Dr Tom Cullity had gone mad when he wandered off into the outback in western Australia in search of the perfect location for wine-growing. He found it in the Margaret River valley, and he bought the site that became Vasse Felix in 1967 for just $75/hectare.

Crozes Hermitage 2021
Cave de Tain

It was wonderful to finish the evening with a classic Syrah from the northern Rhone.