Wine: Syrah, the rising star

Get your astro-awareness on by tasting a smorgasbord of styles…

Earthworks Barossa Shiraz 2015 $19

Sniffing this wine is like having someone hit you in the face with a cocoa-dusted stocking stuffed with ripe blackcurrants, fresh green herbs, roasted spices and smoky oak. Concentrated, refreshing and packed with character - it's one of those red wines that'll have you reaching for your slippers, robe and pipe, even if it is the middle of the day. Shiraz = syrah. They are the same grape.

Sip with: those gourmet beef sausages you've been eyeing up through the butcher's window.

Clearview Estate Cape Kidnappers Syrah 2015 $27

Whoa Nelly! This one packs a whoomph of clove, cinnamon, currants and cocoa on the nose.

It's an aromatic colossus, and one I couldn't stop sniffing. But once you do, you'll note that it's incredibly juicy and fleshy for a young wine. I love the onslaught of blackcurrant, peppercorn and graphite goodness in this coastal-grown syrah. Clearview's winemaking team have created a really impressive, warming, fleshy wine.

Sip with: chunky beef stew.

Jerome Quiot Vacqueyras 2014 $33

A blend of syrah, grenache and mourvedre from France's Rhone region, produced by the Quiot family who've been making wine since 1748. This new puppy has a lovely lift of fresh raspberries and redcurrant, cracked pepper and rosehip tea on the nose, followed by fresh berryfruit on the palate and a spicy kick on the finish.

Sip with: a slab of pork and pistachio terrine.

Yvonne Lorkin is a wine retailer, wine writer and member of the Wine Writers of NZ.