Syrah Wine 101: Australia vs Washington!

Learn cool facts about Syrah and what to look for when tasting it. See wine details here: winefolly.com/...
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[@spearhead3ad377]

I've been following your videos for about a year now and I never knew just how many various shows and seminars you have hosted. The more I search your name, the more shows I find. That's awesome!!!!

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Australian Shiraz is one of my favourite wines along with Argentinian Malbec

[@Shadowman4710]

I totally agree. Yellowtail Shiraz is one of my favorite things in the world.

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Shadowman4710 When it comes to Shiraz i like Penfolds Bin 28.....unfortunately wines here in Singapore are more expensive compared to European prices

[@Shadowman4710]

@@meat_loves_wasabi I live in the USA and wine prices here are pretty cheap as compared to a lot of the markets, I think. Prior to the 90's it was fairly expensive and not readily available but now it's cheap and plentiful.

[@farmgirl2283]

Can't beat a Rutherglen Shiraz.

[@Shadowman4710]

@@farmgirl2283 I'll have to look for that. I do love a good Rosemount.

[@lanjagg]

“Freaking out” is correct. Washington Syrah is a revelation, haha! For those of you that haven’t tried Syrah from Walla Walla, Whaluke Slope or Yakima-it’s time. Cheers!

[@monstrok]

Huzzah for Syrah! I've been enjoying Washington Syrahs for several years now (being local) and really enjoy what this region does for this grape.

[@Winefolly]

It is a good thing 'round these parts!

[@micahthornton3259]

Can we get a Madeline "Where we learn by drinking" montage? Cool, thanks.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Mollydooker (meaning a left-handed person) make 'Parkerized' Australian shiraz that conforms to a style encouraged by Robert Parker: big alcohol, ripe, sweet fruit, lashings of oak, firm tannin. Not to everyone's taste & can be erratic when cellared. This style will always find a market, but the current trend in Aus is for cooler-climate styles from regions like Heathcote, Grampians, Nagambie, Coonawarra, Mount Barker etc. These wines are more medium bodied & highlight the spicy nature of the variety with oak (seasoned/French/European) in the background.

[@Winefolly]

Indeed! We're seeing that too! Still, Australia is the only place in the world that can go as big as it sometimes does.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

@@Winefolly Australia is a huge country with many varied climates so any style of wine can be made here. It pays, when talking about Oz wine, to know the states & the wine regions. There is a GI system similar to Europe's appellations.

[@spearhead3ad377]

I love the videos, you keep us wine lovers up to date and informed. Thank you so much!!

[@drmatthewhorkey]

Lovely episode... We love the grape!

[@pmbirmingham]

Why is California’s Syrah options so limited and isolated successfully grown? I enjoy Washington Syrah, your description of soil composition giving many ripeness, color depth, and fruit scents.

[@lorenzoravotti2745]

Very knowledgeable Madeline

[@danaspetrini8338]

That Australia one sounds amazing!!

[@Matthew-vm7qi]

Cool shirt!

[@johnholzhey8149]

Blue Eyed Boy is one of the best. From the winery that gave you Two Hands etc. Sad to hear about the divorce. Are they still racing?

[@drus555]

I used to really like Kay Brothers But can't find it anymore.

[@wce_fan]

DukeCity Piper Kay Brothers make fantastic wine!

[@Winefolly]

DukeCity Piper that stuff IS great! They’re still around, keep hunting!

[@bradenschwark7030]

Did you do the “Molly Dooker Shake”?? If not, please try and let me know your thoughts! (Refer to their website on how...)

[@Winefolly]

def know it. Def done it. I've also tried blenders!

[@bluecollarwineguy4447]

Were both wines considered introductory? I have a bottle of the Owen Roe Red Willow vineyard Chapel Block syrah out of the Yakima Valley and even though it is a much higher price point, Owen Roe has always been fairly consistent with their syrahs. Thanks Madeline

[@Winefolly]

The Rookie, Wine and Whiskey Enthusiast i think I expressed love towards owen roe. I mean, it was their Riesling I drank when passing cert exam. Oh oh! And Sineann is awesome too.

[@bluecollarwineguy4447]

@@Winefolly Thank you for clarifying map. I was driving when I was watching your video and I looked like that you were sort of displeased with the Owen Roe.....

[@Winefolly]

@@bluecollarwineguy4447 I mean, it had a tin-can finish - which made it undrinkable for me. But I like their other stuff. Perhaps it needed more decanting - or it was the wrong vintage for me.

[@Thomas-h8w4n]

It's worth noting that Mollydooker wines are virtually invisible here in Australia. Their wines are made for the US market and tend to be way too sweet for Australian palates. So putting forward this wine as an example of Australian shiraz is probably misleading. I haven't seen any of their wines on sale here in South Australia (which is where their vineyard and winery is) for ages. I think they have been successful in selling their wines in the US and I applaud them for Identifying their market. But I hope that people won't try to judge Australian wines by this sort of big overblown style of wine. I think that most Australian shiraz is much more restrained than this.😉

[@snooze0023]

I cant see any blue at all, where do you see the blue exactly? Im trying to learn cheers

[@Winefolly]

It's more like a "blue base" so, it's just a hint of a more pinkish / purpley color at the rim.

[@ellisgivens6060]

What part of Australia is the Australian Shiraz

[@sentimentalbloke185]

McLaren Vale, about 30 mins drive south of Adelaide.

[@daver8521]

Not a great fan of Aussie Shiraz; prefer American Syrah. You might have mentioned that Syrah and Petite Sirah are two very different grapes. I think a lot of people get them confused. And, BTW, love your blouse!

[@donaldshelton1720]

A good wa wine

[@TheSoteriologist]

Australia vs Washington ??? Where is southern France ?

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

Or Chilie or California or South Africa ??! Cheers 🍷🍷🍇🍻

[@TheSoteriologist]

@@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews That's all new world.

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

@@TheSoteriologist 🍇🍷 Obviously your not aware of how Weather, Soil, Conditions effect the same varieties of grapes. Each NEW WORLD GRAPE from different areas would infact have slightly different aromatics & tasting notes. Fact! Next France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Spain, may be old world in certain grape varieties. IMO a tasting of each countries wine would divulge the subtle differences. 🍇🍷 Cheers. 🍻🍷🍷

[@TheSoteriologist]

@@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews 🤣 Thus spake our little self-up-thumbing hillbilly: _"Obviously your [1] not aware of how Weather, Soil, Conditions [2-4] effect [5] the same varieties [grammar] of grapes."_ Uhm, yes. It's _"Obviously you're not aware of how weather, soil, conditions affect the same variety of grapes."_ Alternatively, you could simply say _"affect grape varieties"_ which would also be correct. So, we're counting 5 spelling errors, one serious grammatical and a host of logical errors that even give rise to this false statement to begin with -_in your first sentence alone_ ! Notice none of these are typos. You will understand that, from there, I will disregard the rest of your drivel. So I guess I should be compassionate with you because only a noob could assume that anyone needs to be told such truisms. Probably, you've first heard of them last week. Look up Dunning-Kruger-effect and Peak Stupid. The only thing that's obvious here is that you have so little knowledge of wine that you don't even realize why I wrote the OP, particularly when it comes to Syrah. In all goodwill, please refrain from commenting until you've gained some experience. Take care.

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

@@TheSoteriologist I have the perfect DONKEYS Arse to work with! YOU 🍷🍺 People like you are the problem with wine.🍷 Wine SNOB ! \ Donkeys Arse ! 🍻 Your. Only as Smart as where you are at! FACT! BTW THIS HILLBILLY AS YOU PUT IT HAS SEVERAL ADVANCE DEGREES! JD, MSF, MBA. I RETIRED years ago about 20. Yrs early and You????? Well? I own my home & a few other places! All my cars and trucks and motorcycles. Boat & Travel Trailer Out Right! No Debt and you ???? I was a money manager! Then I started a custom built homes & development company! You ??! A degree in English of which 90%+ of the English speaking world do practice as you see fit! Hence You are obselete!

[@peykanjavanan2226]

syrah shiraz Iran not america

[@josefskopal2562]

I don't generally enjoy Shiraz from Australia... Overripe and too much oak :/

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Then you haven't tried the many different types from different regions.

[@peykanjavanan2226]

iranian wine not from america and australia

[@sentimentalbloke185]

nope. that's an urban myth

[@lovesgibson]

Why you so cute

[@Winefolly]

wine goggles. OBV! haha!

[@lovesgibson]

Wine Folly nahh you’re gorgeous

[@MalouDK]

"extinct parents that no longer exist" - hehe duh ;)

[@Winefolly]

Malou Niemann I’m still learning how to use my words.

[@YaniG88]

Mollydooker's Blue Eyed Boy is brilliant. An absolute monster of a wine. And their winery in McLaren Vale is only 45 mins from my house in Adelaide, South Australia. I reckon that all of Mollydooker's range is 15%+ in alcohol.

[@wce_fan]

I like Mollydooker but their style of Shiraz is definitely on the big and bold end of the spectrum.

[@briankillebrew]

wce_fan mollydooker makes incredible wines

[@stansolo1298]

I have just started my WSET journey. Passed level 1 and will be starting level 2 in September. I have also recently bought your book via Kindle and I'm loving making my own tasting notes whilst referencing your book to improve my knowledge. Thank you for everything you do, your channel has been unbelievably helpful to me!

[@lorenzoravotti2745]

Thank you Madeline. Very interesting

[@Natashaz48]

Great vid per usual. Love both Shiraz and Syrah, just depends on the mood and 'da food. Love the blouse!

[@oliverparish]

I love teroldego, and I’m not northern Italian, so thanks for the compliment 😘

[@WineOnTheDime]

While Shiraz is great, there really is something so satisfying about a nice, peppery Syrah.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Varietally-correct Shiraz is always peppery, it's a characteristic of the variety.

[@josuedelucca7252]

Mollydooker makes the "Carnival of Love" shiraz, which I had the pleasure of having on the same table as the Blue Eye you just described. Love your description, right on point! The Washington shiraz you tried, I haven't had, although I had one recently that blew my mind. Cheers!

[@slapshot1x]

Well said!

[@slapshot1x]

She knows her vino!

[@stevesutherland6232]

Great vlog ...Thank you...I’ve been trying several Shiraz regions lately so the timing of this is impeccable. Nice work.

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

🍇🍷 It's a shame about the Oregon Syrah. I personally love Australian & California Syrah.. 🍷🍷 Have an Awesome SUMMER! 🍇 Cheers 🍷🍷

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

🍇🍷 & ??????? Who Cares ? Did I Say Something To You Or Bad About the Wine ??? Well ??

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

@@Zanagash 🍇🍷🍻 Actually You Need to Correct Madeline Plunket From Wine Folly 🍷 She stated it was an Orgeon Wine vs Australia ! 🍷🍇 Personally I don't give a 💩 where it's from! All though the title does say Washington! But again so what!

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

@@Zanagash WTF is your problem! Give me 30 seconds with you & I will educate you! WHERE DID I SAY THERE'S NOT A DIFFERENCE 💩 Head?? Well??? SHE SAID IN THE VIDEO YOUR WINE WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT !!!! WELL???? Next it tasted tiny !!! WHY NOT ANSWER WHY YOUR WINE BASICALLY WAS NOT ALL THAT!!L??? WELL????

[@noamhaham5442]

Could please explain more about the tin can flavor you noticed in the washington syrah? What could be the cause of it? Thank you 🍷

[@JRamalhete69]

17% red wine? What´s that? Port wine with Syrah? Jesus....

[@X3RUBIM]

What they do is cyclically starve the vines of water, causing them to put everything they have into the fruit (seeds=survival)... this causes very, very high extract and sugar, and thus the high alcohol.

[@JRamalhete69]

@@X3RUBIM still find that very hedgy, but I have to try it of course... In me contry, you just have to wait longer before picking the grapes and voila, 17% red wine. But only very old people do that here...

[@n.sundari889]

"Saucy Ah Sweet" new technical term 😂🤣 🦋 Gracias 🇨🇺

[@packer812]

I am actually drinking a Syrah from the the northern Rhone right now, a Crozes Hermitage. Pretty good with Chili con Carne.

[@Winefolly]

packer812 sounds awesome

[@MichaelJ-fn5pl]

Robert Foley makes a killer Syrah IMO. Cheers!

[@7twan]

Who thumbs down Wine Folly? Sheesh!

[@beatnikbanditracing3688]

I’m awesome

[@Winefolly]

you are.

[@beatnikbanditracing3688]

Hello redundant

[@SteveAbrahall]

Good to see ya getting a drop of good ozzie red mate! :-)

[@macgyverdallas9444]

Hey Girl!!! It's MacGyver

[@pigrond]

awesome thank you

[@jimmoore1661]

Nice!!!!!

[@BobPrager]

I'm grinning -- just tasted a teroldego last week in Lodi, California!

[@Winefolly]

The Trentinese are proud!!!

[@benhall9321]

Thanks for posting. I would like to make a suggestion: for future reference, can you please identify Australian wines by region in the title of your videos and not just country? As you are no doubt aware there is a wide variety of styles of Shiraz / Syrah grown in Australia. Not all Australian Shiraz / Syrah is super fruity and alcoholic, which might come as a surprise to some of your subscribers in the US. Cheers !

[@Winefolly]

Ben Hall i do it for SEO. Not because I don’t love Australia.

[@Winefolly]

Ben Hall you know though, It could say “south Australia” still, south Australia makes a ton of elegant syrah wines. No hate there.

[@benhall9321]

Wine Folly By way of clarification South Australia might either refer to a state of Australia (like Texas) or to southern Australia and the potential geographical difference is vast! In both cases there are a wide variety of styles of wine grown, including Shiraz /Syrah. Within the state of South Australia, Shiraz grown in the Barossa is markedly different to Shiraz / Syrah grown in the Adelaide Hills, which is a premium cool climate region. And Shiraz / Syrah from Victoria (still in southern Australia but a different state) also tends to be cooler climate and more peppery in style. I realise you were wanting to use a point of comparison for your subscribers and viewers (of which I am one) but comparing say Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir to “American Pinot Noir” would be similarly non specific re the latter category and no doubt elicit a strong response from your American subscribers! Anyhow I dig your site and think you are doing a terrific job - so I hope you don’t mind me posting these comments, which are intended to be constructive.

[@Winefolly]

@@benhall9321 True. Indeed. Also, both Aussie styles are good. Australia should be proud: they can do both! Not many places can.

[@benjamin222abe]

Hello! So im pretty New in the World of wine All though i am a chef and My GF are a sommalie. We were in Northern Italy this year tasting at several winerys and want to go to Franch next year. We have 16 days and are planning on going to champagne, bourgogne, alsace as well as rhône. And I would love to watch a video from you guys, talking about what to See, where to go and especially Even more basic stuff, such as how to get in touch with the winerys/wine yards from home before we go. So we can visit as many places as possible in the 4 days we have each place. Thank you so much for your videos and IG. Helping me out huge! I've told All of My friends about you! Hope you can help and maybe make a video to help me put with our travel planes!

[@daviddavies5555]

Omg 17%! Mollydooker comes from McLaren Vale which has a hot Mediterranean climate. Your listeners looking for Australian Shiraz/Syrah might appreciate something from a colder climate such as Clonakilla from the continental climate Canberra district. Cold climate Shiraz is very popular here right now. Thanks Madeline

[@tristramshandy9326]

As an Australian I'm frankly embarrassed by the horribly sweet wines that come from Mollydooker. Only Americans can drink this stuff. They have virtually no presence in Australia This is definitely not representative of even barely passable Australian SHIRAZ. But if you like 'em sweet, then Mollydooker is your bottle. Or Yellowtail.

[@Winefolly]

It’s true there is quite a diversity and MD is not a good representation of the whole country! That being said, It’s quite alright if someone likes that style. But yeah, we’ll have to explore more - Margaret River comes to mind!

[@tristramshandy9326]

Margaret River is really cabernet/chardonnay country. The majority of shiraz still comes from South Australia. The Barossa Valley still rules, but there are sub-regions like Eden Valley (higher, cooler) or Grennock that are worth exploring. Not all Barossa shirazs are big wines, but that style does still tend to dominate. Victoria is probably the second best region with lots of small pockets of vineyards (Pyrenees, Yarra Valley, etc.). McLaren Vale is becoming more famous for its grenache these days.@@Winefolly

[@numanuma20]

Please do a Chianti vs California Sangiovese.

[@brianglas7768]

My favorite Syrahs have been from the Walla Walla valley in Oregon. The rocks district around Milton Freewater has been making some killer syrah.

[@Wu.Tang.Financial]

Washington Syrah is a vibe, some of my faves. Ex Umbris is such a solid wine for the price too. Top of the west represent!

[@markspc1]

These two wines are identical color; of course one can attain different colors by adjusting lighting and or camera exposure like shutter speed and f stop, etc.

[@jeffreymiller9808]

Love your videos and good sense of humor. Love both styles, have some Henschke and Grammercy Cellars bottles which need more time, looking forward to a HTH Showdown!!

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

nice comparison enjoyed the review.

[@BuzzMediaUS]

Do you know if Tom Leykis is ever doing his Tasting Room podcast again?

[@JeanPierre70ju]

I am curious how it can reach 17% alc, doesn't yeast die at point of 16% or 15.5% range and stop fermentation?

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Use a specialised yeast that's tolerant of high alcohol.

[@Twotonsandwich]

What are the glasses that you use in this video?

[@maintheme6963]

I buy and is about to delivered here.

[@Buddhist_Gnome]

Your shirt is awesome

[@gc1053]

great stuff as always. Love your podcasts too.

[@leobalan7387]

An Iranian friend told me that Shiraz wine originated in Iran in the city with the same name. I checked in Wikipedia an apparently is true...

[@Winefolly]

This is one popular theory, that's for sure! Apparently however, the clonal diversity suggests a different origin. I really love the idea of naming it after a wine origin place, which Iran is!

[@wheelman1324]

All I know about Australian wine is the Monty Python short.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Yeah, that's a sketch that hasn't aged well.

[@Zanagash]

I work at Owen Roe, just curious, which year is it ?

[@Winefolly]

Gashanovic D 2017 - we like your wines

[@afterlife697]

Please review the federalist

[@Winefolly]

I don't review wines, I taste them.

[@afterlife697]

@winefolly. Fair enough. As a connoisseur of fine cigars myself. I can most certainly appreciate the difference. I believe it was Salvador Dali who said “ The connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes of its secrets” So would you be so kind as to taste of the secrets of the federalist (preferably the Cabernet Sauvignon) And give me your opinion?

[@scotchgod8478]

Syrah is hands down my favorite grape variety, even more than Cab. I was lucky enough to have had the ultimate comparisn : Penfold's Grange vs La Turque Cote Rotie by E.Guigal, simply to die for! 🍷😍

[@Winefolly]

Sounds EPIC!!!!

[@knock-kneed-man5409]

You should put the wine names in the description.

[@Winefolly]

Knock-Kneed-Man check the link in the comments. All info in there!

[@happyburial]

Nice video! But damn, I really don't get those aussie shiraz/syrahs. For me the ideal Syrah is below 13% and has little to no oak, like a nice St. Joseph or something.

[@Winefolly]

happyburial nothing wrong with that

[@marcusduff2124]

What would you say is the best Syrah/Shiraz is the 20-30 dollar range?

[@Winefolly]

Marcus Duff lots to choose. One from Washington that puts out is Two Vintners

[@marcusduff2124]

@@Winefolly Thanks. I'm just a huge fan of anything Orin Swift or good Malbecs. Constantly trying different things but almost always just end up picking up one of those. Can't seem to find anything to match them.

[@Winefolly]

@@marcusduff2124 Oh. If you like that bolder style. Definitely check out Mollydooker "The Boxer" it will blow your head off!