How to Fully Appreciate a Good Shiraz or Syrah

The appreciation of a good wine is a multi-sensory experience. Wine appreciation involves the eyes, nose, and taste buds to get the full experience. It is important to allow a red wine to breathe properly before you pour it out to taste it. Open the bottle ten or fifteen minutes before you pour the wine to give it a chance to react with the air. If a wine is poured too soon it will taste sharp and unpleasant.

The Difference Between Shiraz and Syrah

The grapes that produce shiraz and syrah wines is exactly the same. The basic wine that is made from shiraz/syrah grapes is very similar as well. Both are deep red wines that are not sweet or overpowering. The main difference is that a syrah is wine that is made by old world wine producers, or wineries that use the old world style. Syrah can come from Italy, France, or California. It has a subtler flavor and is more refined. Shiraz is generally produced in Australia or New Zealand, and has a bolder flavor. Shiraz is considered more of a new world phenomenon rather than a traditional wine.

Judging the Color and Legs of a Good Wine

Once the wine has breathed in the bottle, pour a couple of ounces into a round-bottomed wine glass. Look closely at the color of the wine, and how it changes from the edge of the glass to the center of the wine. When you swirl the wine in the glass, watch to see if lines form on the sides of the glass as the wine flows back toward center. A nice quality wine will create something called “legs,” which are distinct lines that cling to the side of the glass.

Swirling and Sniffing

The strongest indication of a good wine is revealed through smelling the wine before you drink it. Sense of smell is a powerful tool that can give you a wealth of information. Swirl the wine in the bottom of the glass for about 10 seconds to mix it completely with the air in the glass. When you finish swirling, breathe the aroma from the top of the wine glass quickly. Put your nose directly into the wine glass and breathe deeply. With a good syrah or shiraz, you should be able to detect hints of oak blended with spiced fruits.

Tasting the Wine

Drinking the wine to taste it is different than drinking it normally. Take a small sip, just enough to comfortably hold in your mouth. Your first sensation should be a balanced flavor that is a bolder form of the aroma you sniffed from the glass. As your palate becomes used to the wine, you will begin to notice distinct flavors. With a syrah or shiraz, you will find a darker oak flavor blended with lighter fruits. The finish is the lasting impression that the wine leaves after you swallow. The mark of an excellent syrah or shiraz is that there is a very clean finish, which means that there is very little flavor left in your mouth once the wine is gone.

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Article Source : How to Fully Appreciate a Good Shiraz or Syrah : ArticleBase

John Parks -
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