Expert Reviews
Trusted opinions from the world's most respected wine critics
About Our Sources
All reviews and scores featured on this site come from established, internationally recognised wine publications and critics. We do not create our own reviews — we curate information from trusted sources to help you discover exceptional Shiraz and Syrah wines.
James Halliday AM
Australia's most influential wine critic. His Wine Companion has been the definitive guide to Australian wine since 1986. Uses a 100-point scale where 94+ indicates outstanding wines.
Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
The American critic who revolutionised wine criticism with his 100-point scale. While Parker has retired, the Wine Advocate continues with reviewers like Joe Czerwinski (Rhône) and Erin Brooks (Australia).
Jancis Robinson MW
British Master of Wine and author of The Oxford Companion to Wine. Uses a 20-point scale on JancisRobinson.com. Her website is one of the most respected wine resources globally.
Wine Spectator
American publication using a 100-point scale. Known for comprehensive coverage of wines worldwide, with regular Shiraz/Syrah reviews from California, Australia, and France.
Decanter
UK-based magazine with global coverage. Known for blind-tasting panels and the annual Decanter World Wine Awards. Uses 100-point scale.
Tim Atkin MW
British Master of Wine known for his annual regional reports on Australia, South Africa, Argentina, and other regions. Rigorous independent assessments.
Iconic Shiraz & Syrah Wines
The following wines have received consistent critical acclaim across multiple publications and vintages. Information is sourced from published reviews and producer records.
Penfolds Grange
Multi-Regional, South AustraliaBackground: Created by Max Schubert in 1951, Grange (originally "Grange Hermitage") is Australia's most celebrated wine. According to The Oxford Companion to Wine, it was initially dismissed by Penfolds management, who ordered Schubert to cease production. He secretly continued, and the wine went on to achieve global recognition.
Style: Predominantly Shiraz (sometimes with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon), aged in new American oak. Multi-vineyard sourcing from South Australia's finest sites.
James Halliday has consistently awarded Grange scores of 97-99 points across multiple vintages, describing it as "Australia's greatest wine, and one of the world's most collectible."
Wine Spectator has awarded multiple 95+ point scores, with the 2018 vintage receiving 97 points: "Intense and focused, with layers of cassis, blackberry, espresso and cedar spice."
Henschke Hill of Grace
Eden Valley, South AustraliaBackground: From a single vineyard planted in the 1860s, Hill of Grace is named after the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church adjacent to the vineyard. The Henschke family has farmed this land since 1862.
Style: 100% Shiraz from pre-phylloxera vines. As documented by James Halliday, Hill of Grace represents "pure site expression" with its distinctive minerality and elegance.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has awarded 99 points to multiple vintages, with the 2018 described as "possibly the greatest Hill of Grace ever made."
Torbreck RunRig
Barossa Valley, South AustraliaBackground: Named after the Scottish runrig farming system, RunRig is Torbreck's flagship wine. Founded by David Powell (who later departed), Torbreck sources from old-vine vineyards throughout the Barossa.
Style: Predominantly Shiraz with a small amount of Viognier (Rhône-inspired), from vines averaging 80+ years of age.
Wine Advocate has awarded multiple 95+ point scores. Robert Parker called it "one of the greatest wines being made on planet Earth."
E. Guigal La Mouline
Côte-Rôtie, FranceBackground: One of the legendary "La La" wines from Guigal. La Mouline comes from the Côte Blonde and includes 10-11% Viognier. First produced in 1966, it is aged for 42 months in new oak.
Style: The most perfumed and elegant of the three "La La" wines, known for its exotic aromatics and silky texture.
Robert Parker awarded 100 points to multiple vintages, including 1999, 1997, 1991, 1988, 1985, 1983, 1978. He called it "the single greatest expression of Syrah mixed with Viognier."
Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
Hermitage, FranceBackground: The Chave family has been making wine in Hermitage since 1481 — over 500 years of continuous family ownership. Jean-Louis Chave now leads the domaine, continuing his father Gérard's legacy.
Style: A blend from multiple parcels across the Hermitage hill, fermented and aged traditionally. Known for extraordinary longevity.
Jancis Robinson MW (18.5-19/20 for top vintages): "The benchmark for Hermitage, Chave produces wines of incomparable complexity and ageability."
Robert Parker has awarded numerous 100-point scores, including 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, and 1990 vintages.
Auguste Clape Cornas
Cornas, FranceBackground: Auguste Clape (1925-2018) was the legendary guardian of Cornas, maintaining quality through difficult decades. The estate is now run by his grandson Olivier.
Style: 100% Syrah, traditionally made with whole-bunch fermentation and extended aging. Known as the definitive expression of Cornas.
Wine Advocate: Consistently 94-98 points across vintages. Joe Czerwinski described the 2019 as "the quintessence of Cornas."
Sadie Family Columella
Swartland, South AfricaBackground: Eben Sadie is credited with leading the Swartland Revolution. Columella, first made in 2000, was named after the Roman agricultural writer Lucius Columella.
Style: Syrah-Mourvèdre blend from old bushvines, whole-bunch fermented. Sadie pioneered site-specific, low-intervention winemaking in South Africa.
Tim Atkin MW (97-99 points across vintages): "South Africa's greatest red wine, and one of the finest Syrah-based wines made anywhere in the world."
Clarendon Hills Astralis
McLaren Vale, South AustraliaBackground: Made by Roman Bratasiuk from a single old-vine vineyard. Astralis has achieved cult status since its first vintage in 1994.
Style: 100% Shiraz, deeply extracted and full-bodied. One of Australia's most powerful wine expressions.
Robert Parker awarded 99 points to the 2006 vintage and 98+ to numerous others, describing it as "one of the world's greatest expressions of Shiraz."
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