Shiraz World Tasting

The 6^th edition of the Syrah du Monde^® international wine competition, organised by Forum Œnologie, has just come to an end. Over the course of three days, international experts tasted 445 Syrah/Shiraz wines from all over the world. Diversity and quality are the watchwords for the 2012 winners, which comes as no surprise for a grape variety currently enjoying rapid growth. Strict quality standards and optimal tasting conditions enabled the international judges to award 149 medals (30 gold, 119 Silver) that are recognised as a reliable criterion for selection.

From the 2^nd and 4^th of May 2012, in Ampuis Castle in Ampuis, France, an international wine competition - Syrah du Monde^® - recognised the world’s best Syrah/Shiraz wines, awarding reliable and representative medals. This competition is founded on a single conviction that distinctive marks of quality are the key to differentiation and to the promotion of medal-winning wines in a highly competitive and often complex marketplace. Medal-winning wineries can use their medals to develop the recognized quality of their wines.

Syrah du Monde^® 2012 brought together 445 wines from 24 countries, making this competition one of the world’s top events for Syrah/Shiraz wines. This marvellous success illustrates the impressive growth that this Rhone varietal has enjoyed since the 1970s.

Syrah du Monde^® has carved out a place of its own amongst wine competitions, thanks to its international flavour and its rigorous methods. During the three days of tasting under optimal conditions, the international expert judges awarded 149 medals in accordance with international wine competition regulations and in strict compliance with Quality Assurance requirements.

Syrah du Monde^® has progressively distinguished itself from other international competitions thanks to quality standards that are much stricter than the norm and by remaining faithful to its founding principles: diversity, quality and high standards.

At the top of the best Syrah du Monde^® 2012

From the award list, we are pleased to announce the ten Syrah wines with the best notations. The Top Ten ranking has a strong international diversity. Five countries appear among the world’s ten best Syrah/ Shiraz wines 2012. South Africa, Australia and France occupy the first three places with Chili and Portugal.

Participation rate: For this sixth edition in 2012, participation is growing (more than 16% of samples) and has reached an exceptional level, showing that there is real interest in international, quality-based competitions: 24 countries and 445 wines.

Geographical diversity: With representation from 24 countries and 445 wines, Syrah du Monde^® offers a variety of Syrah/Shiraz wines rarely equalled in competitions of this level. This makes it one of the most significant and legitimate qualitative competitions in recognising the world’s best Syrah/Shiraz wines.

A strong increase in the participation of wines from Australia, South africa, Argentina, Chile, Italy, Switzerland.
From France, the good participation of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and the northerm Rhone Valley is noted.

Medal-Winning Countries

Five countries are included in the 2012 Top Ten: South Africa, Australia, France, Chile and Portugal. Six French wines are among the Top Ten best Syrah wines. One new country made an appearance on the award List, Portugal.

Diversity of Sensorial Expression

Each of the wines that distinguished themselves at Syrah du Monde^® did so because of their own distinctive quality, not in comparison to other wines. A favourable score was given to wines with good Syrah varietal character, and a well-balanced oak was considered to be a plus. However, oakiness was marked down if it masked varietal aromas and flavours.

Several gold and silver medals were awarded to wines with well-balanced alcohol levels and with aroma intensity and depth including a wide range from exotic to traditional. In the mouth, harmonious tannins and fine expressions of aging were favourably evaluated.

Several marks of quality were awarded to younger wines and to rosé wines whose aromatic complexity and soft tannins won over the judges.

Sparkling wines and late-harvest or ice wines also received favourable mention.

This event was a unique opportunity to bring together and discover Syrah/Shiraz wine in all its forms: red, rosé, still, sparkling, dry or sweet.