The SYRAH grape varietal, for some connoisseurs, supposedly has its origin in France, in the Rhone Valley, based on a realistic view, supported by DNA studies. Contrasting this theory, others will have a more romantic view, arguing that this grape varietal owes its name to the city of Shiraz in ancient Persia, now Iran. And being the only one cultivated already in the time of Jesus Christ, would be the one that would give the wine used in the Christian religious celebrations of the time.

This grape varietal first appeared in Portugal in the Tagus region, but it was later in the Alentejo that it was able to gather all the conditions to give rise to great wines, with spicy aromas, like the black pepper, and with great richness in tannins, allowing full wines and with great capacity of guard.

At the moment it has become a grape of cult, reason why is spread by all the regions of the country.
It is a grape varietal very appreciated by many, and we, wine4people, are no exception.
In this way, we have sought to gather what we believe will be the best SYRAH in Portugal, to evaluate them, and to determine the winners.

There have been 12 SYRAH tasted, and some producers may think that we are missing a few … In the future they may have their opportunity …

Notes:

1. We are of the opinion that we should not taste a great quantity of wines in a short time. We do not believe in those testers who find themselves in a room of a house, and who taste more than a hundred wines in a day … Our idea is another: to prove together, and eventually with other good companies, a limited series of wines, during Good times, always accompanied by good food and good snacks.
2. We consider the magic blind trial. Not being conditioned by labels, our brain is free to process all the information that comes to it, more freely and independently. Apart from the pleasure it gives us, in the end, when the bottles are uncovered, there are always great surprises to register.

Let us now proceed to the description, in descending order of wines classification:

1st – CEM REIS 2012 – The Winner! Best SYRAH in Portugal!!!

. Region: Alentejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Herdade da Maroteira
. Alcohol content: 15%.
. Price: 20€

Deep color. A fine and intense aroma of spices, with notes of cocoa and chocolate. In the mouth is vibrant, still young, large structure but elegant, spicy and with persistent finish. A wine that warms the soul.

2nd – MIL REIS 2013

. Region: Alentejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Herdade da Maroteira
. Alcohol content: 15,5%
. Price: 55€

Deep color. Fine aroma, red fruit, some vanilla. In the mouth it is full-bodied, elegant, high-quality and well integrated, with a good finish and a little menthol.

3rd – HERDADE DO ESPORÃO SYRAH 2013

. Region: Alentejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Herdade do Esporão
. Alcohol content: 14,5%
. Price: 32€

Aroma the black, spicy fruit. In the mouth, full bodied, elegant, very well integrated barrel. Good end of mouth, with balance.

4th– CRASTO SUPERIOR SYRAH 2014

. Region: Douro
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Quinta do Crasto
. Alcohol content: 14.5% vol.
. Price: 24€

Intense aroma spicy and fruity. In the mouth, medium bodied, but tasty and elegant, some vanilla, perhaps too much, and a bit short end.

5th – ERMELINDA FREITAS SYRAH 2016 – Melhor relação qualidade/preço

. Region: Setúbal
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Casa Ermelinda Freitas
. Alcohol content: 14,5%
. Price: 9.9€

Aroma to spices and vanilla. In the mouth, good body, tasty, some excess wood, still young, with a bit tannin finish. This was the youngest wine of all, so it will certainly improve over time by bottle. Best value for money.

6th – QUINTA DE BAIXO SYRAH 2012

. Region: Bairrada
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Niepoort
. Alcohol content: 13%
. Price: 25€

Aroma the ripe red fruit, good body, tasty but with end with medium persistence and a little astringent.

7th – SYRAH 24 2012

. Region: Tejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Quinta do Monte de Oiro
. Alcohol content: 14%
. Price: 59€

Opaque. Fine and intense aroma, fruity, notes of smoke. Structured and elegant in the mouth but with some excess of wood. without very persistence.

8º – QUINTO ELEMENTO SYRAH 2013

. Region: Tejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Quinta de Arrobe
. Alcohol content: 14%
. Price: 11€

Intense apicy aroma. Medium body, too much concentrated fruit with medium persistence.

9th – HOMENAGEM HANS C. ANDERSEN 2012

. Region: Alentejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Herdade Cortes de Cima
. Alcohol content: 14%
. Price: 30€

Initially, a little closed aroma, then revealing some notes of spices. In the mouth light, pleasant, still very young and with a little short end. It will improve over time in the bottle.

10th – BACALHOA SYRAH 2015

. Region: Setúbal
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Quinta da Bacalhoa
. Alcohol content: 14%
. Price: 9.9€

Aroma with a few notes of spices, but a little herbaceous, vegetable. In the mouth, structured, but still very young, finishing a little tannin. The time in the bottle will surely improve this wine. To keep in mind in the future.

11th – INCÓGNITO 2012

. Region: Alentejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Herdade Cortes de Cima
. Alcohol content: 14%
. Price: 69€

The disappointment of the day. Much better in aroma, fruity and spicy. In the mouth: full bodied, but still green, not very tasty and with a little acidic finish. Hopefully in the future, with time in the bottle, live up to its name.

12th – CASAL DAS FREIRAS SYRAH 2015

. Region: Tejo
. Type: Red Wine
. Producer: Casal das Freiras
. Alcohol content: 13.5%
. Price: 12€

The least consensual of all. A slightly animaly aroma, which is also noticed on the palate, appreciated by some, but not by most. In the mouth, some body, balanced and gastronomic.

FINAL NOTES

1. Another good afternoon, in good company, good food and good wines!
2. The Alentejo region without surprises, won, with the first 3 to be from this region. This grape varietal loves it here.
3. The great winner, for wine4people, CEM REIS 2012 was elected the BEST OF THE COUNTRY.
4. The two best Syrah of the country are from the same producer, THE HEEDADE DA MAROTEIRA.
5. The great disappointment of the day was the INCOGNITO 2012, not ready to drink yet. It can improve a lot in the bottle (which we doubt), but currently it isn’t a great pleasure to drink.
6. ERMELINDA FREITAS 2016 was elected the best quality / price ratio.

Wine4people, February 24th, 2018