Q. Is there a great Italian cab-shiraz?

[Nigel Bruce]

OK - I re-phrase - is there a single cab-syrah made in Italy?
I was taken with a recent thread citing the Max Schubert rationale that, in certain non-traditional climates, i.e. outside Bordeaux and northern Rhone, these grapes offered each other an extra dimension - e.g. shiraz filling the hole in the cabernet palate-profile "doughnut".
I know there are plenty of cabs and a few syrahs made in central Italy- but is there anyone putting them together in an even blend?
I ask because I'd like to throw a few wines together from different regions for a comparative tasting - the more variety the merrier. So far I have Trevallon, Anwilka, Godolphin...
I read that Godolphin won the best Cab-Shiraz prize on the Great Australian Red website. I wonder - as a separate execise - if people here could suggest more great examples of Australian cab-shiraz blends.

[707]

Kaesler WOMS (Weapon of Mass Seduction) is excellent, in the same league as the Godolphin.

Whilst only a shadow of it's former glory, Penfolds Bin 389 is still good in the very best years like 98, 02 & 04.

One of the best Cab Shiraz blends ever made is the 1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet, good bottles are great.

Sounds an interesting tasting you're planning, I presume we'll get the TNs?

[Nigel Bruce]

Steve,
Thanks for that quick reply. This won't happen till October, as I've got to bring some of these out to HK from the UK.
But yes, I intend to post the results - only fair given the great advice one gets on this site.
Nigel

[marsalla]

Nigel,
we made a pretty good cab shiraz in Sicily,Accademia del sole, doubt if it is over here.

Rather than look central italy, try sicily.

Cheers

[GRB]

Yalumba Signature is generally pretty good the 02 is a standout from recent vintages.

Glen

[KMP]

Not sure about being a great Syrah/Cab blend but there is Tenuta I Muracci Fortediga Maremma from Tuscany, a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Good value.

Mike

[pstarr]

I suspect you may have more luck looking in Spain than in Italy. The 2006 Penin Guide would be a good, quick way of seeing what's available and how Penin rates it.

As a very rough guide, the Montsant DO and Priorat (which is kind of within Montsant) have a fair bit of syrah and cabernet in, and use them in blends together. The 2003 Clos Mogador (Priorat) got a good review at Shaggy's tintoyblanco site and is a grenache, cab sav, shiraz and carinena (carignan) blend.

There are lots of Spanish DOs and regions with shiraz and cabernet in. There's quite a bit in Toro, but I'd also suggest having a look at the Somontano DO (sits in a bit of a bowl at the base of the Pyrenees). The wines are often more affordable than what you'll have to pay for Priorat or Rioja. As well as being distinct for having some distinctive locally-indigenous varietals (such as moristel), they also stand out a bit as a region that went to "international" varietals early and in a big way. Bodegas Pireneos is worth a look, but the DO has its own web portal to all the main bodega.

I'll look forward to the tasting notes.

[Wizz]

Nigel, Tyson Stelzer and Matthew Dukes ran a competition last year called "The Great Australian Red", where they specificalyl looked at Cabernet Shiraz blends, The results were announced in the Taste food and wine book,

http://www.thegreataustralianred.com/

http://www.tastefoodandwine.com.au/

cheers,

Andrew

[jpengelly]

Check out the Rusden Cab Shiraz.

One of the best wines i have tried in a long time.

Really clean and crisp, Perfect!!!!

[jpengelly]

Check out the Rusden Cab Shiraz.

One of the best wines i have tried in a long time.

Really clean and crisp, Perfect!!!!

[Nigel Bruce]

Thanks everyone for the input.
I've got a good Sicilian lead - and many Aussies.
This link suggests we have a nucleus of Australian winemakers responsible for expreimenting with Cab-Shiraz in Sicily:
http://www.wineanorak.com/calatrasi.htm

Nigel

[Nigel Bruce]

Nigel,
we made a pretty good cab shiraz in Sicily,Accademia del sole, doubt if it is over here. Rather than look central italy, try sicily.

Just wonderedf if you were Brian or Lisa. Do Bibendum take your Cab-Shiraz in the UK? I can source it there.
Cheers,
Nigel

[Baby Chickpea]

Argiano's Solenga IGT is a 1/3 blend of Cabernet, merlot and shiraz, often with miniscule dollop of PV or sangiovese depending on vintage (<5%)

[Gianna]

707 said:

One of the best Cab Shiraz blends ever made is the 1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet, good bottles are great.

I had a magnum of the Centenary on NYD and it was superb. A full bodied, smooth and balanced cab/shiraz. Easily one of the best cab/shiraz that I have had over the years. My other bottle earlier this year was also incredible and well liked by all on the day.

FWIW - The 1996 389 is also a stunning example of what can be acheived in the best years.

[marsalla]

Nigel,
we made a pretty good cab shiraz in Sicily,Accademia del sole, doubt if it is over here. Rather than look central italy, try sicily.

Just wonderedf if you were Brian or Lisa. Do Bibendum take your Cab-Shiraz in the UK? I can source it there.
Cheers,
Nigel

No Nigel, worked with brian, but lisa left before I arrived. There was another wine we made, Solese, Cab Franc, Sauv and syrah, very elegant red, worth looking for as well.

This is the vineyard the solese comes from. THey should be available in the UK
http://www.wineanorak.com/blog25.htm

http://www.wineanorak.com/blog24.htm

cheers

[Nigel Bruce]

Dear 'Marsalla',
Seems Bibendum have stopped importing the Calatrasi wines. Anorak offers no clues that I could see.
I've emailed them to see if they have a new route into the UK - or here in Hong Kong.
Nigel