Back Label Decrypted of two Syrah Wine Styles

Isabelle Author

These wine-tasting notes compare two Syrah wine styles from the Rhône Valley and Australia. Smell, taste, and learn to become a discerning taster.

Back Labels—Decrypted is a free monthly online wine-tasting event led by wine-tasting coach Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve. Here's a summary of the participant's experience at the latest session.

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Contrasting the flavor nuances of two classic Syrah wine styles

Tasting wine in a comparative tasting set-up is quite effective. It helps the tasters identify more nuances differentiating two wine styles.

In this session, we compared:

• A classic French style, a 2021 Crozes-Hermitage
• An Australian style, a 2021 McLaren Vale Shiraz

The sensory tasting method

In a comparative wine tasting, we assess two wines side-by-side to detect subtle nuances:

1. We focus on the aromas, all the perceptions perceived by smelling the wine, and 
2. Then, we put our attention on the perceptions while sipping or after swallowing the wines.

This well-established sensory approach helps sharpen participants’ senses and improve their ability to identify and describe wine aromas and flavors.

We use the Wine Aroma Wheel to categorize the aromatics into generic families (fruity, woody) and then try to become more specific, guided by the suggested subcategories on the wheel.

Therefore, a comparative tasting is not so much about the wines and their story (of course it’s part of it).

As a sensory scientist and tasting coach, I’m leading this type of tasting to free the tasters from any a priori expectations so that they can experience the wine flavors through their senses and their interpretation of them.


Participants are the heroes of this session.
My focus is on helping them become more discerning tasters for their pleasure or their career.

The session replay is available here, on our YouTube Channel.

Let’s discover the participants' tasting notes and how they align or diverge from the reviews and back labels describing these same wines.

Wine Tasting Notes for the French Syrah Wine Style

The label and review descriptions: What we expected to taste

2021 Nobles Rives Cave De Tain Crozes Hermitage - $24.99

Participant's tasting notes

They agreed with the back label description on some aromatics but experienced a drier and somewhat acidic.

Overall, the participants aligned with each other's experiences on the fruity and woody aromatics, mouthfeel, and acidity.

Here are more details.

• Muted aromatics on the nose.
• Fruity aromas: from fresh berries (strawberry-raspberry) to darker berries, black cherry, and dried plum.
• Woody aromas: toasted oak, chocolate
• Spicy: pepper, dried herbs
• Dry mouthfeel, and high acid for some participants.

Wine Tasting Notes for the Aussie Syrah Wine Style

The label and review descriptions: What we expected to taste

2021 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer, 2021 - $29.99

Participant's tasting notes

They agreed with the back label reviews on the dark fruit aromatics. However, we missed the savory olive and tea accents.

Overall, the participants aligned with each other's experiences on the fruity dominance, the spicy and woody aromatics, and the lingering alcohol perception.

Here are more details:

• Very intense on the nose, fruit-forward.
• Fruity aromas: Dark cherry, almost kirsh-like, candied berries, blue berries, plum.
• Woody aromas: Cedar, tobacco
• Spicy: pepper, licorice
• Some bitterness may be due to the high alcoholic burning and lingering perception.

In summary

The comparative tasting of two Syrah wine styles embraced the subjective nature of wine tasting. Participants agreed on the major flavor differences between the two wines.

Some people were more discerning than others, and that’s fine. The goal is to learn as much about ourselves and from others.

By honing our sensory skills and embracing diverse perspectives, we can deepen our appreciation for these complex beverages. 

Whether you detected notes of dark fruit, spices, or something entirely unique, each experience is valid and enriching.

Ready to refine your wine-tasting skills further?

1. Subscribe to this blog and be informed when the next live tasting session is. 
2. Join the Path to Wine Tasting Mastery to become a discerning and confident wine taster in 8 weeks or less. Click here to learn more about this customized program.

Published July 28, 2024

Bonus videos

Explore Syrah and Shiraz wines' complex and intriguing aromas. Learn about their qualities, origins, and get some tips to practice their identification in wine.

Other Articles of Interest

• What does Make Peppery Wines, "Peppery"?
• Enhancing Your Wine Tasting Journey: The Power of Comparative Tasting
• Subscribe to InnoVinum Academy YouTube Channel

Categories: : Tasting education, wine aroma

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