Syrah (or Shiraz)

The growth of Syrah over Shiraz is one of the clearest changes in South African wine in recent years and the used word on the label often gives a clue to the wine inside. Wines labelled Shiraz – like that from Koelfontein – are bolder, brasher and richer. Those with Syrah on the front tend to be from cooler climates with an emphasis more on floral, spicy fruit and elegant tannins. Eight Gate's wine from the Polkadraai Hills is a great example of the latter.