Rude Wines, £12.99
If a wine from the southern hemisphere or North America is labelled Syrah, not Shiraz, you can be pretty sure the winemaker has looked to the Rhône rather than to Australia for inspiration. And so it is with David Finlayson’s Cape Syrah. It’s fuller, richer and has more vanilla oak flavour than a Syrah from the northern Rhône, but the white pepper and savoury, smoky, meaty flavours are very Rhône, as is the freshness that lifts the finish. While it’s delicious now, it will, like its French counterpart, improve with age: you could safely tuck it away in the cellar for six or seven years. Meanwhile it's perfect with wintery casseroles, stews and baked dishes, as well as with roasts, game or hard cheese.
Finlayson Family Wines Edgebaston Syrah 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa
£12.99, Rude Wines