2021 GREAT WINES OF THE WORLD MASTERCLASSES

SYRAH MASTERCLASS – DISCOVER SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SYRAHS

Masterclass Tasting with JamesSuckling.com

Sep 13, 2021 (Monday); 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

@ James Suckling Wine Central

(10 wines to taste) / HK$388 per person

Join this special wine tasting masterclass and roundtable conversation hosted and presented by the global JamesSuckling.com tasting team.

Syrah or shiraz? Whether fresh and peppery or rich and opulent, this exciting grape leaves no wine connoisseur indifferent. Well known in the Rhone Valley and part of many blends in the south of France producing complex reds and vinous rosés, it has its counterparts with exceptional shiraz and syrah produced all over the world. This masterclass will focus on wines from the southern hemisphere through the iconic Torbreck in Australia, Argentina’s El Enemigo from the slopes of the Andes, and top Chilean syrahs from producers Villard, Polkura and Montes.

Featured Producers

Torbreck (Australia, South Australia)

Situated on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley, Torbreck was started in 1994 and named after the forest of the same name in the Highlands of Scotland. The vines are old, some as old as 165 years, and the result is wines of phenomenal power and texture. We applaud Torbreck’s recent shift from the high-octane style of Barossa reds to a style with more finesse and complexity. The wines get better every vintage.

El Enemigo (Argentina, Mendoza)

El Enemigo literally means “the enemy” in Spanish, and is a nod to the battles we fight against ourselves to achieve what we really want. Although El Enemigo is a relatively young Argentine estate, established in 2008, its founders are anything but inexperienced. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil is a soil expert and has been chief winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata for 17 years, while Adrianna Catena, a historian and Nicolas Catena’s youngest daughter, dreams of expanding her family’s legacy through this Mendoza outpost.

Montes (Argentina, Mendoza)

Founded by Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand in 1988, Montes set the benchmark for premium South American wine production. Today, most of the Montes’ best wines are produced in Colchagua Valley, one of South America’s most prestigious wine regions. It was Montes who first planted the relatively unknown syrah grape varietal in Colchagua, and many Chileans thought it was a mad idea. Now, Montes produces arguably the best pure syrah in Chile.

Polkura (Chile, Marchigue)

Just 30 kilometers from the ocean, Polkura is the winery of Sven Bruchfeld, who, after working for several years as technical director of some of Chile’s largest operations, decided to strike out on his own. With syrah in mind, Sven searched the length of Chile for the right piece of land for the variety. He decided on this hill in Colchagua with numerous expositions hosting granitic soils intermixed with clay, just as in the legendary appellations of the northern Rhone. He’s a member of MOVI, the Movement of Independent Vintners, and one of the most outspoken supporters of small winemakers in Chile.

Villard (Chile, Casablanca Valley)

Villard was established in 1989 by Thierry Villard and over the last three decades has become recognized as one of the most notable producers from Chile’s Casablanca Valley. A small operation by Chilean standards with 23 hectares of vineyards, the cold Humboldt Current that runs off the coast creates cool morning fog and low temperatures that are translated in the wines as bright acidity and fresh fruit. Now run by Thierry’s son Jean-Charles Villard, the last decade has seen innovating winemaking techniques create premium wines of structure and elegance.

List of Wines

• El Enemigo Syrah Viognier Mendoza 2018, 93 points
• El Enemigo Syrah Viognier Mendoza 2017, 95 points
• Montes Syrah Valle de Colchagua Alpha 2017, 94 points
• Montes Syrah Valle de Colchagua Alpha 2018, 93 points
• Polkura Syrah Marchigue Valle de Colchagua Secano (Dry Farmed) 2016, 96 points
• Polkura Syrah Valle de Colchagua Marchigue Secano (Dry Farmed) 2018, 96 points
• Torbreck Shiraz Viognier Barossa RunRig 2016, 97 points
• Torbreck Shiraz Viognier Barossa RunRig 2018, 98 points
• Villard Syrah Valle de Casablanca Tanagra 2018, 95 points
• Villard Syrah Valle de Casablanca Tanagra 2017, 96 points

This masterclass tasting at James Suckling Wine Central is part of the 2021 Great Wines of the World Tasting Month “Autumn Edition” – a series of curated tasting events featuring close to 100 of the world’s greatest producers and their top-scoring wines. Check out the full line-up of all masterclass tastings and other programs during the tasting month at: www.jamessuckling.com/event/great-wines-world-2021-masterclasses

Book your ticket now to reserve your seat!

For question or enquiries, contact us at eventsAsia@jamessuckling.com or via phone at 2539 7999.