One of the great things about wine is that there is always something new. On the other side, that is also one of the downsides.
Shortly after tasting the 2008 Veranda Syrah a few weeks ago, I went to look for more, only to find that the vintage had changed. And I'll be honest; I don't spend my hours studying vintage charts to know how the 2009 may compare to the 2008. Outside of a few areas (such as Burgundy or Bordeaux), or extreme years (such as 2002 in the Rhone Valley), I think that other factors about a specific wine can have enough of an effect to outweigh a generalization of vintages. So while I was disappointed to not get more of the 2008, I figured that it's a good excuse to try the new vintage.
Well, I have to admit, I was disappointed. Part of this is certainly due to the fact that the 2008 was outstanding. And it's not a bad wine. Lot's of raspberry and currant on both the nose and palate, with just a trace of vanilla. There is a slight bit of spice, but it's not as well integrated as with the 08. But the biggest difference is that this new vintage is quite a bit lighter, and as a result, doesn't quite stand up to the 14.5% alcohol level. On top of that, the balance seems slightly off (compared to the 08), being a little more acidic.
The acidity is not a bad thing when pairing with food. It didn't quite work with the chicken kebabs I grilled up tonight, but I don't see that as a flaw of the wine, rather a poor choice of pairing (to be frank, I had my doubts, but couldn't come up with anything better). With a steak, I think the pairing would have been much better.
And I think that the balance will probably improve with time. After all, this bottle has been on the shelf just long enough to not have to worry about bottle shock (a note here; don't try a new vintage the day it shows up; often, a couple of weeks will make a big difference). But while the acidity may come into line, there is no hope for the lighter body.
Overall, a good, but not great, wine, especially if served with food or allowed to breath for several hours. But where the '08 was a great value, the '09 is not on par with other syrah/shiraz of the $18-$20 price range.
If you prefer the lighter/more acidic style of this grape (such as Croze Hermitage), you'll probably enjoy this and should consider trying it. But otherwise, and especially if your taste runs to the big Barossa Shiraz, not recommended unless you find it on sale.
