Casa Silva Doña Dominga Single Vineyard Syrah 2010, Colchagua Valley, Chile (£7.49 Waitrose)
No shortage of plump, plummy sweet berry flesh, but it’s let down by rather obvious wafer-biscuity oak, and while they’ve tried to use reduction (excluding air from winemaking process) to keep some freshness, it hasn’t worked, and has left a slightly rubbery note. Does improve with time, open, but needs fresher fruit. B-

Jean Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône ‘Les Forots’ Syrah 2009, France (£12.49 Booze Bargains, DK Vintners, Le Parc Delicatessen, Wimbledon Wine Cellars, Laytons, Partridges, Rhythm & Booze)
This is more like it. No shortage of plummy fruit, but there’s also earthy freshness, plus a spicy orange peel note to keep it perky. Good, open friendly style with some class. S

Alain Graillot Tandem Syrah 2009, Morocco (£11.50 The Wine Society)
Gentle, earthy style, combining Rhône spice & freshness with a warm terracotta-roof-tile-style dustiness that is almost Spanish. Big-hearted style, but never OTT. S-

Domaine de la Borie Blanche Minervois La Livinière 2007, Languedoc, France (£9.99 Majestic)
Quite glossy and fleshy but has lost the brashness of youth and is now displaying confident intense fruit dark, classic garrigue herby notes – sage, thyme, mint – and a note of brown sugar. Pretty darn tasty, and very stew friendly. S

Grant Burge ‘The Holy Trinity’ 2008, Barossa, Australia (£21.99 Amps Fine Wine, Conwy Fine Wines, Connollys, Dickens House Wine Emporium, Hailsham Cellars)
In two minds about this. Rich, rounded plum and berry fruit, with a slightly baked/jammy dodger edge, also notes of tar and liquorice, and no lack of minty eucalypt character. Can’t fault its intensity, but is it just too big? I find it just a little simple and lacking freshness. S(-)