Sidewood Syrah Shiraz 2022 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 95/100

Sidewood Shiraz from the Adelaide Hills, South Australia is a medium-bodied red from individual vineyard parcels at the Echunga specialist Shiraz site, each left for extended skin maceration and wild-yeast fermented in French barrels before 15 months of maturation, a process that demands patience and rewards it generously. On the nose it's fragrant and expressive, with crushed black pepper, cinnamon, and violet that signals exactly what kind of cool-climate Shiraz you're dealing with. The palate is focused and silky, with dark plum, espresso, and a long, mineral-driven finish with fine, supple tannins. Winemaker Darryl Catlin, who began his career pruning vines in the Barossa as a kid and rose to Chief Winemaker at Shaw & Smith before joining Sidewood, was named IWC Red Winemaker of the Year in 2019, and in 2015 Decanter Magazine named Sidewood's Mappinga Shiraz the World's Best Shiraz. Cellar it through 2043 and pull the cork with roast pheasant with sauerkraut, where the wine's spice and earthy depth are a natural match for the gaminess of the bird, or try it with grilled marinated game birds where the mineral edge ties the plate together.

Syrah Shiraz food pairings: roast pheasant with sauerkraut, grilled marinated game birds, Hasenpfeffer.

Glorious Game Wine

This Sidewood Syrah Shiraz 2022 was reviewed on August 15, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.