Delicious Shiraz

The success and recognition of Australian Shiraz started long ago with a Shiraz from Victoria competing in the 1878 Paris Exhibition being likened to Château Margaux and "its taste completed its trinity of perfection." And the vintage of 1971 won first prize in Syrah/Shiraz at the Wine Olympics in Paris. Shiraz or Syrah?  It's actually the same grape. In France it is known and grown as Syrah, and responsible for some of the Northern Rhone's big, bold red wines. Down Under in Australia and South Africa it goes by name "Shiraz. We sample 8 wines from the 2001 to 2008 vintages from some very notable wineries from across the great continent known as OZ.