Torbreck Vintners
The History
What a crazy last few weeks it has been! We might have quietly hoped a few months ago that we’d be back by now splashing wine around on a Friday nights… but alas…. Nevertheless, the opportunity to have a crack at the latest vintage of one of the Barossa’s leading wineries was too good to pass up! What better timing than when we’re all cuddled up inside in the peak of winter?
1994
Torbreck was founded in 1994 by David Powell, a man who is now one of the preeminent names in Australian wine. His impact on the Australian wine landscape has been wide-reaching and long-lasting, in no small part due to his work at Torbreck. Not to forget that Torbreck was recognized as one of Robert Parker’s top 100 wine estates in the world in 2005 and regularly gets some of Parker’s top ratings. David Powell may no longer be with Torbreck, yet his legacy lives on through the wines he masterminded. The RunRig is perhaps the most widely-known and best-performing Australian Shiraz Viognier blend. It’s this continual top-notch execution of old-world winemaking techniques, using some of the oldest and highest quality fruit, that give the Rhone Valley itself a run for its money and sees Torbreck as one of the leading Aussie producers, now enjoying international renown.
One-o-one tastings
We are very lucky to have the opportunity to offer private tastings of some treats amongst the Torbreck range in this COVID day and age. Just pop into the store and ask one of our Coravin-slinging team members and we would be delighted to take you through some of Torbreck’s delicious wines.
The Range
Woodcutters RVM*
Do you want a white wine with a little bit more body and weight than usual, but not feeling like Chardonnay?! This Rhone Valley-inspired blend of Roussane, Viognier and Marsanne is full of opulence and intrigue. Expect notes of lychee, poached pear, and lemon curd, with gentle spice and a rich mouthfeel.
Cuvee Juveniles GSM*
For a wine of simple enjoyment, it is hard to go past this blend. A rarity in Australian wine, this red is completely unoaked, which allows the prettiness and brightness of the Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro fruits to shine through. Lifted cherry and raspberry lead the way, before finishing with spice and brooding savouriness.
Woodcutters Shiraz*
The quintessential smooth-drinking Winter red. Silky dark chocolate and black fruit characteristics are the showrunners, with the plummy mid-palate nicely packaged up in vanilla oak notes. It has impressive length and is destined to become your go-to everyday Shiraz.
Harris Grenache
The Harris is a wonderful exercise in restraint and is definitely one for those who like a lighter red. It keeps its weight in check in a delicate and perfumed medium-bodied style. The mid-palate is brimming with red fruits, rounded out by violets, rose petals, and gentle white pepper.
Kyloe Mataro
Straight Mataro is a rarity and is typically only made when the fruit is of the highest quality. That’s the case here, with a fascinating example of the style. A sweet cherry-cola nose leads beautifully into a supple palate of blackberry, olives, and cured meats, with a great line of acidity to keep everything nice and fresh.
The Steading GSM
Time now for the serious stuff, and it’s the ramped-up GSM to get us going. 20 months in French oak provide the structure for cranberry and raspberry fruits, alongside earthiness, Asian spice, licorice, and a lick of tannin.
The Struie Shiraz
The depth and concentration of The Struie is instantly evident; the wine pours dense and nearly black. Intense blackberry and plum are laced with chocolatey tannins and graphite minerality, with great drive and a creamy mouth-coating texture.
The Factor Shiraz
A wine made from ancient vines planted in the 19th century, and the quality of fruit they produce is obvious. Plush boysenberry and black cherry give into the complexity of bramble spice, lead pencil, black pepper, and cloves. You can absolutely enjoy it now or sit on it for as long as you’d like.
The Descendant Shiraz Viognier
The ‘Baby RunRig’ comes from a single vineyard on Roennefeldt Road, one of the warmest parts of the Barossa. Shiraz fruit is lifted with a whopping 7% Viognier pressings to give an aromatic lift and fruit on the palate. The result is a wine brimming with super juicy blue fruit, chalky tannin, white flower perfume, milk chocolate, and espresso. The length is so powerful you can still taste it half an hour later.
RunRig Shiraz Viognier
Is this the best value super premium Australian Shiraz? A serious wine with terrific structure and acidity that is begging to be part of your next special occasion. Blackberries, blueberries, and mulberries provide the dark fruit at the core of this wine, with crunchy cranberries, roasted cocoa, winter spices, licorice, game, and white pepper leading into a long, creamy finish with lipsmacking tannins.
The Competition
All of the wines are available to order for free delivery with a minimum $100 spend – please contact Glenn at glenn@decanters.com.au or ring 9676 9440 to place your order. We’re also running a competition to win a Weber barbecue – simply spend $100 on any Torbreck products to enter the draw!
NB: Please note – tasting is subject to team’s availability. As a general rule, due to shop capacity; we will be unable to conduct tastings after 5pm.
wines with an asterisks are *not available for tasting
See you in-store
JM aka the Duke of Durif
