Winemaker Notes
Bold and seductive, this youthful, unoaked blend encapsulates all that is great in a pure, unseasoned wine. A lively, vibrant aroma of blackberry, violet and spice. A full, rich mid palate with a vivacity and energy that this blend always generates. Ripe, savoury flavours of dark berry fruit and cassis, spiced cherries, minerals and succulent blueberry fruit all balanced with fresh acidity and a fine gentle tannin structure. Dense and vibrant, this wine is drinking superbly but, as with its predecessors, it will greatly reward those who choose to give it a few years in the cellar.
Blend: 61% Grenache, 28% Mataro, 11% Shiraz
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesTorbreck's most delicious offerings come, in this reviewer's opinion, not from its Shiraz-dominant wines but from its Grenache, which, and in this case, makes up 61% of the blend. It leads with tangy rhubarb, red berry, orange zest and strawberry leaf, with earthy undertones like cumin, coffee and meat, which all flow seamlessly onto a palate of silky, pristine fruit, crunchy acidity and savory spice. This is polished and approachable but also complex and focused.
Editor's Choice
Bright ruby-red. Spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry liqueur, incense and lavender are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance that builds in the glass. Bright and energetic on the palate, offering juicy red and blue fruit flavors that display very good clarity and spicy lift. Finishes with impressive energy and firm cut, with silky tannins framing lingering, appealingly sweet fruit notes.
All tank-aged, the 2017 Cuvee Juveniles is a blend of 61% Grenache, 28% Mataro and 11% Shiraz. It features delicate strawberry aromas, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's creamy and lush. This fruit-driven puppy is easy to knock back, with just a hint of espresso adding a savory edge to the finish.
Shows plenty of gusto to the wild berry, sarsaparilla and spice flavors, with clove and bay leaf accents lingering. A juicy frame of tannins firms up on the finish. Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz.
This has a very fragrant, elegant feel with a flinty edge to the nose that brings attractive complexity. The palate has vibrant acidity and blue-plum and berry flavors. Supple tannins. Really fresh. A blend of 61% grenache, 28% mataro and 11% shiraz.
Torbreck, founded in 1994 by David Powell, is situated at Marananga on the western ridge of the Barossa. Since that time he has produced some of the world's finest 'Rhone varietal' wines, exclusively from Barossa fruit; this has been acknowledged by the wine press in Europe, America and Australia. The overwhelming majority of his vines are dry-grown, nearly all are 80 - 125 years old and are tended and harvested by hand.
The wines have an extraordinary combination of power, intesity, complexity and great finesse, and bearing in mind the age of the vines and the laughably low yields, no Torbreck wine could ever be accused of being heavy, cloying or over-extracted.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.