Winemaker Notes
Blend: 95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1998 RunRig is in the vein of the 1996 in terms of graciousness and elegance. The 1998 vintage was a heralded season, and the wine expresses that pedigree, regardless of the reviews. The wine is superb. There are notes of cocoa and sweet bone marrow, star anise and pomegranate molasses. Layers of sumac and garden rose emerge through the finish. Interestingly, during all the tastings at Torbreck today, there have been similar flavor characters emerging in the wines, which speaks to me of the consistency of house style. The quality across the board has been impeccable. Here, this 1998 is every bit as good as the vintage was lauded to be. It comes highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol.
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Wine Spectator
Uncanny, the way the lapel-grabbing plum, berry and exotic spice flavors play out on a remarkably supple and elegant frame, with the fine tannins weaving through the finish so deftly you can easily miss them. A triumph of gorgeous fruit and classy winemaking. Best from 2003 through 2013.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.