What can we say—who doesn’t know Torbreck? A champion of the Barossa Valley, Torbreck has built its reputation on powerful, expressive wines sourced from old vines. With a strong Rhône influence, they craft wines that balance richness with structure, firmly placing them among Australia’s most recognisable and respected producers.
Crimson with black cherry core. An alluring nose of red and black fruits such as dried red currant, black cherry and red plum. There’s inviting secondary notes of Chinese five spice, charcuterie and white pepper. Soft and enveloping, the silky tannins provides a warm and supple mouthfeel offering excellent length and depth. Enjoy from release or cellar for 5-10 years. Serve at 16C/64F and match with most cuisines.
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz is sourced from younger Barossa Valley vineyards and showcases the region’s hallmark richness in a more approachable style. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in small open-top fermenters with daily pump-overs to enhance colour and structure. After basket pressing, the wine is matured for 12 months in a combination of seasoned French oak barriques and foudres. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, Woodcutter’s Shiraz is plush and expressive, with dark berry fruit, subtle spice, and a rounded, velvety finish.
**Previous vintage (not on tasting) - last bottles available**
A blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier made just prior to bottling, the 2016 RunRig is a complete masterpiece. It kicks off with elegant notes of pencil shavings accenting blueberries and blackberries on the nose, then shows incredible, palate-staining intensity of fruit in the mouth. It's full-bodied, plush and velvety without being unstructured and manages to be fruit-forward yet savory on the long-lasting finish, where it picks up hints of mocha and black olives. This should be drinkable with pleasure throughout its entire two-decade life (it may live longer from cold cellars or in larger formats), but if I were lucky enough to have a bottle or two, I'd try the first one about 10 years out. (100) THE WINE ADVOCATE
This is quintessential Barossa. The red dirt in the ground rises up in the glass and transports me right back there: middle summer, hot, spicy air blowing across the tops of old vines. It's evocative. This 2019 The Factor is Port-y, concentrated and savory as all hell, with charred barrels, lamb fat, black pepper, salted licorice, pomegranate molasses and aniseed. This is about as big as I can cope with and still enjoy it; it takes density and intensity to a whole new level-no surprise for the vintage, the region and the producer. A perfect storm of thunderous strength. Like staring into the abyss . . . a little bit scary, but transfixing nonetheless. (96) ERIN LARKIN
Lifted notes of rose oil mix with blackcurrant coulis, rosemary and chocolate dipped raspberries. The palate is chewy and textured, florals and fruits giving way to iodine flavours and an inky swathe of tannins. There's a gamut of flavours on show, supported by a backbone of tannins that's reluctant to give way in its youth. Tuck this one away in the cellar. (96)GABRIELLE POY, The Real Review
Deep, dense, glass staining purple-red colour. Black fruits on the nose, along with graphite, ironstone and seed spices. Peppery notes underlying in accord with sumptuous blackberry and dark-plum fruit, maybe a twist of licorice too, and with airing a whiff of apricotty viognier is evident. This has a lot going on, and the palate is powerfiul and long-lasting with real depth and panache. The tannins are abundant and deliciously supple. A big red with grace. (96) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review
Deep ruby and purple hues stain the glass while the nose leaps with raspberry and blueberry fruit, violets and then a deeper note of nori and undergrowth. The palate brims with blueberry and plum fruit but with a suppleness and balance that is immediately intriguing. Sandy tannins keep it in check and allow it to linger long on the tongue. As it unfurls, wakame and rosemary add more complexity and detail into the very long finish. A wine you can contemplate deeply now and that will reward further cellaring. - Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Deep, dark red-purple colour with terrestrial aromas summning dry earth, terracotta, forest underbrush on a hot day, and chocolate. Full bodied and fleshy with loads of supple ripe tannins and smooth, supple texture. There's a subtle vegetable note that reminds us we are in Eden Valley for at least part of the wine—traces of sage and raspberry that are typical of the higher country. The wine has elegance and harmony aplenty. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz 2024What can we say—who doesn’t know Torbreck? A champion of the Barossa Valley, Torbreck has built its reputation on powerful, expressive wines sourced from old vines. With a strong Rhône influence, they craft wines that balance richness with structure, firmly placing them among Australia’s most recognisable and respected producers.
Torbreck Run Rig 2016**Previous vintage (not on tasting) - last bottles available**
Torbreck The Descendant Shiraz Viognier 2023This is quintessential Barossa. The red dirt in the ground rises up in the glass and transports me right back there: middle summer, hot, spicy air blowing across the tops of old vines. It's evocative. This 2019 The Factor is Port-y, concentrated and savory as all hell, with charred barrels, lamb fat, black pepper, salted licorice, pomegranate molasses and aniseed. This is about as big as I can cope with and still enjoy it; it takes density and intensity to a whole new level-no surprise for the vintage, the region and the producer. A perfect storm of thunderous strength. Like staring into the abyss . . . a little bit scary, but transfixing nonetheless. (96) ERIN LARKIN
Torbreck The Struie Shiraz 2024Deep ruby and purple hues stain the glass while the nose leaps with raspberry and blueberry fruit, violets and then a deeper note of nori and undergrowth. The palate brims with blueberry and plum fruit but with a suppleness and balance that is immediately intriguing. Sandy tannins keep it in check and allow it to linger long on the tongue. As it unfurls, wakame and rosemary add more complexity and detail into the very long finish. A wine you can contemplate deeply now and that will reward further cellaring. - Stuart Knox, The Real Review