Torbreck The Forebear Shiraz 2021

The 2021 The Forebear hails from the Hillside vineyard, and the vines that service this wine are old, planted in 1850. While the first two vintages of this wine—2019 and 2020—were both hot, dry vintages and very low yielding. The 2021 season was mild, long and dry, and the yields were healthy, which was a blessing for growers in this region after years of tiny quantities. In the mouth, the wine is rocky and mineral, fresh and full—this is a wine with concentration off the charts. To put it in context with other world wines of similar density, this is driven by the age of the ancient vines and grown like this. These are ancient soils—the northern end of the Barossa is around 450 million years old, while the southern Barossa soils are up to a billion years old; and in many cases, they are supporting ancient vines, and the power and concentration of the fruit is at times difficult to understand without experiencing it in person. This vineyard is the single oldest site that Torbreck owns and sources from. ERIN LARKIN, The Wine Advocate

Crimson red with brilliant hue. A wine of poise and nobility from some of the world’s oldest living Shiraz vines planted in C1850. An incredibly lifted complex nose of mostly red berry fruits such as fresh mulberry, red cherry dried red currant and cassis fill the bouquet, complimented by savoury notes of wild thyme, garrigue, graphite, and sandalwood. The palate carries a wonderful textural mouthfeel with enveloping soft, round tannins and lashings of the dense yet refined old vine shiraz, characters that only The Barossa can define. An elongated palate characterised by cleansing acidity balances the wines modern Barossa elegance whilst the growing season personifies the exemplary form and athleticism of this unique site. A wine that pays homage to its forebears, their vision for grape growing and dry farming from the 19th century.
Enjoy from 2026 and cellar to 2050+. Serve at 16C/60F with game, poultry or tuna steaks. TORBRECK VINTNERS