Torbreck Descendant 2018
Torbreck is a winery on a mission to become one of the world's great wine brands. Since 1994, they have remained committed to creating exceptional Rhone-style red and white wines that reflect the very best vineyards in Australia's famous Barossa region. Provenance is everything to them, and they believe that the Barossa is the most exciting place to make wine in the world. With a European sense of tradition, Torbreck pays tribute to the vineyards with minimal intervention, creating wines of richness, structure and length that age gracefully. The multi-generational growers, whose descendants arrived here nearly two centuries ago, are the backbone of Torbreck's winemaking aspirations. They work in partnership with the people of the Barossa who grow their fruit, always aiming to get the very best out of their vineyard sites. At Torbreck, they constantly seek to understand the difference between all of these special places in the Barossa and how this combination of soil, climate and farming experience is reflected in unique grape flavors. They are simply custodians, enhancing the innate expressiveness of the wines and enabling them to reveal over time their individual origins and personality. Torbreck is actually named after the forest near Inverness, Scotland where the winery's founder, David Powell worked as a lumberjack after completing university studies.
The winemaking style at Torbreck is meticulous and dedicated to producing exceptional wines. They use carefully selected 225-litre oak barriques for maturation, known as Dominique Laurent 'Magic Casks'. The oak is personally harvested from Forêt de Tronçais in Allier, and the staves are aged for 48 to 54 months at an exposed location for maximum seasoning. The staves are then hand-made into barrels and heated over three differing flames for several hours, resulting in a gentle toast due to the remarkable density of the wood. Torbreck's winemaking style reflects their commitment to producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Barossa region.
The Torbreck Descendant Shiraz Viognier 2018 offers a nose of blackberry and tar complemented by floral notes. On the palate, the wine is dense and dark with cherry and blueberry fruit perfectly interwoven with subtle hints of white peach, spice, cinnamon and Mexican chocolate, creating an intense and complex flavour profile. The Viognier adds a touch of floral sweetness that balances the rich, earthy tones of the Shiraz. This wine has a long and softly dusty finish, and it can be drunk now but will continue to develop complexity over the next 15 years. The Torbreck Descendant Shiraz Viognier 2018 is an exceptional vintage that showcases the Barossa Valley's terroir, history and highlights the winemaker's skill. Can be enjoyed upon release, however, you will be rewarded for your patience with cellaring for the next 5 to 15 years.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz, Viognier
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa, South Australia
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 15%