Torbreck The Struie 2020 3L
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 name Struie originates from a mountain in the rugged highlands of north-east Scotland, which overlooks Torbreck forest near Inverness. The view from the Struie down across the Dornoch Firth is as inspiring as that of the Valley floor from the Barossa Ranges.
While the Eden Valley region is most associated with the white wine variety, Riesling, it also produces elegant, tautly structured Shiraz which is highly prized by winemakers. This Torbreck Shiraz cuvée is a skilful blend of fruit from a single vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz and old vine Shiraz from the Barossa Valley’s Western Ranges – a marriage of elegance and intensity.
The Torbreck The Struie 2020 is a skilfully crafted Shiraz cuvée that combines fruit from 40-year-old vines. This vintage is a blend of both Barossa and Eden Valley fruit, resulting in a rich and high-octane Shiraz that is destined for the cellar. On the nose, this wine exhibits overt lifted black and blue fruits, such as blackberry and blueberry compote. There is also a delightful hint of milk chocolate, adding a touch of indulgence to the aromatic profile. The influence of the granite and schist soils in the Eden Valley lends complexity, with graphite and mineral-like notes adding depth and intrigue. The palate of The Struie 2020 is full-bodied and offers a silken textured mouthfeel. The plushness of the fruit is evident, with ripe Shiraz tannins that are both full and soft, coating the mouth with a velvety smoothness. Despite its youth, the wine displays a firm structure, indicating its potential for aging and development. The oak influence in this vintage is barely noticeable, allowing the density and freshness of the fruit to take centre stage. With some additional time in the bottle, the oak presence is expected to integrate further, enhancing the overall balance and complexity of the wine. This wine pairs exceptionally well with robust dishes. While The Struie 2020 can be enjoyed upon release, it is recommended to cellar it for a few years to allow it to fully develop. It is expected to reach its peak from 2024 to 2035, offering an even more rewarding tasting experience as it matures.
Very firm and young with overt lifted black and blue fruits such as blackberry, blueberry compote and milk chocolate, with graphite and mineral like complexity from granite and schist soils in the Eden Valley. The full bodied and silken textured mouthfeel exhibits plushness of fruit along with mouth coating ripe Shiraz tannins that are full yet soft. The oak is barely noticeable and will give way after a year or two in bottle to its density and freshness of fruit. Serve with steak frittes, Texas bbq ribs, or char sui pork. Enjoy from release, but better from 2024-2035. - Winemakers notes
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley & Eden Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 3L
ABV - 15%