Descendant Cellars
Torbreck Vintners
The Steading Barossa Valley Grenache Blend 2002
Torbreck Vintners
Woodcutter's Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013
Our marinaded tri-trip wine.
Good things happen when you take a good producer’s entry level wine and lay it down for 4-5 years. Then, pair with the right food.
Torbreck makes in descending quality order that I have had; The Laird ($400-$700), RunRig ($175-$200+), The Descendant & The Factor (around $90-$100 ish), their Struie (around $50) and the Woodcutter’s ($16-$24 depending on where you buy it).
The Woodcutter’s shows itself to be a close relative but, lacks some of the structure, depth and quality of fruit from its other siblings. However, the QPR is undeniable!
There are two things I am trying to convey. You don’t always need to spend $100 to $100’s for a really good quality wine. Second, even if you lay down a good entry level wine from a good producer in at least in a good vintage, very good things come through.
This shows, dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice, softly, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet.
The body is; rich; ruby and full. The tannins are round, tarry, chewy and meaty. The structure, tension, length and balance are just a couple steps short of its peak. Dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, dark, used, expresso grounds, anise to black licorice, limestone, black pepper, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice with palate heat, more pronounced & layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon stick, dark, rich turned earth, dark top soils, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet. The acidity is round and nicely done. The long finish is, juicy to dry earthy, well balanced, elegant and persists without end.
The 2013 Woodcutter’s has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead.
Photos of; their new tasting bar, Sofia during our private tasting with their International Brand Manager and that famous Barossa red clay soil structure with Estate vines. — 6 years ago
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Yeah I remember your post, thats why I was surprised you didn’t mention it
Kita
Camp 4 Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
We’re very sad this is among the last of Kitá Wines on the market… Yet we’re also very grateful to still have a couple of bottles to sip and savor over time.
Kitá Wines was situated in Santa Ynez Valley AVA, within the broader Santa Barbara County of the Central Coast of California, where conditions can range from cool and foggy to warm and dry, depending on your proximity to the coast.
The winery was founded in 2010 by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians with renowned Winemaker Tara Gomez (a Chumash descendant) at the helm of day-to-day operations. Kitá Wines closed in April of 2022, leaving an indelible mark on the wine industry with a lasting (and award-winning) reputation for impeccable quality and deliciousness.
This wine is the 2014 Kitá Wines “Kalaš” red blend, comprised of 48% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot, with 13.5% ABV.
It had a medium garnet hue and vibrant notes of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, plum, violets, green bell pepper, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, leather, tobacco, and graphite. — 2 years ago
Paul-Henri Soler
SOÛL STRATUS Gamaret Pinot Noir 2020
Beautiful swiss natural gluglu. 🇨🇭 gamaret is a descended of gamay. It shares with it the crunchy, floral side. The mouth is lively and concentrated. Fruity finish to perfection. Delicacy.
Beau glouglou nature helvétique 🇨🇭à base de gamaret cepage descendant du gamay. Il partage avec celui-ci le côté croquant, floral. La bouche est vive et concentrée. Finale fruitée à souhait. Gourmandise. — 5 years ago
Alban Vineyards
Patrina Alban Estate Syrah 2010
With BBQ Chicken & Roasted, Rosemary Potatoes on opening night of the D&S Lounge.
John Alban’s wines remind me most of all the California producers/versions of North Rhone or Côte-Rôtie wines. Côte-Rôtie translates into for us as “Roasted Slope.” I assume that’s why his craft was dubbed as the “Original Rhône Ranger.”
Although this has the roasted characterizations of those wines, this certainly has more ripe, ruby style fruits. Also, more purple & blue fruits.
John’s higher end wines, Reva & Pondora remind me of the a French producer, Rostaing. Those two vineyard productions more closely mimic the Rostaing style.
The Patrina is a good intro into Alban wines. You can tell it is a direct descendant but, for far less money. The others are better but, this carries the best wine value in their line up.
The nose reveals; roasted & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries, creamy raspberries & blue fruits. Used, French expresso roast grounds, anise to black licorice, purple fruit cola, coarse, ground, black pepper, dark spices, fresh tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, dry stems, dry crushed rocks, limestone & volcanic minerals, bay leaf, some sage, black tea, black olives, bandaid notes, saddle-wood to cedar, graphite notes with dark, fresh & withering, red, blue & purple candied florals, violets framed in a field of candied lavender.
The body is; lush, ruby, big and like velvet. The tannins are round but, still pack, chewy, tarry, meaty tannins that are 45-50% resolved. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a good place but, will hit a peak in five to seven years. The 2010 Patrina still has room for improvement and will last another 10-15 years. It is simply wine candy. Roasted & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries, creamy raspberries & blue fruits. Used, French expresso roast grounds, anise to black licorice, purple fruit cola, coarse, ground, black pepper, dark spices with just the right amount of palate heat, grilled meats, chestnuts, fresh tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, dry stems, dry crushed rocks, moist clay, limestone & gritty volcanic minerals, dry stone, bay leaf, some sage, black tea, black olives, Steeped black tea, bandaid notes, saddle-wood to cedar, graphite notes with dark, fresh & withering, red, blue & purple candied florals, violets framed in a field of candied lavender. The acidity is phat & round. It holds the slightly elevated alcohol level nicely. The finish is excellent & consistent wire to wire. It’s long, ruby, candied fruits with just the right balance of earth that persists endlessly.
Just misses 9.4.
Photos of; the best room in our house for 6+ months of the year, our backyard. Aka, the D&S Lounge on Memorial Day Weekend 2020. — 6 years ago
Torbreck Vintners
The Steading Blanc Barossa Valley White Rhone Blend 2022
Aussie porch pounder
Suckling 94
The Roussanne was aged in stainless steel, while the Marsanne and Viognier aged on the fine lees for 8 months in a combination of seasoned and new French oak barriques.
Inspired by the rich, luscious and mineral scented dry whites of the Rhône Valley, The Steading - Blanc is sourced entirely from the Descendant Vineyard on Roennfeldt Road first planted in 1994 on the Torbreck estate. The ripe, fleshy, barrel fermented Viognier and Marsanne gives the palate a textural edge whilst the Roussanne contributes it’s more flinty and austere personality." - WINERY NOTES — 2 years ago
Bernard Cavé
Gamaret 2019
A Swiss descendant of the gamay, sharing with it the gouleyant character. For the rest: dark ruby color, (half dyer grape variety) a certain clarity with brilliance. Nose between black and red fruits, roasted liquorice notes almost coffee. Beautiful rather fine bouquet with vegetable notes zest of citrus, all in finesse. Beautiful vinification and fresh finish, for a wine to drink on youth.
Un descendant suisse du gamay, partageant avec celui-ci le caractère gouleyant. Pour le reste: robe rubis sombre, (cépage demi teinturier) une certaine limpidité avec de l’éclat. Nez entre fruits noirs et fruits rouges, notes réglissées torréfiées quasi café. Beau bouquet assez fin aux notes végétales zeste d’agrume, tout en finesse. Belle vinification et finale fraîche, pour un vin à boire sur la jeunesse. — 4 years ago
Cave du Courset
Le Courset Bex Grand Cru Gamaret 2016
Gamaret, a rare grape from Switzerland🇨🇭 . A descendant of Gamay, it shares a certain lightness with it, and this peppery freshness. Here the color is dark ruby, dense. With a delicious acidity linked to the thermal amplitude, we have here notes of crunchy red / black fruits. Typical aging of Swiss wines: woody but not oak. Cloves, caramel, liquorice, Fruit / tannin balance. Pleasant with salads, vegetarian dishes, cheeses / cold cuts, fish, white meats. The only question remains the price which remains high compared to neighboring countries: Italy, France for this level of quality, (30/40% more expensive at least)
Gamaret, cépage rare originaire de suisse. Descendant du gamay, il partage avec celui-ci une certaine légèreté, et cette fraîcheur poivrée. Ici la robe est rubis foncée, dense. Dotée d’une acidité gourmande lié à l’amplitude thermique, on a ici des notes de fruits rouges/noirs croquants. Élevage typique des vins helvétiques: boisé mais pas Chêne. Girofle, caramel, réglisse, Équilibre fruit/tanins. Agréable sur des salades plats végétariens, fromages/charcuterie, poissons, viandes blanches. La seule question reste toujours le prix qui reste élevé comparé aux pays voisins : Italie, France pour ce niveau de qualité, (30/40% plus cher au moins) — 5 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Torbreck The Descendant Shiraz–Viognier 2022 Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺
Overview A seductive, Rhône-inspired blend of approximately 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier, showcasing aromatic lift, silkiness, and elegant power. The Descendant leans into finesse and perfume while retaining serious Barossa depth, delivering a beautifully polished expression that feels expressive, vibrant, and effortlessly compelling.
Aromas & Flavors Lifted floral aromatics of violet, lavender, and rose petal lead, followed by ripe red and black berries, dark cherry, blueberry compote, and hints of baking spice and white pepper. The palate is silky and layered with juicy fruit, subtle savory notes, gentle cocoa, and a lingering floral-driven finish.
Mouthfeel Medium-plus to full-bodied with a supple, flowing texture and refined tannin structure. The Viognier brings brightness and aromatic tension, keeping the wine lively, polished, and graceful despite its natural richness.
Food Pairings Herb-crusted lamb rack. Duck breast with cherry or plum glaze. Grilled pork tenderloin. Moroccan-spiced lamb tagine. Semi-firm alpine cheeses or aged sheep’s milk cheeses.
Verdict Elegant, aromatic, and beautifully balanced, this is a wine that highlights the sensual side of Barossa Shiraz while preserving depth and complexity. A compelling, refined expression that offers immediate pleasure and excellent aging potential.
Did You Know? The Descendant follows the Côte-Rôtie tradition of co-fermenting Shiraz with a meaningful portion of Viognier, enhancing aromatic intensity, mouthfeel, and freshness while maintaining structural integrity.
🍷 Personal Pick A stunning wine that delivers perfume, polish, and charm in every glass. An exceptional expression for those who love Rhône elegance layered onto Barossa generosity.
— 3 months ago