Torbreck Vintners
Torbreck Vintners
The Struie Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022
Dark cherry red with purple edge. Chocolate nuance. Black pepper felt my deep throat and nose. Blueberry. Black currant and berry. Concentration. Nutmeg, clove. Sweet and spicy. Silky tannin. The Struie Torbreck 22 @8305, Toscan, 250405-250813 — 10 months ago
Torbreck Vintners
Descendant Barossa Valley Shiraz Viognier 2022
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.
— 21 hours ago
Torbreck Vintners
The Factor Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020
Well this was the shock of the year for me. We had this exact same wine back in October 2023 with our friends overlooking the Fumina valley in the Tooronga Mnts of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. I rated a 10!!! Top of the top. Couldn’t be better. This wines launched me into orbit and it took days for me to come down. So, with such great anticipation we thought to close out a phenomenal year with another bottle. It was intense, it was super grippy, layered… but the fruit had gone and to me it was totally unbalanced. How is that possible??!! Is it me, is it the wine, what could it be? Oh well. So many more wines to explore. Happy New Year everyone!! — a month ago
K Vintners
The Boy Grenache 2019
Bought at the KV tasting room outside of Seattle a few years ago. Fun visit as they have plenty of wine to meet your palate needs!
I opened this as part of a GSM blind taste. There were 12 wines, including an ‘07 Cayuse GOK, ‘12 No Girls Syrah, ‘21 Allbaer Syrah, ‘12 Torbreck Struie, etc.
Out of 12, this tied for second. This took the bigger profile of the ‘07 GOK, added a juicy fruit factor, removed a kiss of funk, and tada! Double decanted two hours before taste. Translucent ruby in the glass. Aromatics of black peppered rhubarb, green/herbal twang, and cured meat (not overly meaty though). Beautifully elegant profile (and appropriate for Grenache) showing great acidity, whole cluster, with spicy strawberry, sweet jerky and no trace of oak. Defining characteristic of this wine is juicy red fruit framed by black pepper spice. Good now with decant.
92+ — a year ago
Freddy R. Troya
Torbreck RunRig Shiraz–Viognier 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺
Overview A monumental Barossa Rhône-inspired powerhouse blend of approximately 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier, delivering extraordinary depth, concentration, and architectural structure while retaining aromatic lift and finesse. This is Barossa at its most commanding yet disciplined, massive fruit density wrapped in precision, energy, and length. A wine that commands attention, rewards contemplation, and delivers relentless momentum from first sip to finish.
Aromas & Flavors Explosive black plum, blackberry compote, cassis, and dark cherry saturate the nose, layered with violets, smoked spice, cocoa nib, graphite, and subtle savory meat tones. The palate unfolds in waves of black fruit intensity, crushed stone minerality, licorice, espresso, and warm spice, finishing long, deep, and persistently resonant.
Mouthfeel Full-bodied, muscular, and impeccably structured with commanding tannins that feel polished rather than aggressive. Immense mid-palate density is balanced by freshness and lift, creating a sense of power without heaviness. The texture is authoritative, layered, and built for long-term evolution.
Food Pairings Dry-aged ribeye or wagyu. Slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary and garlic. Venison with black cherry reduction. Smoked brisket. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego, or aged Gouda.
Verdict A truly elite expression of modern Barossa Shiraz, concentrated, complex, and unapologetically serious while remaining beautifully balanced and energetic. This is a reference-point wine that delivers immediate impact and exceptional cellar potential. A bottle that redefines what power and precision can coexist as.
Did You Know? RunRig is sourced from some of Barossa’s oldest and most revered Shiraz vineyards, with Viognier co-fermented in the traditional Northern Rhône style to enhance aromatic complexity, texture, and freshness.
🍷 Personal Pick This wine completely captured my heart 100%, layered, commanding, and dangerously irresistible. One of those bottles that makes restraint impossible and reminds you why great wine can be genuinely emotional. A true benchmark experience.
— 21 hours ago