Torbreck The Factor 2003

document.getElementById("NoProductImage").innerHTML = ""; Robert Parker 96 points! David Powell- unquestionably one of the world's finest wine producers- has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards- and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia's giant wine corporations. Torbreck's wines continue to get better and better- combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance. The 2003 The read more...Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries- acacia flowers- and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle- multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15+ years. Wine Advocate #161 (Oct 2005) Robert Parker Wine Spectator 94 points!"Dense and distinctive Shiraz that provides a lavish mouthful of licorice- and tar-accented purple plum- blueberry and sweet spice flavors. Framed with oak- but not at all woody. The finish rolls along unperturbed by the fine-grained tannins. Best from 2008 through 2020." HS- www.winespectator.com Torbreck Torbreck - Low yielding- old and dry grown Barossa Valley vines are the cornerstone of Torbreck vitners where traditional- manual winemaking methods and minimal intervention are combined to produce a variety of wines each year. The growers we work with have been selected for their unique vineyard sites and spartan aproach to viticulture - Torbreck wines are conentrated in the vineyards- not in the winery.The FactorThis wine is composed entirely of shiraz- harvested from the oldest- most revered vineyards in the Barossa Valley. It is made in the traditional Torbreck manner. All parcels are vinified separately. Fermentation takes place in small open vats and 'pumped over' twice daily. The wine is then pressed in basket presses and transferred into French oak barriques and hogsheads where malolactic takes place. The wine is then racked through a primitive system relying solely on gravity. The Factor is usually bottled after 24 months maturation- dependant on the vintage.The individual components of this wine combined-produce an average yield of 1 to 1.5 tones per acre in an area where 6 tonnes per acre is more common. This is world class in every way. 'The manager on a highland estate is referred to as The Factor. Having spent two years in predominantly older oak- this wine manages to express true Barossa Shiraz character'. David Powell    (hide)

October 2008

The 2003 The Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries, acacia flowers, and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle, multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15+ years. David Powell, unquestionably one of the world's finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such read more...high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia's giant wine corporations. Torbreck's wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance. The finest wines in this portfolio are pricy, but David Powell delivers some remarkable reds and whites at prices that are more than fair for the quality in the bottle. - Wine Advocate    (hide)

Dense and distinctive Shiraz that provides a lavish mouthful of licorice- and tar-accented purple plum, blueberry and sweet spice flavors. Framed with oak, but not at all woody. The finish rolls along unperturbed by the fine-grained tannins. Best fro... Wine Spectator. A Syrah wine from South Australia in Australia. 2003 Torbreck The Factor 750ml

January 2009

Rating: 94/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator

Rating: 94/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 10/15/06

Rating: 96/100 - As reviewed by James Halliday