Torbreck les Amis 2002

One of the most remarkable wines in Torbreck's portfolio is the 100% Grenache cuvee, the 2002 Les Amis (sadly, only 120 cases produced). It is made from an old, dry-farmed Grenache vineyard planted in 1901 that escaped the pull up of old vines that afflicted Barossa and McLaren Vale thirty years ago when the government's intelligentsia was encouraging vineyard development in cool climate areas, and had concluded that warmer South Australia areas, such as Barossa and McLaren Vale, were irrelevant. Obviously, this was a blunder of extraordinary proportions. Luckily, some old vineyards read more...were saved. Les Amis is David Powell's homage to the most underrated great red wine of the world, France's Chateauneuf du Pape. What is amazing about this wine is that Grenache tends to not do well in a lot of new oak, but this cuvee spends 18 months in new French oak, which is completely absorbed by the extraordinary fruit from Greenock Creek. A marvelous effort, it boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as an extraordinarily provocative perfume of crushed raspberries, black cherry liqueur. This full-bodied, multi-dimensional red inundates the palate with fruit, glycerin, and intensity. It has the highest alcohol content of all the Torbreck wines (16.5%), which tend to average 14.5%. Nevertheless, it is refreshing, vigorous, and incredibly well delineated. No doubt the old vines are the key to such a magnificent achievement. It should drink well for 10-12 years, possibly longer. -Wine Advocate    (hide)

Rating: 17/20 - As reviewed by Jancis Robinson This bottling began in 2001 for Les Amis in Singapore, and is based on Greenock 105-year-old Grenache. Extremely intense, masses of sweetness, a bit porty, a bit hot but very serious in intent, and there is news that someone paid $70,000 for an imperial of it at the Naples charity auction in Florida.

Rating: 99/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 155 on Oct-04

Rating: 92/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 06/15/05

Rating: 99/100 - As reviewed by The Wine Advocate