Torbreck Red Rhone Blend Barossa Valley Cuvée Juveniles

SN: 86

Snooth Editorial Score

Original Score: 86
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WS: 90

Wine Spectator Score

Original Score: 90
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Sal's Beverage World USD 19.99 $14.⁹⁹ 750ml

Torbreck Red Rhone Blend Barossa Valley Cuvée Juveniles 2008

Winemaker's Notes:

Juveniles is a 'cult' Parisian wine bar run by eningmatic ex-pat Englishman, Tim Johnston. He's been in Paris more than twenty years and is a passionate promoter of the Rhone Valley and it's wines, particularly individualist, quality minded producers. Dave Powell hit it off with Tim over the years, eventually making a wine exclusively for his wine bar in 1999. In keeping with Tim and Dave's love of Rhone Valley varietals and the fact that they are equally at home in the Barossa,the blend constitutes old-vine Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and Shiraz and was elevaged entirely in stainless steel.

Region: Australia » South Australia » Barossa

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Winery: Torbreck Vintners

Color: Red

Varietal: Grenache

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Torbreck Vintners:

Torbreck Vintners was founded by David Powell in 1994. The roots go back to 1992 when Dave, who was then working at Rockford, began to discover and clean up a few sections of dry-grown old vines. Near lifeless, he nurtured them back to health and was rewarded with small parcels of fruit that he made into wine. Dave was able to secure a contract for the supply of grapes from a run-down but ancient Shiraz vineyard. He managed to raise enough money to share-farm the vineyard, a practice which involves paying the owner a percentage of the market rate for his grapes in return for totally managing the vineyard. This share-farming principle has enabled Torbreck to use fruit from the very best vineyards in the Barossa Valley, which is home to some of the most precious old vines in the world. In 1995 Dave crushed three tonnes of grapes and fermented them into wine in a shed on his 12-hectare Marananga property. He named his wine 'Torbreck' after a forest in Scotland where he worked as a lumberjack. The Torbreck endeavour is based around the classic Barossa Valley varietals of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro, and a love for the wines of France's Rhone Valley. Dave loves the intense, rich, Rhone-like flavours that come from old-vines and the fact that Shiraz and Grenache are the mainstay red grapes of the Northern and Southern Rhone often draws comparison. Torbreck doesn't only make red wines though, we have Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne planted on our winery block which we have blended to make a white wine for the last 2 years. In July 2002 the historic Hillside property was acquired by Torbreck. Situated in Lyndoch, it is one of the original Barossa properties. Vast and picturesque it contains some magnificent old and ancient vineyards that will further our source of premium quality fruit. The Hillside property contains a wonderful native ecosystem that supports a myriad of flora and fauna. Dave hopes to turn it into a nature reserve in the future that will be open to visits. In June 2003 at the finish of vintage, we opened our cellar-door for sales. An original settlers hut, it has been lovingly restored and provides a personal touch and some Barossa warmth whilst you taste our wines. It is open daily and we welcome any visits. In the middle of 2008 a long term vision of Dave Powell's will reach completion. A new winery and administration facility will have been completed on land acquired from a next door neighbour. This will enable our grapes to be made into wine using the best availble equipment and then bottled 'on the estate' using our own bottling line. Finally we have complete control of all aspects of production which will see a new benchmark of wine quality established by us in the Barossa Valley. Read less

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Editorial Reviews for Torbreck Red Rhone Blend Barossa Valley Cuvée Juveniles

Gregory Dal Piaz

233,907

03/03/2010

This has quite the fruity nose with jammy strawberries sprinkled with white pepper being joined by some dried game notes and hints of dried grass. On entry this is round and soft with a sweet edge to it. There is bit too much acid but nice tannins that help flesh out the mid-palate. The fruit is fresh and primary and the flavors really mirror the nose with strawberry jam, pepper, game, and a touch of wood spice. The fruit turns blacker on the backend and drops of quite a bit on the short finish, which end on a slightly sweet, jammy note. A bit monotone and gangly but with plenty of fruit. 86pts

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Member Reviews for Torbreck Red Rhone Blend Barossa Valley Cuvée Juveniles

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Alleigh

322

06/10/2009

The 2008 Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles was a medium purplish ruby with very noticeable legs. On the nose, there were luscious, ripe red fruits—strawberries and raspberries—followed by a hint of cinnamon. In the mouth, the first taste had an initial surprise of hotness, after which juicy red fruits—strawberries, raspberries, and cherries—emerged, followed by a touch of white pepper and cinnamon. The wine had lower tannins and acid, which makes it nice and light. On the second night with this wine, the Cuvée Juveniles was more jammy than juicy, and the raspberries were more prominent than the strawberries. For my complete review, visit my blog at bit.ly/1LimnD

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Mark Angelillo

5,352

02/24/2010

Sweet and fruity, there's a good acidic burst on the attack, the palate reminds me of grape children's vitamins and concord grape jelly.

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aronowm2

3,704

08/14/2009

classic rhone nose. flavor of strawberry jam and stone fruits. lots of wet rock. This went paired incredibly with polish kielbasa, but after the meal the wine fell apart. Very unpleasant, bitter and stony. If you can finish it with dinner then you are all set. May age well for a year or so but this type of wine is meant to be enjoyed young. This is food wine folks.

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GoinGray

1,347

07/22/2011

60% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, 20% Mataro. Dry wood scent. Sweet start, sour/tangy, dry yet jammy.

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myersei

10/13/2010

Not really my thing. If you like the Mollydooker stuff, you'll like this and for probably less money, but it's way over the top on fruit for me...and I like fruit bombs. Nose: big fruit - strawberry predominately. Attack: fruit driven too with acid on the front palate. Not sure what the alcohol content is on this stuff, but it's high. Upon inspection 14.5%. Mid-palate: explodes with fruit.. Really bold stuff - tons and tons of fruit. No oak. Finish: Nothing notable hanging around on the finish (other than more fruit). ..medium to light-full bodied wine (more than medium, less than full). Clean finish in general. Don't misread, this is very well made wine, but the style is pretty wild. A huge fruit bomb with no oak, and not a whole lot of structure or balance. I love most of the stuff out of Barossa Valley. It's bold, straight forward wine that anyone can enjoy. This is too, however if you appreciate old world wines, or even the big California Reds (as far on the other side of the spectrum as they are), this may not be your thing. Not sure how Parker got to a 92, but whatever. Drink this stuff with BBQ or State-Fair food (ie. fried twinkies, cotton candy, etc). Big bonus - it's got a screw cap, so you can actually open it at a state fair and know it will drink fine.

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kylewolf

441

08/19/2009

Four glasses

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External Reviews for Torbreck Red Rhone Blend Barossa Valley Cuvée Juveniles

05/19/2011

If readers want to know what the quintessential Australian fruit bomb tastes like, check out the 2000 Juveniles, a tank-fermented blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, and 20% Mourvedre. Bursting at the seams with juicy blackberry, cherry, and currant fruit, it offers copious quantities of spicy, peppery characteristics, sexy, seductive glycerin levels, and a creamy texture that defines the word hedonism. It is not going to make old bones, but for drinking over the next 2-3 years, this is a fabulous, fruit-filled effort from Barossa. Anticipated maturity: now-2005.

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05/19/2011

The unwooded blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Shiraz, the 2002 Juveniles, is a crunchy, deliriously fruity red offering aromas of kirsch liqueur, pepper, and spice box in a fruit-driven, full-bodied style that is immensely captivating as well as satisfying. It is meant to be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years.

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05/19/2011

Named for a wine bar in Paris for which this wine was formulated, this is a GSM with 60% Granache, and equal parts Shiraz and Mourvedre. In past vintages, I've found it lean and herbal, but this vintage brings flavors of ripe plum and cherry fruit, and earth, in equal measure. Light-to-medium bodied in the mouth, it's 100% tank fermented, with bread flour and eucalyptus aromas.

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05/19/2011

A terrific buy, the 2005 Juveniles is a tank-fermented and aged blend of Grenache (60%), Shiraz (20%), and Mataro (20%) made from 40-150-year old vines. Provencal-like notes of garrigue, pepper, spice, sweet cherries, and black currants jump from the glass of this elegant, medium-bodied effort. With superb fruit as well as purity, and no hard edges, it can be enjoyed over the next 2-4 years.

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05/19/2011

Medium red. Blackberry and cassis on the nose, with subtle cocoa and roasted coffee qualities. Sweet, jammy dark berry flavors are hit with a late jolt of vanilla. Quite soft and with no obvious tannins, this easygoing wine finishes sweet and lightly spicy. I'd serve this with grilled, strongly seasoned red meat.

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05/19/2011

Fresh and vibrant, this is framed with crisp tannins, offering a core of plum and licorice flavors that vie for attention. The finish gets a bit hot. Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Drink now through 2013.

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05/19/2011

Bright red-ruby. Fragrant, spicy aromas of blueberry, raspberry and slightly stewed plum are vibrant, meaty and musky, showing undertones of animal hide and underbrush. Velvety-smooth and harmonious; a distinctively Australian expression of an easy-drinking Rhône red. Brambly black and red fruit flavors complicated by leather and charcuterie notes. Finishes fresh, fine and persistent.

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