Torbreck Run Rig Shiraz 2002

Rating: 18/20 - As reviewed by Jancis Robinson This lauded wine is made from vines of between 100 and 156 years old, apparently, and contains 3 per cent Viognier, right from the pioneering first vintage 1995. You can certainly smell the Viognier on the nose. The wine is incredibly full, rich and sweet with a sensation of wild purple fruit flavours and more than a hint of elderberries. Subtle it ain't, and it's still disjointed on the palate but it's amazingly persistent and vibrant. I can quite see why it has such a devoted following - and an incredibly wide distribution at around $200 a bottle.

document.getElementById("NoProductImage").innerHTML = ""; Only 6 bottles or less available. Torbreck's flagship wine- RunRig is a structured- muscular wine with phenomenal density- dry vintage port-like concentration- and magnificent notes of smoke- blackberries- cassis- leather and coffee. A hint of viognier's sweet marmalade character comes through as the wine sits in the glass. A true 'Vin de Garde' to reward those with the patience to cellar it. "The Highland clans used a "runrig" system to distribute land amongst read more...their clansmen in a series of widely dispersed holdings. The emphasis not on any one farm- but rather the communal element of the whole. Shiraz from old dry grown vineyards is blended with viognier- complementing the strengths and complexities of these individual parcels of fruit- whilst giving the resulting wine a further dimension."David PowellNotes sourced from torbreck.comRobert Parker 99 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 2002 Run Rig (97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier aged in 100% new French oak) represents the essence of old vine Barossa fruit. Extraordinarily opulent and rich- but playing it closer to the vest than the 2001- it gets my nod as one of the most remarkable wines made in either the Southern or Northern Hemisphere. An inky/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous bouquet of apricots- honeysuckle- black raspberries- blackberries- licorice- and a hint of roasted meats. The wood has been soaked up by the wine's extraordinary concentration. Fashioned from four sectors of Barossa (Maranaga- Koonunga Hill- Moppa- and Greenock)- it spent 30 months in primarily new oak- and was bottled without fining or filtration. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020+."Wine Advocate #161 (Oct 2005) Robert Parker Jeremy Oliver 92 points!A rich- forward and sumptuous wine revealing much of the complexity and finesse associated with this label- but perhaps also the results of excessive hang time. There's genuine delicacy and perfume about the highly spiced- cinnamon- clove and nutmeg-like aromas of dark berries- cherries and cassis. There's also a whiff of jamminess- but some finely integrated chocolate/vanilla oak. Up-front and quite concentrated- the palate lacks its customary vitality and length. Its pleasing core of fruit reveals plenty of evidence of sound winemaking- but the wine does flatten off rather surprisingly- losing brightness. Drink 2007-2010.Jeremy Oliver- OnWineCampbell Mattinson 97 points!"It should be good and it's better than that. It's the most complex- and complete- wine made under the label. Long and structured and yet- as is the wine's way- full of deep- sugary- hulking flavour- fresh plums coated in chocolate and chicory and smoke. A flesh feast- but boned and strong with tannin. After a couple of hours in the decanter it turned sweeter- more syrupy- longer and ready to drink. It is a superb Barossan shiraz."Campbell Mattinson- WineFront.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.Run RigOur flagship wine- RunRig is a structured- muscular wine with phenomenal density- dry vintage port-like concentration- and magnificent notes of smoke- blackberries- cassis- leather and coffee. A hint of viognier's sweet marmalade character comes through as the wine sits in the glass. A true 'Vin de Garde' to reward those with the patience to cellar it. 'The Highland clans used a "runrig" system to distribute land amongst their clansmen in a series of widely dispersed holdings. The emphasis not on any one farm- but rather the communal element of the whole. Shiraz from old dry grown vineyards is blended with viognier- complementing the strengths and complexities of these individual parcels of fruit- whilst giving the resulting wine a further dimension'. David Powell    (hide)

October 2008

Rating: 93/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 07/31/05

Rating: 94/100 - As reviewed by Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar on Jul-05

Rating: 99/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 161 on Oct-05