Torbreck labels

[SipAndANibble]

Hey there ,

Was wanting to see if one of your experienced folk was able to give a quick shpiel about the different labels with in torbreck?

By comparison I’ve navigated my way through the penfolds bins as to what is what and understand the difference between 404, 707 Cabernet blends, and the Shiraz blends, special bins, etc

But am confused by torbreck ! As they all have different names without any ordering system !

Would love if someone could break down the basic bottles in terms of top to bottom or their “grange” equivalent down to their “koonunga hill” offering ?

[Ian S]

Probably the easiest way to do similar is by price.

It used to be Runrig was their 'Grange', whilst cuvee Juveniles was their cheapest 'bistro style' offering.
Descendent did something akin to Bin389's 'Grange hand-me-down barrels' by being marketed as based on cuttings from Runrig vines, and the Steading was something of an approachable cheaper style (like say a Cote du Rhone is to Chateauneuf du Pape).

Loads more labels (and grapes) now though, but as their wines rarely appealed to me for the price asked, I've not kept up to date with them. I'm sure others here will have followed them more closely and can be more help.

[phillisc]

Another winery getting ahead of itself, and or it thinks its a Henschke 2.0...but that's a story for another day.
The Laird at $900+ is laughable, I have tried two vintages, I would put Mt Edelstone or Standish ahead for 1/4 the price.
Can be picked up at Auction for around $500, and still not worth it.

There are a myriad of labels as Ian has suggested, and I can't keep up with them either.

Cheers Craig

[SipAndANibble]

Yep, so runrig is the top drop and descendant follows the 389 baby grange path sort of. Got it. But from what you two are saying, seems like torbreck is similarly overpriced for what it is ?

In general I think any Aussie bottle that’s going up towards 1k per bottle is a bit out there. That’s probably more so the territory of Bordeaux and burgundy grand cru.

I don’t have the budget for it but I still can’t really see the value unless for some once off special occasion

[phillisc]

Runrig at $2-300+ is not the top drop...The Laird at $900+ is.
Yes buy what you like, but better value to be had elsewhere.
I'd give 389 a miss too. Yes in good vintages it's probably OK, but again $100+. Don't know about you...but I've run my race in that lane.
Rockford Rod and Spur at $50, Yalumba Signature at $60 are so much better buys.
Just my 2c. If you have deep pockets knock yourself out, but much better options than Torbreck.
Cheers Craig

[SipAndANibble]

Yeah I hear ya, I do have a bit of 389 and st Henri which were some of the first better wines I purchased. I probably wouldn’t again. I got a bit of Agricola and after more wynns, maybe eperosa too. Will keep my eye on yalumba the signature and Rockford. I did reach out to them to get some basket press but they said you have to buy consistently for a while to get onto their stonewall thingo before you get an allocation

That’s my problem though is that my collectors eyes are bigger then my budget or storage

[Ian S]

To an extent it's a style thing as well. Grange established an impression of how a top Aussie wine should be sculpted (at least to get the best prices). Plenty sought to replicate that, perhaps even out-do it in intensity. Wines like Torbreck's Runrig and Jim Barry's Armagh, amongst others, battled to be alternatives to Grange.

For me (and this is absolutely a personal taste thing), there was a ripple effect, that Barossa Valley / McLaren Vale rich & ripe shiraz gained too prominent a position, especially amongst local wine critics. There's so much of interest in Australia, with plenty of different grapes, regions and styles, and with what I always felt was Australia's trump card, a freedom and desire to innovate & explore, unencumbered by European style appellation rules that can be rigid and riddled with self-interest. Then there's the wider world, and for me Italy and Portugal are of most interest these days, but covering everything is impossible.

As for collector's eyes, yes I suspect we all have a bit of that. For me, I've adapted that to find wine styles / regions / grapes I like, or at the very least read tasting notes or overviews of something new to me, and recognise the elements that appeal to me. For them I'll happily take a punt on a wine I've never tasted and accept it has to sleep in the cellar if that's the style. Maybe a single bottle, maybe 2, possibly 3, but very rarely more. Wine can be a wonderful journey, albeit a somewhat intimidating one. It took me a while to find my feet and confidence, and a local tasting group was critical to that, seeing differing opinions and a broad range of wines.

[SipAndANibble]

Yeah interesting !

That’s the thing with penfolds is that they just seem to want to produce wines that they can charge exorbitant prices for

I’m still in the process of trying and finding what I like. There really is a lot that goes into wine - so many varietals, producers, styles, vintages, regions, and then food pairings, storage conditions, how long to age and or decant. A lot to learn !

While I’m keen to explore the big names like Napa, Bordeaux, Spanish Tempranillo, Italian wines. I feel like there’s better value here locally without paying extra taxes and importers etc etc. people say Australia has regions for almost all styles from big bold ripe reds to more cool climate elegant styles too, which is good

I just grabbed a bottle of the yalumba signature ‘21 to squirrel away for a bit.

I probably should join a wine tasting group but I’m pretty happy to explore on my own for now bit by bit

[VinoEd]

I’ve done a couple of tastings at Torbreck and quite like the wines, albeit they’re certainly at the pricey end. I’ve got a lone bottle of RunRig (wedding gift) and have purchased a few things over the last 5 years at cellar door (that are waiting to be opened) and have tried a few older things I have purchased via auction.

If you’re interested in getting a bottle or three, maybe The Factor (probably the mid-tier Shiraz), The Pict (straight Mataro) and a Grenache (the variety varies each year, but the Growers Cut probably a reasonably priced option). That gives you a good grasp over the different varieties they produce.

Cheers Ed

[SipAndANibble]

Awesome cheers ed. just seemed harder to decipher unlike penfolds !

[SipAndANibble]

Awesome cheers ed. just seemed harder to decipher unlike penfolds !

[Phil Wilkins]

1. The Laird – The pinnacle, a single-vineyard Shiraz regarded as one of Australia’s most prestigious wines.
2. RunRig – Another iconic Shiraz, blended with a touch of Viognier, from ancient vines.
3. Les Amis – The flagship Grenache, showcasing old-vine intensity, purity, and finesse.
4. The Factor – A pure, old-vine Shiraz celebrating traditional Barossa styles.
5. Descendant – A co-ferment of Shiraz and Viognier, using cuttings from RunRig vines.
6. The Struie – A Shiraz blend from Barossa and Eden Valley, combining power and elegance.
7. The Steading – Torbreck’s signature GSM blend, seen as the heart and soul of their winemaking.
8. Woodcutter’s Shiraz – The entry-level Shiraz, is approachable and classic in style.

FWIW the Les Amis Grenache is their best wine.

Here's my last note on the well cellared 2006 Torbreck Grenache ‘Les Amis’

2006 Torbreck Grenache ‘Les Amis’, Barossa Valley – The perfect cork with zero seepage/then a 2-hour decant. Medium ruby in the glass/no bricking, this wine opens with an expressive bouquet of crushed ant/white pepper/dried herbs then a subtle floral lift. There’s a touch of Flytox too, something I’ve only ever seen in much older Henschke Shiraz (MtE/HoG) bottlings. Beneath the vibrant cherry/raspberry fruit, secondary notes of thick leather/dried earth/tobacco leaf add depth and complexity. The palate is full-bodied yet fresh, with a silky, textural flow. Still structural although the tannins are beautifully resolved, and the acidity providing a fine backbone carries the wine to an impressively long, graceful finish. There’s a quiet confidence here - pure, balanced, and seriously impressive. This has improved over the past two years! No rush to drink 14.5% 97pts

[saturn5519]

Just some info on the names relating to Scottish heritage
The Laird....Landlord
The Struie....A mountain in the highlands
RunRig ........A celt rock band from the Isle of Skye.

[SipAndANibble]

1. The Laird – The pinnacle, a single-vineyard Shiraz regarded as one of Australia’s most prestigious wines.
2. RunRig – Another iconic Shiraz, blended with a touch of Viognier, from ancient vines.
3. Les Amis – The flagship Grenache, showcasing old-vine intensity, purity, and finesse.
4. The Factor – A pure, old-vine Shiraz celebrating traditional Barossa styles.
5. Descendant – A co-ferment of Shiraz and Viognier, using cuttings from RunRig vines.
6. The Struie – A Shiraz blend from Barossa and Eden Valley, combining power and elegance.
7. The Steading – Torbreck’s signature GSM blend, seen as the heart and soul of their winemaking.
8. Woodcutter’s Shiraz – The entry-level Shiraz, is approachable and classic in style.

FWIW the Les Amis Grenache is their best wine.

Here's my last note on the well cellared 2006 Torbreck Grenache ‘Les Amis’

2006 Torbreck Grenache ‘Les Amis’, Barossa Valley – The perfect cork with zero seepage/then a 2-hour decant. Medium ruby in the glass/no bricking, this wine opens with an expressive bouquet of crushed ant/white pepper/dried herbs then a subtle floral lift. There’s a touch of Flytox too, something I’ve only ever seen in much older Henschke Shiraz (MtE/HoG) bottlings. Beneath the vibrant cherry/raspberry fruit, secondary notes of thick leather/dried earth/tobacco leaf add depth and complexity. The palate is full-bodied yet fresh, with a silky, textural flow. Still structural although the tannins are beautifully resolved, and the acidity providing a fine backbone carries the wine to an impressively long, graceful finish. There’s a quiet confidence here - pure, balanced, and seriously impressive. This has improved over the past two years! No rush to drink 14.5% 97pts

Awesome Phil this is exactly what I was chasing. Appreciate your wisdom here. I did think I read about their Shiraz viognier blend similar to clonakilla

[WAwineguy]

The Struie is probably their best value and reliable straight shiraz, at less than $50. It's a few levels above the entry-level Woodcutters, and nowhere near as expensive as the supposed premium shiraz' in the range.

But like all big and bold Barossa shiraz, it needs a good 10 years or more to mature, unless you like a fruit bomb!

[Ian S]

Probably inspired by this thread, I opened a half bottle of the 2018 Torbreck 'The Struie' yesterday. No notes taken, but my thoughts were: 15% alc showed, not in any 'burn', but more in a syrupy profile, which kind of worked with more savoury leather and the necessarily quite firm acidity. For me, this works more as an after dinner 'meditation' wine, one to sip slowly, and a half bottle more than plenty, with sharing a half possibly better.

I'm probably the wrong person to be giving anyone a steer on this wine though. Just not my style any more, but a style that very occasionally can still be enjoyable.