Tasting Note No.30
Most of you know the story, David Powell created legendary wines and styles, starting with the 1995 vintage. Something was going on...Torbreck created a NEW way of winemaking which strives for unequalled perfection. This Eden-Barossa Valley Shiraz has a Sottish name and no doubt, wide appeal to the Americans and Australians alike. Now that the wines are great, the only problem is with the (rather) expensive pricing.
Grapes harvested from 40 years old Eden Valley and 60 years old Barossa Valley vines. Alcohol is at 14.5% vol, the wine spent 18 months in French oak. This vintage is a new release.
Colour black purple, very fresh and young. The nose has fresh red berries, ribena, some black cherry aromas. The palate is extremely rich and focused, it's made in a certain style that somehow still avoids to be a fruit bomb. Amazing finesse, concentration and purity of fruit. Made with complete control, this is Shiraz perfection. I'd rename it "The Capture" if it was my wine but it was named after a place where you find the Altman Arms pub where Powell first heard the band "Run Rig" play. Anyways, it's a very good and delicious wine with fine tannins and round, perfectly balanced silky oak. It's good drinking already, will mature for an other 8 years. It actually reminded me of some successfully made Rosemount wines. Cost AU $40 but $30 would have been more realistic.
As this wine was only one of two Australian wines at our first Club dinner of 2004, Adair will soon post a note on the whole event.
Tasted:January 2004