Torbreck's The Factor Shiraz is made from grapes grown on historic vineyard sites throughout the Barossa, including Krondorf, Rowland Flat, Greenock and Marananga. Many of these vineyards were planted in the 19th century and due to South Australia’s far-sighted quarantine policy, were not affected by the phylloxera outbreak that ravaged the vineyards of the world in the 1880s. They survive on their own roots more than a century later as clonal time capsules.
The 2023 Torbreck The Factor Shiraz is very expressive with lifted black fruits of satsuma plum, blackberry, compote, vanilla bean dark cocoa and maraschino liqueur. Complex, luxuriously dense and alluring, the mineral components highlight Barossa Ironstone, dried earth and eucalypt. The wine’s voluptuous texture envelops the mouth with soft yet dense tannins and mouth filling viscosity. The flavours linger and the cleansing acidity polishes the palates gorgeous length and depth. Oak maturation is harmonious and well integrated adding to complexity on release.
"99 Points. The Factor commands respect, and with two years in 40% new French barriques, this is the super-posh wine in the Torbreck armoury. In 2023, the fruit is astonishingly luxurious, and it appears on the palate silently like a massive, black, stealthy and relentless submarine. Nautilus-like with extraordinary texture, acres of cacao and crates of spices and peppers, there is even a twist of Turkish bazaar here, which lightens the menacing mood. This is yet another staggeringly complete wine, with epic presence in the glass. 19.5/20"- Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com.
"96 Points. The 2023 The Factor is a celebration of old-vine vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and this sourcing philosophy is clear in this wine. The Barossa is capable of great density, power, intensity and focus, and this wine here shows all of these things. The cool, wet and late season that was 2023 has yielded a wine of saturated red fruit flavor and freshness. I like it so much. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork."- Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate.
