100 Points - Matthew Jukes
Torbreck continues to take advantage of dry-grown, old vines to make some of the Barossa's most demanded wines. Little introduction is needed to Torbreck's RunRig; an iconic South Australian red wine with Shiraz from old dry grown Barossa vineyards blended with Viognier. This always delivers an aromatic yet powerful Shiraz more akin the hugely concentrated wines of Hermitage - the historic home of Syrah.
The 2023 Torbreck RunRig is another masterpiece of Barossa Shiraz; with a drop (in this vintage 1%) Viognier blened just prior to bottling. Full-bodied, plush and velvety whilst still maintaining impeccable structure and appealing savouriness on the impressively long finish. A wine that's already attracting plenty of interest, our limited remaining stocks will sell out fast.
"100 Points. I have written many times about being the first person in the UK to buy this wine and list it on my Bibendum Restaurant wine list back in the ‘90s. That relationship has carried on unbroken to this day, and every time I taste RunRig, my heart takes a leap. In 2023, this is yet another super-serious and stunningly deep wine. The perfume is elevated, the palate is dense and regal, and the finish is initially ostentatious, then, at once, becomes contemplative and sage-like. Very dry, fine and hard, this is a classic example of a powerful wine that will drink well in its youth and then follow the two-decade RunRig mantra without missing a beat. I went back to my empty glass an hour later, and it was still utterly incredible. I would give it a higher score if I could, but 2023 RunRig will have to live with another perfect twenty. 20/20"- Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com.
"97 Points. The 2023 RunRig came from a cool, wet and late season, and the wine tastes so clearly both like RunRig and like 2023. It is savory and dense, powerful and concentrated, and the 1% Viognier (added, not co-fermented) contributes a gentle sway of flowers and dried apricots to the mix. This is a wonderful wine, one that ages with grace and ease. Last year, I did a vertical of the RunRig back to the first vintage, 1996, and the wine revealed itself to be sensitive to vintage variation yet true to its regional sourcing and identity. The fruit for this wine comes from six old-vine vineyards in the Barossa, each chosen for its textural, structural and flavor attributes. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork."- Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate.
